Posted on 02/12/2005 5:13:01 PM PST by vivabushchick
Indian Country weighs in on professor's Native claim Churchill has few defenders, many detractors
DENVER CO Native American Times 2/8/2005
The controversy over University of Colorado professor Ward continues to generate strong opinions ranging from the dismissive to the outright confrontational. While the national media has focused on Churchills essay regarding the 9/11 tragedies, Indian County appears more intrigued by the fact that Churchill, who for years has positioned himself as a spokesman for Native issues, very likely does not even have any Indian heritage.
One of the few to defend Churchill is Don Trent Jacobs, an associate professor at Northern Arizona University and a faculty member at Fielding Graduate Institute who also goes by the moniker of "Four Arrows." Jacobs, who says he is part Cherokee and Creek, believes that Churchills questionable Indian roots are not important.
As for whether Churchill is " Indian," I refer to a piece I wrote in Red Ink a while back, entitled, "On Being Indian " that quotes [novelist N. Scott] Momoday's belief that this ultimately has more to do with consciousness and experience and a spirituality than it does with blood. Far too many of our blooded brothers and sisters, including those who have become Christian fundamentalists, may be losing all three to the growing presence of U.S. dominant culture influences, Jacobs writes.
His views appear to be in the definite minority. Marty (Fire Rider) Hiles, co-host of the American Indian Movement Today radio show, not only believes Churchill is a phony-he wants to make sure everyone else knows it, too. Hiles has even written a letter to Fox News host Bill OReilly asking him not to refer to Churchill as a Native American.
Churchill is not an Indian but a wannabe for his philosophy runs contrary to American Indian culture. Traditionally Indians respect and consider all life as sacred. Advocating senseless violence and destruction of life is an affront to all what American Indian spirituality teaches. Further, in 1993 the American Indian Movement (AIM) leadership denounced Churchill for being an Indian fraud and a revisionist of Indian history, Hiles wrote.
Individual tribes are also upset. The New York-based Oneida Indian Nation said in a statement, 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.
David Yeagley, an adjunct professor at the University Of Oklahoma College Of Liberal Studies, alluded to Churchill in a recent column.
Churchill has written that the civilian victims of 9/11 were little Eichmanns technocrats of empire who got what they deserved, Yeagley wrote. You will not hear such talk among real Indians on the reservations, most of whom are the staunchest patriots youll ever meet.
Churchill has written that the civilian victims of 9/11 were little Eichmanns technocrats of empire who got what they deserved. ________________________________________________________
Churchill is no Indian. He has neither a conscious nor a good spirit guiding him.
I'm Indian, a full blooded Dutch Indian.
There have been many "Indians" who have served remarkably in our armed services. Ira Hayes, who raised the flag on Iwo was one and the Navaho who served as codetalkers were another.
if the true Indians are ticked about this guy , they should do something , not just talk....
And apparently he is a Christophobe too.
And according to Churchills detractors like Jacob you lack the Big 3; consciousness, experience, spirituality.
There is a very different view of Ward Churchill at this web page:
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2005/02/818551.shtml
Wasn't it David Yeagley, who appeared on The Factor? He was no Churhill supporter. Just the opposite.
http://www.badeagle.com/
"Bad Eagle.com is the first website for American Indian Patriots, and the only voice of conservative American Indian thought."
Gobbledy-gook.
CIA? The plot thickens.
From bad will come good. As many loyal American "Indians" are spotlighted. As in the case of Bad Eagle.com, the voice of conservative American Indian thought.
To those of you living in Rio Linda, CA (Rusho)
Gobbledy-gook: pompous jargon of specialists
What liberal professor isn't?
I've seen AIM disclaimer of Churchill on their website, heard of a few press releases in news accounts, but so far, no turnout to protest. Perhaps now that his story is out there and there's notice of an upcoming appearance, maybe there will be a visible protest.
Anything we can do to help that get started? Who would we notify?
You've a point there....
I would have liked to listen to him for hours; his knowledge of Indian History in America is astounding. As his take on their future.
He spoke last year in my town to help fellow Indians take the reins in the casino fiasco.
Part of the panel:
We might start here:
http://www.badeagle.com/
Although Yeagley states Indians just don't care. He also says there really is no leadership.
"No one "represents" Indian people. I don't, either. "The people" are psychologically independent. They laugh at so-called leaders, most of the time. Most people out there in America do not know about real Indian people, in Indian environments."
The media never gives the "right" people any attention. Thanks
So .. if they want to fire this guy - why can't they fire him over falsifying his application. He claimed to be part American Indian - AND HE ISN'T.
Churchill has also been exposed for LYING about being in Vietnam - AND HE WASN'T.
I'd say that's more than sufficient evidence of fraud to fire the jerk.
Don't our children deserve better than liars for teachers ..??
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