Haskell Indian Nations University Scandal

On May 10, 1985, at the Haskell Centennial Graduation, James Mountain Chief Sanderville, Klamath/Blackfeet and former 1982 Haskell Student Senate President, attempted to hand John Fritz, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, documentation that Gerald Gipp, then president of Haskell Indian Jr. College, conspired with Senator Bob Dole, Senator Nancy Kassebaum, Congressman Jim Slattery and the City of Lawrence to close Haskell through legislation, Kansas Senate Bill 214.

Gerald Gipp had the Haskell Bureau of Indian Affairs police brutally beat James Mountain Chief Sanderville for staging a peaceful protest that actually "Counted Coup" on the Gipp Administration. The Haskell Media department edited out segments of the video footage showing the BIA police slamming James Mountain Chief to the stage and handcuffing one hand. While one BIA officer jerked on the handcuff, the other beat Sanderville. Here you see the remaining footage received by James Mountain Chief in 1989 through the Freedom of Information Act. The Haskell footage is also in the film "Trick or Treaty" a documentary James Mountain Chief Sanderville produced that has been silenced and censored at major Native American film festivals and by Native American journalist for the past 14 years.

This national scandal that has been ignored, underplayed, silenced, and censored inspired James Mountain Chief Sanderville to engage in 27 years of extensive investigative research that tells a chapter in American Indian history never before told. It's the story of the "Washington Redskins," some of our own Indian leaders, who aided in the systematic closure of 64 Bureau of Indian Affairs schools in violation of federal law. This story also questions why $7.8 million of the Indian Trust funds disappeared from a Kansas City bank during the Haskell scandal.

Senator John McCain, who is running for President of the United States, and Senator Dennis DeConcinni, passed legislation that closed Phoenix Indian School. The Collier Family was able to exchange Florida Everglades land for the prime real estate of Phoenix Indian School.

Now is the time to expose the Indian leaders who continue to support the political atmosphere that has historically suffocated Native America.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• American
• Indian

[2728mountainchief]

Lincoln Morris journalism instructor the only Native American who had the courage and integrity to help James Mountain Chief

[2728mountainchief1]

The Open Letter to President Obama from James Mountain Chief Sanderville is on the front page of CORRUPT INDIAN AGENTS (CIA) WEBSITE!!!!

[chief662]

B.I.A. Builds models of mediocre people.

[Benj76y]

What's the excuse for being a pussy?,cuz that's what you are if someone is getting mistreated right in front of you. All the while screaming for you to help and you just sit there.I hope none of you brave graduates are leading our communities today!I'm not even upset with the authorities, that is what they are trained to do.Bully you and break your will.They did a good job of breaking peoples wills that day.Some "people "ought to be ashamed of themselves.I bet you they know who they are, cowards

[cnadoggsoldier]

The education of our people is critical in the preservation of our culture. I have attended Haskell and know that a graduation ceremony is a special occasion for the graduate and families in attendance. There are other forums for the protest. I would not want someone disturbing and demeaning my graduation.

[burntsole]

Many of us do not know what really goes on behined closed doors, as native people we believe and trust too well, well enough to be betrayed even by our own. I am sorry this happened at HINU, it's such a distinguished foundation for opportunity - it makes me ashamed to see that scandals just don't die.

[TannerWilliam]

wow...

[nijoiz]

wow what a mess up and a cover up. Our own leaders condemning us when, haven't we struggled enough. What a wuss, he just got off stage and didn't want to have a talk. God bless you mountain chief and we there are a few of us out here who share your story. Those "kids" graduating seem like they do not have any clue on what's going on. Young indian students need to focus on what is going on, they are gettin too assimilated! Old culture does not need to be forgotten, younger culture is danger