Haskell News Commentary has received the following documents  pertaining to Haskell Indian Nations University, in Lawrence, Kansas.

But first we would like to thank the following people for this new  turn of events: The Department of Interior for putting unqualified  people in charge of Haskell Indian Nations University and keeping them  there such as: Bart Stevens: Acting director of the Bureau of Indian  Education, Stephanie Birdwell-Bighorn: Deputy Director for policy,  evaluation and post secondary education, and her crew at Haskell Indian  Nations University: Venida Chenault:Haskell’s Acting President, Dan  Wildcat : The man who canceled Haskell’s two new BA programs.

While running out (or allowing them to be ran out) the qualified  faculty at Haskell such as Dr.Russell Blackbird,or Dr.Linda Sue Warner.

And Haskell’s own FEDERATION OF INDIAN SERVICE EMPLOYEES – AFT –  AFL/CIO, Local 4524, who abused their power and ran wildly out of  control, while Stephanie Birdwell-Bighorn did nothing to stop them.

We are sure that our readers can post specific examples of illegal  and unethical behaviors by Haskell Indian Nations University employees  so that The Indian organizations can begin to lobby congress to remove  these two institutions (you will see Sipi is also on the list) from The  Department of Interior’s oversight.

Documents:

Dear Dr. Gipp,    Please note the attached United Tribes Resolution No. 10-03-01. This  was passed March 12, 2010, at a duly called meeting of the Board, which  is comprised of the chairman and a delegate from each of the 5 Tribal  Nations which own and operate United Tribes of North Dakota and it's  college.    The resolution calls for HINU and SIPI to become independent,  tribally accountable institutions,and to be governed by a national  independent inter-tribal board. Although, we mention IAIA as a model for  governance, we note that this is only one model. It is congressional  chartered model. One that is fitting for Indian Tribal Nations should  have a minimum to 51 percent tribal representation up to 100 percent. In  any case, operates and accountability as to performance and outcome for  the good of Indian students must be part and parcel to the mission and  results one free of government vested interest groups. It should also be  noted that serious study and action of freeing these institutions from  the 19th century model promulgated and overseen by the BIA must be  taken. As a result, we believe the U.S. Congress ought to hold hearings  on the status of federally operated post secondary schools. If  necessary, legislative action should be be the result. We believe that  HINU and SIPI ought to join the Nation's Tribal Colleges and  Universities under the mandates of tribal control-in the spirit of  independence, self-determination and tribal quality and control. This is  only what these schools can contribute to the well being, growth and  effective economics and independence of Indian Country.    Myra Pearson    Chairwoman, united Tribe of North Dakota,    United Tribes Technical College and Spirit Lake Nation.    United Tribes of North Dakota                                                                           RESOLUTION:

RESOLUTION ENTITLED: Urging U.S. Congress to Enact Legislation  Permitting Inter-tribal Control of Haskell Indian Nations University and  Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute    RESOLUTION No. 10-03-01    WHEREAS, United Tribes of North Dakota( United Tribes) is an  association of the five federally recognized Tribes located in North  Dakota, each of which has a government-to-government relationship with  the U.S. established by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, The Spirit Lake Tribe  and The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, with a Board of Directors  composed of the Chairman and one council member from each tribe: and    WHEREAS, United Tribes exists to assist in furthering the common  goals of the North Dakota Indian Tribes and Nations: and    WHEREAS, Through it’s unique relationship with Indian Nations and the  tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources  to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and  Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved  homeland: and    WHEREAS, Among those institutions now operated by the BIE within the  U.S. Dept. of Interior, are Haskell Indian Nations University, Est’  1884, located in Lawrence, Kansas and The Southwestern Indian  Polytechnic Institution, Est’ 1971, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico:  and    WHEREAS, Both of these institutions have developed generally good  reputations for high quality education and have assisted thousands of  graduates to become successful citizens of their respective Tribal  Nations and of The United States: and    WHEREAS, Tribal control of higher education institutions that  primarily serve Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians  has long been shown to be an effective mechanism for governance of these  institutions, including the 35 Tribal colleges, along with United Tribe  Technical College and Navajo Technical College and most recently, The  Institute of American Indian Arts located in Santa Fe, New Mexico: and    WHEREAS, Haskell Indian Nations University has suffered both  irreputation and enrollment, from recent turmoil at the University, and  by failure of The BIE to provide the leadership needed to ensure quality  education and stable governance at Haskell in recent years:and    WHEREAS, The most recent evidence of the problems at Haskell Indian  Nations University is a press release issued March 2,2010, from the two  U.S. Kansas Senators Pat Roberts(R-KS) and Sam Brownback( R-KS) and two  U.S. Congressman from Kansas, Rep. Lynn Jenkins(R-KS) and Dennis Moore(  D-KS), which cites a letter these individuals sent to Sec. of The  Interior Ken Salazar that states among other things The lawmakers assert  that there appears to be “no clear line of authority” at either Haskell  or the Bureau of Indian Education, which also is part of Interior.“We  have been unable to determine who is in charge,” they said, in their  letter. “The resulting lack of leadership has caused chaos and confusion  to the detriment of HINU employees and the students, who are our  primary concern.”    WHEREAS, Sippi has had a series of leaders over the past ten years  and it, too, has suffered because of a lack of leadership at The BIE  caused by political turnover in top political positions within and Dept  of Interior and:    WHEREAS,Both HINU and SIPI serve American Indians and Alaska Natives  from any federally recognized Tribal Nations throughout the U.S. and  have advisory boards with little or no power or influence in the  management of these institutions; and    WHEREAS, IAIA, another post-secondary institution operated primarily  with funds from the Dept of Interior, was granted the ability to govern  itself by the U.S. Congress in 1992 and is governed by a diverse Board  of Trustees, a majority of whom must be Native American or Alaska  Natives from Federally recognized Indian Tribes: and    WHEREAS, Given existing problems at both HINU and SIPI, a similar  governing structure to IAIA should be developed for HINU and SIPIU, and  appropriate congressional American Indians and Alaska Natives with a  vested interest in good management of these institutions, in a manner  similar to how contracts are performed under the Indian  Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. and    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of United Tribes  of North Dakota hereby directs it’s Executive Director to ensure that  the present U.S. Presidential Administration and appropriate  U.S.Congressional leaders and committee Chairman receive a copy of this  Resolution and to use appropriate resources to work towards the goal of  the Resolution until it is accomplished by The U.S. Congress; and:    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall remain the policy  of United Tribes of North Dakota until the policy goal expressed herein  is accomplished I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly  passed at a meeting of The United Tribes of North Dakota Board of  Directors at which quorum was present, held on the 12th day of March  2010, in Bismarck, North Dakota with a vote of 7 in favor, 0 opposed, 0  abstaining, and 3 not present.    Myra Pearson    Chairwoman    Board of Directors    United Tribes of North Dakota    ATTEST    Charles W.Murphy    Secretary Pro Tem,    Board of Directors    United Tribes of North Dakota