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[source: NativeNews; Thu, 10 Feb 2000 16:55:06]

From: "CATHERINE DAVIDS" <cdavids@flint.umich.edu>
Organization: The University of Michigan - Flint
To: ishgooda@voyager.net
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 15:56:13 EDT

For Immediate Public Release

02/08/2000

Day 5, occupation of the Michigamua  wigwam and the Tower of the  Michigan Union, University of Michigan

During the 60+ hour occupation of the Tower of the Michigan Union, the Student of Color Coalition has uncovered evidence believed to have existed within the organization of Michigamua  for decades.  For as long as Native Americans have been on this campus, we have opposed the existence of this racially-charged organization.  In seeking resolution of this issue, the Native American Student Association and the Native American community initiated an ongoing dialogue which resulted in the signing of a legal agreement on November 1, 1989.  The agreement, signed by representatives of Michigamua and the Michigamua
"Old Wolves" (Alumni) Council, the Minority Affairs Commission, a Native American student, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Services states: Michigamua does hereby eliminate all reference to Native American culture and pseudo-culture and extensions and parodies thereof, with the one exception being the name, Michigamua, for now and forever.

IT is unfortunate that University administration has never conducted a thorough investigation of this organization and their current practices prior to this occupation.  Despite demands submitted to administration, including President Lee Bollinger, in April 1999 outlining Native American concerns with Michigamua, administration has chosen to turn a blind eye to the racism perpetuated by this organization.  On February 6, 2000, eight UofM students uncovered the
truth: Michigamua continues its bastardization of Native American culture through the use of images, misrepresentations, and culturally significant objects.  On February 8, 2000 President Lee Bollinger, Provost Nancy Cantor, Associate Provost Lester Monts, and Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Royster Harper met with us in the Michigamua "wigwam" at which time we submitted the following demands  regarding Michigamua.  The aforementioned administration has taken these demands and will "consider them through discussion."

We will not leave this space until administrators agree to the following:
a.      Recognition of the legal and moral responsibility of the University of Michigan to sever all affiliation with and subsidy of the Tower Societies, primarily the secret society Michigamua, which continues its offensive and culturally destructive appropriation of
Native American culture.

b.      That University support of the Tower Societies: Michigamua, Phoenix/Adara, and the Vulcans, through
exclusive provision of space in the tower of the Michigan Union be eliminated immediately, and that the space be transformed and made available to all students as a cultural study lounge.

c.      That possession of all images, objects, and representations of Native American culture and psuedo- culture found within the seventh floor of the Michigan Union be transferred to the University of Michigan Native American community for proper repatriation.

The public has been invited into the tower to see these things for themselves and to make their own judgements.  We ask for your support in the form of prayer, contact with administration, monetary and food donations, as well as contact with media and other publicity resources.

Chi Miigwech,

Joe Reilly
Native American Student Association
Student of Color Coalition
 

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