SCIT and CMU educate on Christopher Columbus’ truths
12/16/2014 9:00:00 AM - Tribal Observer

SCIT and CMU educate on Christopher Columbus’ truths

Natalie Shattuck, Editor

In collaboration with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Ziibiwing Center, Central Michigan University hosted Indigenous People’s Day events Oct. 13, 2014.

From 12 to 1 p.m. in the CMU Bovee Terrace Rooms, the Soup & Substance: Truth Behind Columbus discussion involved a luncheon educating on Christopher Columbus facts. Ziibiwing Center Director Shannon Martin, CMU Native American Programs Director Colleen Green, SCIT Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier and CMU Associate Vice President of Institutional Diversity Carolyn Dunn led the discussions.

CMU students questioned why public schools do not educate on the truth behind Columbus.

“Unfortunately, history books are quite inaccurate and they are difficult to change,” Martin said. “The way to teach the history has to come from Indigenous peoples working with scholars who write history books.”

In the CMU Bovee Auditorium, a 4:30 p.m. film screening and discussion on “The Canary Effect” took place. The award-winning documentary looks into the devastating and continuing effects of U.S. policies and genocidal practices on North American Indigenous people.

“It is always our intention to educate our community on Native American culture using a historical perspective and facts that cannot be discredited,” Green said. “…The students in attendance were outraged by the miss information they had received through the public school system.”

Cloutier is hopeful Indigenous People’s Day will continue to be recognized as opposed to the celebration of Columbus Day.

 “CMU is one of the best schools around for producing educators,” Cloutier said. “There is a lot we can do here, between Central Michigan University and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, to make changes.”

CMU’s Native American Programs and Office of Diversity Education were also sponsors for the day’s educational series.