Program Highlights
Keynote Speaker – Friday Breakfast
We welcome Richard M. Church, Pharm. D. as our Keynote Speaker on Friday morning…
Dr. Church was appointed Director of the Office of Public Health Support for the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 2004. He is a native of Michigan and an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy, and he completed his residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Church‘s career accomplishments include developing mission-oriented clinical service and practice roles for pharmacists. He played an active part in advancing progressive pharmacy practice positions that grew out of the IHS and were incorporated into the pharmacy profession at large. Building upon his clinical service foundation, he devoted another career segment to building an information technology infrastructure that positioned the IHS to take advantage of future technology innovations to support public health programs. In his present senior management roles, he provides national leadership in several critical public health support areas, including medical epidemiology; program statistics; planning, evaluation, and research; and health professions support.
Dr. Church has been recognized for service as the recipient of a number of awards and honors. These include the Surgeon General‘s Medallion and the Distinguished Service Medal, as well as many other PHS and professional awards.
Keynote Speaker – Saturday Lunch
Jessica Rickert, DDS was inducted into the Michigan Women‘s Hall of Fame for her work relating to American Indian health issues. A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, she was a direct descendant of the Indian chief Wahbememe (Whitepigeon) for whom a village in Michigan is named. Dr. Rickert made history of her own when she became the first female American Indian dentist in the country upon graduating from the University of Michigan – School of Dentistry in 1975. While working in private practice in southeast Michigan, she developed a prevention program and added orthodontics to the dental clinic at Detroit‘s Children‘s Aid Society. As a board member of the Michigan Urban Indian Health Council, Dr. Rickert also established an intertribal dental clinic in Detroit. She assisted two state tribes—the Grand Traverse Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indians — with such services as dental screenings, preliminary planning for dental clinics, and educational presentations. In 2001, she began a dental advice column syndicated by American Indian newspapers across the nation and distributed in health clinics. That effort earned her the American Dental Association Access Award. She also authored a book entitled ―Exploring Careers in Dentistry.‖
Education
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is hosting its Third Judicial Symposium on April 25, 2013
The Agenda is attached. The focus of the Symposium is on strengthening and healing children, families, and the community through tribal-state collaboration. There is no fee for this event.
Like a beautiful Alabama-Coushatta basket,
All things are woven together like a story, with love and prayers.
We are but one strand, but together we are the intricate weave of all generations.
Whatever we do to others, we do to ourselves.
Traditional wisdom, along with tears, laughter and peace, fill the basket;
Connecting all generations in the spirit of respect and unity.
~ Sr. Peacemaker, OtheldaJean Williams ~ 2013
Pre-College Summer Program at Michigan State
Website here.
The Native American Business Institute is a week-long pre-college summer program for Native American high school students that will be in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during the Fall 2013- Spring 2014 school year. Participants work with MSU admissions officers, college counselors, tribal community leaders, and corporate representatives in a seven-day “business boot-camp” that prepares students for the college and exposes them to numerous academic and professional opportunities.
Effect of Sequester on Reservation Schools
Washington Post article here.
GAO Report on Indian Education
Here, titled “Management Challenges Continue to Hinder Efforts to Improve Indian Education.”
An excerpt:
Management challenges within the Department of Interior’s Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs (Indian Affairs), such as fragmented administrative structures and frequent turnover in leadership, continue to hamper efforts to improve Indian education. For example, incompatible procedures and lack of clear roles for the Bureau of Indian Education and the Indian Affairs’ Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management (DAS-M), which provides administrative functions to BIE, such as human resources and acquisitions, contribute to delays in schools acquiring needed materials and resources. According to BIE officials, some DAS-M staff are not aware of the necessary procedures and timelines to meet schools’ needs. For instance, delays in contracting have occasionally affected BIE’s ability to provide services for students with disabilities in a timely manner. A study commissioned by Indian Affairs to evaluate the administrative support structure for BIE and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) — also under Indian Affairs — concluded that organizations within Indian Affairs, including DAS-M, BIA, and BIE, do not coordinate effectively an d communication among them is poor. Similarly, preliminary results from GAO’s work suggest that lack of consistent leadership within DAS-M and BIE hinders collaboration between the two offices.
Quinault Indian Nation Sues Four Washington School Districts for Race Discrimination
Here is the complaint in Quinault Indian Nation v. Lake Quinault School District (W.D. Wash.):
2013.02.21 QIN Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
News coverage here.
LATimes on the Revivial of the Yurok Language
Here.
Michigan Civil Rights Commission to File Discrmination Complaint with U.S. Dept. of Education over Indian Sports Names and Mascots
From the MCRC:
Later this morning, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights will file a complaint with the United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of all present and future students who are, are descended from, or otherwise self-identify as American Indians. This complaint asks OCR to order an end to the use of American Indian mascots, names, terms, graphics and/or other imagery as a violation of equal protection for primary and secondary students.
Here are the materials:
MDCR_2-8-13_Discrimination_Complaint
MDCR_2_8_13_Supporting_Argument
MDCR_2-8-13_Appendix_A_-_References
Montana SCT Holds N. Cheyenne Tribe May Bring Some Claims for Unjust Enrichment against Catholic Church
Here is the opinion in Northern Cheyenne Tribe v. Roman Catholic Church ex rel. Dioceses of Great Falls/Billings:
An excerpt:
We reverse and remand the District Court’s decision to grant summary judgment to the Diocese and St. Labre on NCT’s claim for unjust enrichment and the imposition of a constructive trust that may arise from St. Labre’s fundraising activities after 2002. The court improperly determined that NCT had to establish evidence of loss by NCT or wrongdoing by the Diocese and St. Labre in order to make out a claim for unjust enrichment. We also reverse and remand the District Court’s decision to grant summary judgment to the Diocese and St. Labre regarding St. Labre’s fundraising activities before 2002. The District Court should evaluate in the first instance the accrual date of NCT’s unjust enrichment claim pursuant to the standards set forth herein. The District Court can address on remand those defenses raised by the Diocese and St. Labre not resolved through the summary judgment proceedings. We affirm the District Court’s grant of summary judgment on all of NCT’s remaining claims.
Briefs here.
Turtle Talk 
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