Churchill controversial on two fronts: Keetoowah band says he's not a member (Indian Perspective)

Indian Country Today ^ | February 3, 2005 | Jim Adams

[Snapple]

Beyond the question of his personal identity is the question of his standing to represent Indian opinion, not only on 9/11 but also in his other published works. Mohawk ironworkers helped build the World Trade Center and other monuments of the New York City skyline, and one crew was actually at work in the flight path of the plane that struck the second tower. St. Regis Mohawk Chief James Ransom noted that they joined rescue teams at great personal risk.

[Snapple]

This Indian publication shows that a lot of Indians feel that Ward Churchill doesn't speak for them and that he trashes their self-government:

The Oneida Indian Nation, which has historic ties to nearby Hamilton [where Churchill was going to speak], issued the following statement:

''It's disturbing that anyone would use such hateful speech, and do so while claiming to be an American Indian when there is significant evidence that he is not. Professor Churchill caused many in the media to falsely believe an American Indian scholar could besmirch the lives of those who died on 9/11. Because of this, he owes every American Indian an apology.

''Likewise it is sad that he would perpetrate this apparent hoax on Hamilton College, an institution founded to help educate Indian students.'' (Hamilton was founded by Samuel Kirkland, 18th century missionary to the Oneidas, and the famous Oneida Chief Schenandoah is buried on its grounds. The Oneida Nation owns Four Directions Media, publisher of Indian Country Today.)

.....At various times, according to press reports, Churchill has described himself as Cherokee, Keetoowah Cherokee, Muskogee, Creek and most recently Meti. In a note in the online magazine Socialism and Democracy he wrote, ''Although I'm best known by my colonial name, Ward Churchill, the name I prefer is Kenis, an Ojibwe name bestowed by my wife's uncle.'' In biographical blurbs, he is identified as an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. But a senior member of the band with access to tribal enrollment records told Indian Country Today that Churchill is not listed. George Mauldin, tribal clerk in Tahlequah, Okla., told the Rocky Mountain News, ''He's not in the data base at all.'' ....According to Jodi Rave, a well-known Native journalist and member of the Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Three Affiliated Tribes, Churchill was enrolled as an ''associate member'' of the Keetoowah by a former chairman who was later impeached. The one other known member of the same program, since discontinued, was President Bill Clinton. Rave said that she made this discovery as a student in a journalism class at the University of Colorado. She was also in a class taught by Churchill. When her article came out, she said, he dropped her grade from an A to a C minus.

Suzan Shown Harjo, a columnist for ICT who has tracked Churchill's career, said that aside from the in-laws of his late Indian wife, he has not been able to produce any relatives from any Indian tribe.

...Churchill's other writings repudiate not only the U.S. but also most Indian tribal institutions. In one 1994 essay, he described tribal self government as a ''cruel hoax'' carried out by ''puppets'' of ''an advanced colonial setting.'' He equated the status of Indian tribes in the U.S. to that of European colonies in Asia and Africa. His analysis reflected an extreme version of European left-wing ideology.

Far from suffering for his views, Churchill appears to have been sought out by many in the universities as a representative of American Indian thinking. But to many Native intellectuals, he is traveling under false pretenses, both in his ideology and his personal identity.

[Snapple]

You she that Churchill is trying to take over the Indians by trashing their self-government:

"Churchill's other writings repudiate not only the U.S. but also most Indian tribal institutions. In one 1994 essay, he described tribal self government as a ''cruel hoax'' carried out by ''puppets'' of ''an advanced colonial setting.'' He equated the status of Indian tribes in the U.S. to that of European colonies in Asia and Africa. His analysis reflected an extreme version of European left-wing ideology." http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410295

Indian Country Today is a very good publication. They are really for the Indians, not the communists. I think they have really advanced Indian causes in our democracy by using democratic means.

[LauraleeBraswell]

The Department of Ethnic Studies
Ketchum 30, Campus Box 339
University of Colorado, Boulder
Phone: 303-492-8852
Fax: 303-492-7799

E-mail
Ethnic.Studies@Colorado.EDU

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR PRO CHURCHILL and the ethnic dept- I'm sure he would LOOOVE to here from us.

[Socratic]

"St. Regis Mohawk Chief James Ransom noted that they joined
rescue teams at great personal risk."

Is this about the "Ransom of Red Chief", or the red chief - Ransom?

[Snapple]

I don't think it is appropriate to mock this chief who has spoken out on this issue.

You are mocking Indian leaders just like Ward churchill does. He calls them all stooges and puppets.

[parke911]

When her article came out, she said, he dropped her grade from an A to a C minus.


This is what irritates me the most about so called liberals and radicals: their sheer hypocrisy. While he expects to be able to say whatever hateful thing he can think of, he punishes someone for saying the truth. Figures.

[wagglebee]

This is hardly surprising, who would want to claim this POS.

[Socratic]

"You are mocking Indian leaders just like Ward churchill does."

I accept your chastisement and apolgize. There are times when childish levity is just plain inappropriate and this is certainly one of those instances. May I say again, "I'm sorry for my misplaced attempt at humor."
-Socratic

[sgtbono2002]

****''Although I'm best known by my colonial name, Ward Churchill, the name I prefer is Kenis, an Ojibwe name bestowed by my wife's uncle.'' *****

Is he sure the Uncle didnt name him Penis?

[Snapple]

Apology accepted.

[Cricket24]

This guy is a fraud, pure and simple. He hates this country and capitalism BUT he sure doesn't mind taking that $96,000.00 salary!!

[Miss Marple]

According to Jodi Rave, a well-known Native journalist and member of the Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Three Affiliated Tribes, Churchill was enrolled as an ''associate member'' of the Keetoowah by a former chairman who was later impeached. The one other known member of the same program, since discontinued, was President Bill Clinton.

Well, of course. A lying scoundrel is placed on the rolls by an impeached tribal council member, and who's there with him? Bill Clinton!

[Snapple]

Well, it is probably like an honor.

[Miss Marple]

It sounds like a bogus deal to me...probably done in return for donations to the tribe or something.

[Snapple]

That could be. Still, I think that some Indians do this as a sort of honor--like an honorary degree or something.

Even if Ward Churchill were 500% Indian it would change nothing. He doesn't speak for all Indians and he trashes their leaders as stooges and puppets of the Americans.

Even if he were all Indian, I don't think any Indian nation would claim him after what he said about 9-11.
It would be embarrassing.

Ward Churchill is such an egomaniac that he didn't think of how this would embarrass Indians.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[nopardons]

bttt

[backhoe]

Terror Teacher, Take Two- the vile Ward Churchill Saga 

[nw_arizona_granny]

Have you looked at this search in alt.native of Google groups?

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.native/search?group=alt.native&q=ward+churchill&qt_g=1&searchnow=Search+this+group