Earlier tonight I received an email from the First Nations Education and Cultural Center here at IU. It's contents were a simple link to a very complex issue at Haskell Indian Nations University.
This article is typical of main stream media reports on NDN Country. Never anything too insightful for NDNs, but something which will likely attract the ire of both NDNs and non-natives.
I see the following as the key issues (in no specific order):
- The current Haskell University President is currently working in New Mexico on temporary assignment
- The current Haskell President proposed increase in tuition
- Some students, alumni, and Regents oppose or opposed tuition increase
- Haskell was formerly an Indian Boarding School
- Haskell University needs improvements
- Haskell University is funded out of the Bureau of Indian Education a sub-agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Haskell University receives about $14 million a year in federal funding
- Federal government authorized new funding formula but has not appropriated new funds
- Some statistics (most which are arbitrary and useless in answering the real questions created by the story)
- 2 comments from students: one vehemently opposed to the change and blaming the University and administration for forcing her to leave and one suggesting that outcomes are what really matter
- finally, 2 more comments by Haskell University administrators which make a lot of sense
So my analysis of the issue is this:
- Haskell University needs improvements and according to the article the federal government is not appropriating to meet the need of Haskell students.
- The current President of Haskell University is proposing an alternative to federal appropriations.
- At least one student has said "outcomes" are what is important which is meagerly supported by the administrators comments.
- Haskell's history is relevant
I think the Haskell Indian Boarding School an 1884 project-during the Relocation Era of Federal NDN policy, precisely a kidnapping policy administered by the federal government, is held to now represent a benefit to NDN people. This place was no benefit to NDN people in the past or now in the present, particularly the descendants of those who attended Haskell during its tenure as an Indian Boarding School. Notwithstanding Haskell's history and negative externalities (in this case I would say the federal policy created intended consequences) the real question of value remains. When I think about value of education I think about a few things: 1. Cost, 2. Reputation, 3. Curriculum, 4. Graduate Job Placements. Well the entire article is about the cost of attendance, so, if you read the article you will see that Haskell is very affordable for all income levels. So, let's consider Reputation.
HERE is what U.S. News says in its rankings. This means there is little or no value to a Lehman about the value of a Haskell education. So, we must move to curriculum.
HERE and
HERE are the best examples of the curriculum at Haskell University. There is value all of these courses. Finally and probably the best indicator of value of education is job placement. I was unable to find information about Haskell University's graduate (alumni) job placements or transition to graduate schools or the like. So I am forced to return to the most sensible comment in the article, of course, made by a student. In short, the students as a whole may be receptive to a increase in price of a Haskell education if they can have more involvement in their education and see better outcomes. Thereby, increasing their educational value!! As I often do from my proverbial armchair (this blog), I think the underlying problem lies with the US federal (paternalistic) approach. It is without any doubt that many NDN college students at Haskell University may not have the opportunity at a college education without Haskell, a sad but true situation. Although, providing congressmen and women with an opportunity to talk about the great things they do for NDNs while merely underfunding another program, I personally find disturbing. More disturbing is a single phrase in the article: "...the belief among many Haskell students and alumni that the government owes them a free or nearly free education, both by treaty and as compensation for generations of cultural oppression." This main stream idea is something that truly pisses me off. So I propose the following be used in all future articles to describe the federal governments responsibility to NDNs "this re-assures NDNs of the federal government's commitment to continue its contracted payments into perpetuity for the present value of all lands acquired by the United States under grants endorsed and enacted by Treaties between equals and ratified by congress." This is a far more historically accurate representation of why the federal government is obliged to make payments for NDN services of any kind. The articles representation is not only inaccurate but ignorantly driving hostility. Although, I imagine it is difficult for many to comprehend the fact that such inept savages (a historical description of NDNs) could imagine and negotiate such unbelievable outcomes with such a superior race (another historical description of non-natives). Well folks, the lights are on, is anyone home?
Reach 
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