Post by blackcrowheart on Feb 2, 2006 8:53:44 GMT -5
emphasizes American Indian representation in media
emphasizes American Indian representation in media
The lecturer was the first of the journalism college's Dream Course
series
by Lisa Janssen
January 31, 2006
www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/01/31/43e036ccf18b9
Native Americans and journalists must communicate more openly to
ensure objectivity and accuracy in the media, said Harlan McKosato,
guest speaker for the Dream Course lecture series Tuesday.
McKosato, an OU alumnus, was the first of five guest lecturers for
the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication's Dream
Course series. He spoke to a lecture hall filled to capacity.
McKosato said Native American sovereignty has historical roots, a
fact that many Americans are unaware of.
"This is something that's based on the Constitution," McKosato
said. "It's about Native American tribes being able to govern
themselves."
McKosato said Indian casinos are an important part of sovereignty and
assertion of economic rights.
"After being shut out of the economic pipeline for so long, we had
found a way to make revenue," he said.
McKosato said the Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that tribes could
operate any gaming facility they wanted on tribal land, based on the
concept of sovereignty.
The casinos then moved from class two gaming like bingo to class
three gaming, which McKosato described as "Vegas-style."
"It started off with bingo games," he said. "Pretty soon, it started
getting popular and they started expanding."
But when tribes began to become economically independent, McKosato
said, the government created revenue sharing, which took away a
percentage of the Indian casinos' income.
At one point, McKosato said, the New Mexico legislature was taking 16
percent of tribal casinos' revenue "off the top."
"It was like highway robbery," McKosato said.
Native Americans used the money from casinos to create jobs and build
housing, McKosato said, and considered the revenue sharing an
infringement on their sovereign rights.
"For tribal people, this is not negotiable," he said.
In Oklahoma, class three gaming is not allowed.
McKosato said this type of gaming provides the most revenue and would
indicate a shift in economy toward tribes, something he said the
Oklahoma government does not want to see.
"Oklahoma tribal leaders need to come together and push through class
three gaming," McKosato said. "I think it would be a good thing for
tribes in Oklahoma."
McKosato said Native American journalists as well as other
journalists of color are generally perceived as advocates in
journalism.
"We all come from our own experience and we're subjective beings by
nature," McKosato said. "I don't see anything wrong with Native
American journalists trying to set the historical record straight."
McKosato said the information put out by journalists shapes public
opinion, which in turn shapes public policy and makes the role of
balance and objectivity especially important.
"Journalists have such a big hand in shaping public policy," McKosato
said. "Which means we have a responsibility to make sure the
information we put out there is accurate and fair."
McKosato said Native Americans continue to be underrepresented in the
media, and tribes as well as journalists need to work together to
give more coverage to Native American issues.
"Native Americans have to become better at selling our stories to the
press," McKosato said. "Everybody has their own media machine that
promotes the good things they are doing and tribes can do the same."
McKosato said as Native American issues increase in coverage, it will
help to eliminate the adversary mentality between non-Indians and
Indians.
"I think it will really benefit all of Oklahoma if we stop having
this `cowboys and Indians' mentality," he said. "I think the media
can change that mindset."
McKosato said he plans to increase Native American issues' visibility
with his new project, First Americans Cable Entertainment television.
FACE television will be the first 24-hour Native American cable
channel and McKosato said he hopes it will increase awareness and
education about Native Americans.
"My plan is to use a grassroots approach to get distributed,"
McKosato said. "Hopefully by the beginning of 2008 we'll finally have
a Native American television network."
McKosato said he is glad to be able to return to OU and share his
vision and ideas with future members of the media.
"It's really great to be able to come back and be received so
warmly," McKosato said.
McKosato said the future of Native American issues lies with the new
generation of media practitioners, many of whom will graduate from OU.
"There's a history out there," he said. "Take the time to learn."
McKosato said Native Americans consider the 1889 Land Run in Oklahoma
to have been immoral, and that Oklahoma needs to acknowledge the
violation of Indian rights that was committed.
"In my mind there will always be a race problem in America until
Americans come out of denial about what happened," McKosato said.
Henry Benton, public relations sophomore, said he was surprised by
some of the things McKosato said.
"I didn't realize how cheated they've been," Benton said.
E. Jethro Gaede, ethnohistorian and instructor of anthropology, said
he was pleased by the turnout. He applauded the fact that Native
American issues were selected as the lecture topic.
"This country was founded on their exploitation, struggle and
sorrow," Gaede said. "We should have no hesitation in acknowledging
their rights, struggles and the importance of issues that affect
Native Americans across the board. The issues affect all of us."
Nicholas Wahpepah, psychology senior and member of the Kickapoo and
Winnebago tribe, said McKosato's outspokenness is something for all
Native Americans to admire.
"He's educating and trying to make his voice heard," Wahpepah
said. "He's trying to get balance back in the media."
Wahpepah said bringing in speakers with outside opinions is always
useful, and the Dream Course series is helping make that possible.
"I hope to attend all of them and learn a lot more," he said.
Associate Dean Meta Carstarphen presented McKosato with a bag of OU
memorabilia so that in the future he can "find his way home" again.
