% [DRUMMING AND SINGING IN NATIVE
% LANGUAGE]
% [DRUMMING AND SINGING IN NATIVE
% LANGUAGE]
% [DRUMMING AND SINGING IN NATIVE
% LANGUAGE]
% >> GREETINGS.
% GOOD EVENING.
% MY NAME IS BRIAN MCGINNIS.
% [SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
% >> AND I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO
% SAY A FEW WORDS OF INVOCATION
% THIS EVENING PRIOR TO ADA GIVING
% HER PRESENTATION HERE.
% IN A GOOD WAY, WHAT WE WANTED TO
% ACKNOWLEDGE WAS THE VERY SPECIAL
% RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH
% THIS PLACE, THIS PLACE FOR ALL
% OF OUR FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES HAS
% BEEN ONE OF GREAT MEMORY, ONE OF
% REX!RECOLLECTION, STORYTELLING AND
% RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.
% WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
% SPIRIT OF SUCH PLACE, THE SPIRIT
% THAT BRING OUR STORIES TOGETHER,
% THAT INSPIRES US TO FIND OUR
% TRUTH AND IN SUCH A GOOD WAY AS
% INSPIRED ADA TO DO THAT VERY
% THING.
% WE ALSO THINK IN THIS MOMENT AS
% WE PUT OUR MINDS TOGETHER, WE
% ASK FOR THAT GOOD CONTINUED
% BLESSING FOR HER LIFE, FOR HER
% WORK AND FOR HER CONTINUED
% STORY.
% SO IN A GOOD WAY WE JUST
% ACKNOWLEDGE THROUGH ONE OF OUR
% SACRED LANGUAGES, A LANGUAGE
% SHARED AMONGST THE OJIBWA, THE
% MENOMINEE PEOPLES OF NORTHERN
% WISCONSIN, THAT WE LOOK FOR A
% BLESSING, WE LOOK FOR PERMISSION
% TO DO THIS IN A GOOD WAY AND WE
% LOOK FOR A SENSE OF RESPECTFUL
% UNDERSTANDING TO BE WITH US ALL
% HERE THIS EVENING.
% SO IN A GOOD WAY I'LL ASK FOR
% THAT FOR EACH OF US HERE.
% [SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] !
% >> THANK YOU.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> GOOD EVENING.
% WELCOME.
% MY NAME IS MIKE FAHEY, ONE OF
% THE MANAGING DIRECTORS AT THE
% WISCONSIN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
% WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU HERE
% TONIGHT FOR THIS SPECIAL
% EVENING.
% WE THANK BRIAN MCGINNIS FOR HIS
% BEAUTIFUL OPENING BLESSINGS.
% BRIAN IS A PRORVE! PROFESSOR AT THE
% SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY HERE.
% HE'S AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE
% OJIBWA NATION.
% SO THANK YOU, BRIAN, FOR YOUR
% OPENING.
% WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAD
% TOWN SINGERS, UW-MADISON
% STUDENTS MICHAEL WILLIAMS AND
% OTHERS, FOR SHARING THEIR
% DRUMMING AND MUSIC WITH US THIS
% EVENING.
% OUR OPENING CEREMONIES ARE A
% PERFECT REMINDER THAT HUMANS
% HAVE CALLED THIS PLACE HOME FOR
% 12,000 YEARS AND COUNTING.
% WE AS! AS A! A UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
% CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR
% PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 12 FIRST
% NATIONS OF WISCONSIN.
% TODAY, THIS UNIVERSITY RESTS IN
% THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE OWE
% CHUNK NATION, WHO HAVE CALLED
% THIS PLACE HOME FOR TIME
% IMMORAL.
% BUT THE STORY OF THE NATIVE
% AMERICAN ON UW-MADISON CAMPUS IS
% NOT JUST ABOUT A PAST.
% IT ALSO CONTINUES TODAY.
% IT IS A STORY OF THE AMERICAN
% INDIAN STUDIES PROGRAM, CREATED
% BY ADA DEER AND LED IN 1973,
% DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ACADEMIC,
% CULTURAL, RESEARCH AND
% ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT TO THOSE
% INTERESTED IN AMERICAN INDIANS
% ON CAMPUS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
% IT IS A STORY TOLD BY THE
% AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT AND
% CULTURAL CENTER AND THE AMERICAN
% INDIAN STUDENT ORGANIZATION AND
% THEIR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT HERE ON
% CAMPUS.
