Saginaw Chippewa Tribe about much more than just a casino, panelists say

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Sarah Burling has a new understanding of what it means to be a Native American after attending a panel discussion on Monday.

“I didn’t really know what to expect from it,” the Muskegon sophomore said. “I was surprised to find out that many Native Americans receive no assistance from the gaming money collected by the different tribes.”

A six-member discussion panel spoke to about 150 students, faculty and community members on media-driven stereotypes of Native Americans in the media on Monday in Moore Hall’s Townsend Kiva Auditorium.

Benjamin Ramirez, an associate professor of history, shared research he conducted as a graduate student, asking children “what is an Indian?”

“The problem is responding to people as stereotypes,” he said. “With history, the one thing I try to do is unlearn a lot of the misconceptions we have as a society about Native people.”

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe was represented on the panel by Joseph Sowmick, public relations director and Frank Cloutier, public relations manager for the tribe.

Cloutier said as a public relations representative for the tribe, he tries to maintain the culture.

“What we need to do as people carrying our voice as a native tribe, is to do what Joe and I do everyday – and that is keep telling the story,” he said.

Panel member Patricia Ecker, a Morning Sun reporter, shared her experience as a Native American journalist with the crowd.

She said taking the time to examine the Native culture is one of the most important steps people can take to understanding the different tribes.

“Just gaining their respect is what has helped me as a reporter, because that has opened up so many doors,” Ecker said.

The panel stressed that Native Americans are often misunderstood and that these misconceptions are often learned not inherited. Ramirez said that stereotypes are a powerful thing and the language that accompanies those stereotypes can at times be hurtful.

Jake May, panelist and editor in chief of Central Michigan Life, said many students buy into stereotypes rather than learn the culture.

“I don’t think a lot of people take into consideration all the tribe does here in Mount Pleasant,” the Grand Haven junior said. “We often associate Natives with the casinos and that is a problem.”

university@cm-life.com