The Forum - 10/12/2002

A discussion aimed at improving human rights for American Indians in Fargo-Moorhead on Friday identified subtle forms of institutional racism that often go unnoticed.

Take, for example, the history lessons schoolchildren are taught.

Everyone is taught that the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 opened up a huge tract of land in the interior of the United States, a real estate deal Thomas Jefferson negotiated with France.

Often neglected, however, is adequate consideration of the fact that the region was heavily populated by native tribes, said Kristi Rudelius-Palmer of the University of Minnesota’s Human Rights Center, who served as moderator of Friday’s discussion.

"We’ve got a lot of gaps in our history," she said.

Participants in the discussion agreed that more should be done to teach students early in their schooling to respect other cultures, a recommendation that will be presented to local school boards.

One common "historical gap," often overlooked, is the displacement suffered by the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, who bore the brunt of flooding caused by Garrison Dam, losing more than 90 percent of their farmland, said Prairie Rose, a pre-law student at North Dakota State University and an organizer of Friday’s dialogue.

"This culture is the only one that is taught as a history lesson," she said, referring to the dominant, European-American portrayal of history.

Many of the 130 people who took part in the discussion, billed as "Building a Human Rights Community: A Conversation with American Indians," agreed that schools should teach more Native American history so students have a more well-rounded understanding.

Too often, American Indian cultures are taught as dead cultures relegated to history, not vibrant, ongoing cultures that are part of today’s social fabric, Rose said.

"We need to be respectful of those days," she said.

Also, American Indians would like to be included more often in community projects, said Gladys Ray of Fargo, who has been involved in the local native community for 35 years.

"I think a lot of times we’re totally left out of what’s going on," she said. "We’re around, we’re real people and we can help. Being excluded is a problem."

According to 2000 census figures, the minority population of Fargo-Moorhead is about 8 percent, up from 4.5 percent in 1990.

Organizers plan to develop action steps to carry out the recommendations made in Friday’s discussion, which began with a briefing on the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The conversation is definitely a start," said Rose, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes. The aim is to see the community as it is, not how people might wish it is – then to work toward achieving that vision, she said.

The key to ensuring that concrete steps actually are taken, Rose said, is "by holding each other accountable," both as individuals and institutions.

"It won’t happen until the people are starting to lead," she said. "Eventually the leaders will follow us."

The discussion, which will be followed up with another meeting in several months, was sponsored by the human rights commissions of Fargo and Moorhead, Cultural Diversity Resources, local universities and others.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522

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