% IT IS A STORY THAT WILL CONTINUE
% TO BE TOLD WITH THE FUTURE
% GENERATIONS WITH THE CREATION
% THIS FALL OF A POSITION OF
% TRIBAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE
% UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
% LED BY OUR GOOD FRIEND, AARON.
% IT IS A STORY THAT WE'VE TOLD
% NEXT-DOOR IN ALUMNI PARK, WHERE
% ADA DEER AGAIN IS IS ONE OF THE
% 120 ALUMNI HONORED FOR THE
% CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE LEFT ON
% THIS UNIVERSITY AND OUR WORLD.
% AND IT IS A STORY THAT IS TOLD
% WITH THE OUR SHARED FUTURE
% HERITAGE MARKER ON BASCOM HILL
% THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE HARD BUT
% CRUCIAL TRUTHS CONCERNING THE
% HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
% THE HO-CHUNK PEOPLE AND THE
% UNITED STATES AND HOW THE
% UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
% CAME TO OCCUPY WHAT LONG HAD
% BEEN HO-CHUNK LAND.
% AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
% THAT YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT AND WE
% ARE ALL HERE TONIGHT TO HONOR
% ADA DEER.
% THIS EVENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE
% THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE
% SANDRA G. SPONE SIGNATURE PART
% SERIES AND I WANT TO THANK A FEW
% INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE THIS EVENT
% POSSIBLE, STARTING WITH
% CHANCELLOR REBECCA BLANK AND HER
% STAFF, AND THE STAFF AT THE
% WISCONSIN FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI
% ASSOCIATION.
% HE I ALSO WANT!!I ALSO WANT TO THANK PBS
% WISCONSIN WHO IS RECORDING
% TONIGHT'S EVENT AND LIVE
% STREAMING IT ON THEIR WEB PAGE.
% JOINING US TONIGHT ARE SPECIAL
% FRIENDS OF ADA AND ALL OF US.
% LARRY NESPER IS PROFESSOR OF THE
% AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES PROGRAM
% AT UW-MADISON.
% THEDA PERDUE IS PROFESSOR
% EMERITA OF SOUTHERN STUDIES AT
% THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
% CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL.
% THE BOOK WE'RE DISCUSSING
% TONIGHT, "MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
% MY FIGHT FOR NATIVE RIGHTS AND
% SOCIAL JUSTICE," THE STORY OF
% ADA DEER.
% AND OF COURSE ADA DEER, WHO
% PROBABLY DOESN'T NEED ANY
% INTRODUCTION, BUT I'LL TELL YOU
% A FEW THINGS.
% ADA GREW UP ON THE MENOMINEE
% RESERVATION IN WISCONSIN AND WAS
% THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE TRIBE TO
% GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
% WISCONSIN-MADISON IN 1957.
% SHE WAS THE FIRST MEMBER OF HER
% TRIBE TO RECEIVE A MASTER'S
% DEGREE FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
% IN 1961.
% SHE LED THE STRUGGLE FOR THE
% RESTORATION OF THE MENOMINEE'S
% TRIBAL STATUS AND TRUST LANDS
% AND THAT WORK CULMINATED IN
% DECEMBER OF 1973 WHEN PRESIDENT
% NIXON RESTORED RECOGNITION TO
% THE MENOMINEE TRIBE.
% ADA TAUGHT AT UW-MADISON.
% FROM 1993 TO 1997 SHE SERVED AS
% HEAD OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
% INDIAN AFFAIRS AND WAS A
% DELEGATE TO THE UNITED NATIONS
% HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
% I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO GET
% TO KNOW ADA AND I WILL TELL YOU
% TOO THAT NOT ONLY IS SHE A
% SMART, STRONG-WILLED CHAMPION,
% BUT SHE'S ALSO A WARM AND HUMBLE
% PERSON WITH A READY SMILE AND AN
% EASY LAUGH AND A KNACK FOR
% MAKING ALL OF US FEEL SPECIAL
% AND WANTED.