Related Sites
www.nativeamericacalling.com
www.jmc.ou.edu
emphasizes American Indian representation in media
The lecturer was the first of the journalism college's Dream Course
series
by Lisa Janssen
January 31, 2006
www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/01/31/43e036ccf18b9
Native Americans and journalists must communicate more openly to
ensure objectivity and accuracy in the media, said Harlan McKosato,
guest speaker for the Dream Course lecture series Tuesday.
McKosato, an OU alumnus, was the first of five guest lecturers for
the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication's Dream
Course series. He spoke to a lecture hall filled to capacity.
McKosato said Native American sovereignty has historical roots, a
fact that many Americans are unaware of.
"This is something that's based on the Constitution," McKosato
said. "It's about Native American tribes being able to govern
themselves."
McKosato said Indian casinos are an important part of sovereignty and
assertion of economic rights.
"After being shut out of the economic pipeline for so long, we had
found a way to make revenue," he said.
McKosato said the Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that tribes could
operate any gaming facility they wanted on tribal land, based on the
concept of sovereignty.
The casinos then moved from class two gaming like bingo to class
three gaming, which McKosato described as "Vegas-style."
"It started off with bingo games," he said. "Pretty soon, it started
getting popular and they started expanding."
But when tribes began to become economically independent, McKosato
said, the government created revenue sharing, which took away a
percentage of the Indian casinos' income.
At one point, McKosato said, the New Mexico legislature was taking 16
percent of tribal casinos' revenue "off the top."
"It was like highway robbery," McKosato said.
Native Americans used the money from casinos to create jobs and build
housing, McKosato said, and considered the revenue sharing an
infringement on their sovereign rights.
"For tribal people, this is not negotiable," he said.
In Oklahoma, class three gaming is not allowed.
McKosato said this type of gaming provides the most revenue and would
indicate a shift in economy toward tribes, something he said the
Oklahoma government does not want to see.
"Oklahoma tribal leaders need to come together and push through class
three gaming," McKosato said. "I think it would be a good thing for
tribes in Oklahoma."
McKosato said Native American journalists as well as other
journalists of color are generally perceived as advocates in
journalism.
"We all come from our own experience and we're subjective beings by
nature," McKosato said. "I don't see anything wrong with Native
American journalists trying to set the historical record straight."
McKosato said the information put out by journalists shapes public
opinion, which in turn shapes public policy and makes the role of
balance and objectivity especially important.
"Journalists have such a big hand in shaping public policy," McKosato
said. "Which means we have a responsibility to make sure the
information we put out there is accurate and fair."
McKosato said Native Americans continue to be underrepresented in the
media, and tribes as well as journalists need to work together to
give more coverage to Native American issues.
"Native Americans have to become better at selling our stories to the
press," McKosato said. "Everybody has their own media machine that
promotes the good things they are doing and tribes can do the same."
McKosato said as Native American issues increase in coverage, it will
help to eliminate the adversary mentality between non-Indians and
Indians.
"I think it will really benefit all of Oklahoma if we stop having
this `cowboys and Indians' mentality," he said. "I think the media
can change that mindset."
McKosato said he plans to increase Native American issues' visibility
with his new project, First Americans Cable Entertainment television.
FACE television will be the first 24-hour Native American cable
channel and McKosato said he hopes it will increase awareness and
education about Native Americans.
"My plan is to use a grassroots approach to get distributed,"
McKosato said. "Hopefully by the beginning of 2008 we'll finally have
a Native American television network."
McKosato said he is glad to be able to return to OU and share his
vision and ideas with future members of the media.
"It's really great to be able to come back and be received so
warmly," McKosato said.
McKosato said the future of Native American issues lies with the new
generation of media practitioners, many of whom will graduate from OU.
"There's a history out there," he said. "Take the time to learn."
McKosato said Native Americans consider the 1889 Land Run in Oklahoma
to have been immoral, and that Oklahoma needs to acknowledge the
violation of Indian rights that was committed.
"In my mind there will always be a race problem in America until
Americans come out of denial about what happened," McKosato said.
Henry Benton, public relations sophomore, said he was surprised by
some of the things McKosato said.
"I didn't realize how cheated they've been," Benton said.
E. Jethro Gaede, ethnohistorian and instructor of anthropology, said
he was pleased by the turnout. He applauded the fact that Native
American issues were selected as the lecture topic.
"This country was founded on their exploitation, struggle and
sorrow," Gaede said. "We should have no hesitation in acknowledging
their rights, struggles and the importance of issues that affect
Native Americans across the board. The issues affect all of us."
Nicholas Wahpepah, psychology senior and member of the Kickapoo and
Winnebago tribe, said McKosato's outspokenness is something for all
Native Americans to admire.
"He's educating and trying to make his voice heard," Wahpepah
said. "He's trying to get balance back in the media."
Wahpepah said bringing in speakers with outside opinions is always
useful, and the Dream Course series is helping make that possible.
"I hope to attend all of them and learn a lot more," he said.
Associate Dean Meta Carstarphen presented McKosato with a bag of OU
memorabilia so that in the future he can "find his way home" again.
Related Sites
www.nativeamericacalling.com
www.jmc.ou.edu