A Native student's perspective on the Metro State protest

Last month, The Circle featured an article on the front page about Metro State and a student led protest here regarding Native American studies courses. After reading the article, I had many thoughts and feelings. But the one thought that has continued to worry me is, "I hope this article doesn't stop Native Americans from coming to Metro State".
In my mind, Metro State is a good place to get an education. My name is Mark B. Johnson Sr. and I am an older Native American student (49 yrs.) at Metro State. I am majoring in the Alcohol and Drug counseling program and I am involved with the American Indian student group on campus. I wanted to write this letter because, as a Native student here, I have always felt respected, supported, and encouraged; my needs as an Indian student are being well met.
Since the beginning of my academic career at Metro State, the staff and faculty I have encountered have all exhibited a high level of cultural competency, which everyone at the university holds as a value. I have been able to build strong, positive relationships with all staff and faculty, but especially the American Indian staff, faculty and other students. And my American Indian student advisor has helped me get my tribal scholarship, and other funding. I have a job on campus, and I have been able to take advantage of some really unique opportunities made available to me as a student leader. For example, through my Native American student organization I was able to connect with American Indian Magnet School in the Saint Paul community. I hope that we can build bridges of communication with the children of this school so they know that anything is possible in pursuit of their higher learning.
The issues that were brought up at the protest and rally are important. I know that the university is planning on hosting a variety of programs this semester and in the fall that will focus on the Dakota War of 1862, and I have been invited to participate in the planning of some of those events. Working through these issues on campus will require everyone involved to participate with an open mind and a sincere spirit of collaboration.
This is only my perspective on the situation. There is no right or wrong. In my mind, people should form their own thoughts and conclusions about Metro State after seeing what Metro State has to offer - after being involved. They should not take my word or anybody else's in forming their opinion. It has been a great experience for me to be here and I hope that more Indian students continue to come and get their degrees to help our Native American community move forward.

Mark B. Johnson Sr.
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma

January 20 was an exciting day in Minneapolis, as national leaders visited to focus on the work that we do every day to prepare students for college and career. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited South High School to talk with the senior class and their parents about college affordability and the new simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Al Franken and Mayor R.T. Rybak, who have consistently demonstrated their support for Minneapolis schools, also addressed students. (Visit the MPS website to view our video of the event.)

When I was a little brown kid the remedy for having skinned one's knee or other abrasions was to summon a neighborhood dog and have them lick the wound. Rather like Republican health care plans. It was said, I don't remember by whom, that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans and I in my ignorance went along with it. It was much later when I realized that dog's can also lick their hind ends and what is so antiseptic about that? Ick. I love my dog, The Mitz, but she knows to limit her puppy kisses to my ears. Every so often she sneaks in a kiss on my face but I worry more for her because of all the cosmetic products I apply there.
It occurs to me that I write like I'm an old, old woman telling stories about my youth like it was last century. Oh wait! It was last century. I don't ever want to be age seven or even 25 again, but what I do miss is my mobility and ease of movement. Oh, the long gone days of skipping, hopping, jumping and practicing for the Olympics by doing backbends and cartwheels! Alas! Alas!

A NOTICE to the Tuscon Unified School District.
I have checked your list of banned books and cannot find any of my titles there.  I am hoping some one can take care of this oversight.
My titles are:  1. Walking The Rez Road, 1993, Voyageur Press.  2. The Rez Road Follies, Canoes, Casinos, Computers, and Birch Bark Baskets, 1997 Kodansha Press, reprinted by the University of Minnesota Press.  3. Anishinaabe Syndicated, 2011, Minnesota Historical Society Press.  4. Rez Salute, due out Fall 2012, Fulcrum Publishing.  
Just for background information I have been writing the Fond du Lac Follies for newspapers for over 22 years.  I have written opinion pieces for other newspapers and have also written two plays.
I am Anishinaabe, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Enrollment # 3166.  I live on the Fond du Lac Reservation established by the Treaty of 1854 in what is now called Minnesota.
My grandfather, Joseph A. Northrup, was also an author and I can't find his name on your list of banned books.  Among other materials he wrote a book called Wawina back in the 1930s. He was also a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippea.  Would you please consider banning his book also?

Down the memory hole
Arizona became notorious in 2010, with the enactment of a punitive anti-immigrant law, SB 1070 – known as the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. The law allows local police to question a person’s immigration status based on “reasonable suspicion,” if a person is stopped for another criminal violation. As I wrote in my July 2010 column, the law had been decried as an invitation to racial profiling; it was feared that Latinos, or anyone with brown skin, would become the targets of law enforcement authorities under the new law.