Richie Plass: Menominee / Stockbridge Munsee: Richie brings his talents as an award winning poet, NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) nominated musician and former Director of Indian Studies at Kent State University into his discussions of what it's like to be Indian growing up in a culture that doesn't recognize the Native perspective. He has worked extensively on the Indian mascot and logo issue and Graves Repatriation and he has lectured at many universities around the country.

Multicultural education now includes the study of Asian, Hispanic, and African American cultures. But in most cases, the study of Native people is only found in the study of the past. Richie is here to let us know what has happened to Menominee people, how history has effected the present, and how multicultural studies cannot be complete without understanding the Indian Perspective.

Richie presents the exhibit, "Bittersweet Winds, Honor and Dishonor in Indian Country". The exhibit contains incredible images of Indians in traditional dress, museum quality dolls and other art work that truly honor the people who have created them. Also in the exhibit are images of propaganda that were used from the early 20th century and show the development of the acceptance of racism towards Native peoples. One needs no words to readily see the difference between the appropriated, romanticized, sexualized, graphic images of propaganda and the faces of strength and honor.

Richie Plass is a natural comedian, is the author of the acclaimed Growing up Indian on This Turtle Island. He acted in a major motion picture starring Faye Dunawaye, played as a musician with the Native American Music Award nominated Wolf River Band for over 25 years and is known by all to be one of the funniest, warm and engaging people on this entire Turtle Island.

Christine Rose is the founder and Executive Director of Students and Teachers Against Racism, an organization with five Chapters in four states. Ms. Rose has been involved in cases involving racism against Native peoples in more than about half the states in this country. She is both writer of most of STAR's and Changing Wind's materials and editor of Understanding the Team Name Mascot Issue. Christine developed a guide to help Native people understand how to maintain their civil rights in schools. Ms. Rose works with families and tribes nationally that are dealing with racism in their community by consulting with the Office of Civil Rights, the US Commission on Civil Rights, the Department of Justice, Community Resolution Services, and the ACLU. Ms. Rose has spoken before student groups, at universities and conferences as well as State Departments of Education and has published several articles about racism, including the University of Virginia's Law Review on Sports and Entertainment. As a reporter, she has exposed serious racist activities in education which resulted in positive changes in policies and administration to the benefit of all involved.

Christine's presentation focuses of Civil Rights and the areas of education that Leave Indian Children Behind. She explores ways in which schools can ensure the success of all of their students.

Delores Huff is the author of the book To Live Heroically. Institutional Racism and American Indian Education, Published by State University of New York Press. 1997. Delores is an internationally renowned speaker and indisputable expert on the areas of education that fail American Indian children. Her book is on the shelves of every one who is interested in preserving the Civil Rights of American Indian children and she was a forerunner in the field. Delores was the Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of California from 1985-2004. She was the principal of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Pierre Indian School from 1976-1978 and was a cofounder of the Boston Indian Center from 1969-1973. She has contributed chapters to such books as:

• Teaching in a Multicultural University. Helen Roberts, Editor.
• On Becoming a Mensch or a Mentor Sage Press. California 1998
• Native American Women. Susan Castillo, Editor.
• Wilma Mankiller, The Unforeseen Legacy of the Relocation Policy
  
• Fernando Pessoa University Press. Porto Portugal. 1977
  
• Victorian Brand Indian Brand. The White Shadow on the Native Image. Naila Clerici Editor. 1993
  
• The Pygmalion Effect in Indian Education
  
• European Association of American Indian Studies Journal. 1992. "The Osage and J. Edgar Hoover."
  
• UCLA Research Journal of American Indian Studies. 1987. "American Indian Economic Development."
  
• And presented papers and/or lectured in Munich Germany, Genoa Italy, Florence Italy, Torino Italy, London England, Paris France, Gras Austria, Brussels Belgium, Upsula Sweden, Madrid Spain, Seville Spain, Opporto Portugal, and Sardinia Italy

And acted as consultant for:

Federal:		State:		Tribal:
White House Commission on Indian Education		Massachusetts Board of Education		Planner: Lummi Tribe of Washington State
Office of Indian Education		California Curriculum Board of Education		Evaluator: Harlem K-12, Harlem, Montana & Fort Belknap
Office of Vocational and Technical Education		State of California Community College System		Consultant: Wolf Point, Montana K-6 and Fort Peck
Bureau of Indian Affairs		Utah Department of Indian Affairs