UMD Presents "An American Indian Perspective on Land-Grant Universities"

The University of Minnesota Duluth will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1862 Morrill Act, with a forum “Land, Law and Education: An American Indian Perspective on Land-Grant Universities” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, in UMD Kirby Ballroom. A panel of distinguished speakers will explore the complex history of native people, land and education.

The keynote speaker at the event will be Colette Routel, a law professor from William Mitchell College of Law. She will speak on "Land Grants and State Obligations to Provide Higher Education to Indian Students" and will share information on cases she has worked on involving land-grant issues and treaty rights.

Tadd Johnson (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa), professor and department head of UMD American Indian Studies and director of the Master of Tribal Administration and Governance will deliver a talk about "Indians, Land and the Morrill Act."

Jill Doerfler (White Earth Nation), assistant professor, UMD American Indian Studies will speak about “American Indian Studies: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

Leo Brisbois (White Earth Nation), Federal Magistrate Judge, will talk about "Rule of Law: Indians, Education and the Judiciary."

Dr. Robert “Sonny” Peacock (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), director of Tribal Programs, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, will speak on “Land Grant and Title III and its impact on Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.”

UMD Chancellor Dr. Lendley C. Black said that UMD is pleased to be one of the few universities dedicated to the land grant mission of real world research, service to community, and providing access to students.

"In addition to commemorating the anniversary of the Morrill Act, this year also marks the 40th year of American Indian Studies at UMD," Black said. "UMD is proud of over 20 innovative American Indian programs that range from medicine, to education, to social work and to tribal administration. We celebrate this remarkable history. Part of our land-grant mission is to partner with area tribal nations and we will continue that mission in the years ahead."