% I SUSPECT THAT'S HOW SHE GOT A
% LOT OF THINGS DONE.
% SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
% ADA DEER, THEDA PERDUE AND LARRY
% NESPER.
% THANK YOU.
% [APPLAUSE] !
% >> THANK YOU.
% THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
% THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
% THEDA IS HERE FOR TWO DAYS.
% I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 17 YEARS.
% I'M HERE FOR 17 YEARS BECAUSE OF
% ADA DEER.
% ADA FOUND ME DOWN IN MUNCIE,
% INDIANA.
% I HAD INVITED HER TO GIVE A
% LECTURE AND SHE CAME DOWN THERE
% AND WE TALKED FOR A WHILE.
% SHE GAVE THE LECTURE, SHE TAUGHT
% A CLASS AND THEN SHE SAID WHY
% ARE YOU HERE?
% YOU DON'T BELONG DOWN HERE.
% YOU BELONG IN WISCONSIN.
% AND AS MANY OF US KNOW, WHEN ADA
% GETS AN IDEA, SHE FIGURES OUT
% HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING IT AND WAS
% ABLE TO BRING ME HERE, DO THE
% THINGS SHE DID TO BRING MERE L ME HERE.
% SO THAT'S MY ORIGIN STORY OF
% THIS RELATIONSHIP.
% THEDA GOT TO TELL THE STORY OF
% HER RELATIONSHIP WHICH WAS
% SIMILAR.
% ADA CAME DOWN AND GAVE A LECTURE
% AND THEY WERE VISITING AND
% TALKING, TALKING ABOUT TRAVEL
% AND YOU BOTH SAID AT ONCE, I
% WANT TO GO TO?
% >> WHAT DID WE SAY IN UNISON?
% I WANT TO GO TO MACHU PECHU.
% >> AND WE DID.
% >> SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
% BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ADA READ
% THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THIS BOOK
% TO GET A SENSE OF THE SOUND OF
% HER VOICE AS RENDERED IN...
% >> I AM A MENOMINEE INDIAN.
% THAT IS WHO I WAS BORN AND NOW I
% EXIST.
% >> HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
% CAN YOU MOVE IT IN?
% CLOSER.
% THEY CAN'T HEAR.
% TRY AGAIN, ADA.
% >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
% >> NO.
% >> IT'S NOT ON.
% [LAFER!
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> OKAY.
% CAN YOU HEAR ME?
% >> YES!
% >> ALL RIGHT!
% YES?
% THANK YOU.
% I AM A MENOMINEE INDIAN.
% THAT IS WHO I WAS BORN AND HOW I
% HAVE LIVED.
% I AM TALL LIKE THE TREES THAT
% BLANKET MY RESERVATION IN
% NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND MY SKIN
% IS BROWN LIKE THEIR BARK.
% ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT LIVED THERE
% IN YEARS, MY ROOTS GROW DEEP IN
% THAT ROCKY SOIL.
% THAT SOIL HAS ANCHORED ME DURING
% TUMULTUOUS TIMES.
% I HAVE ROOTS ELSEWHERE,
% GEOGRAPHICALLY, ANCESTRALLY AND
% INTELLECTUALLY AND THEY TOO
% PRODUCED AND NURTURED THE PERSON
% I HAVE COME.
% BUT MY TAP ROOT IS MENOMINEE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% [APPLAUSE] !
% >> UNTIL SOMEONE COMES TO FIX
% THIS OTHER MICROPHONE, WE'LL
% HAVE TO SHARE THIS, ADA.
% WE CAN DO IT.
% >> THAT'S THE CULTURAL PROTOCOL.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS THE
% ORIGIN OF THIS.
% LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF
% THIS BOOK, WHERE IT COMES FROM,
% THE EARLY CONCEPTION OF IT AND
% WE'LL START WITH ADA RESPONDING
% TO THAT.
% >> WELL, WHEN YOU GET SUCH
% POWERHOUSE PEOPLE TOGETHER, THE
% LATE MICHAEL GREEN, HER HUSBAND,
% AND THEDA AND ME, WE'RE NOT JUST
% CHATTING OVER DINNER.
% WE HAVE SERIOUS THINGS TO TALK
% ABOUT.
% AND SO THEY TOLD ME THAT -- THEY
% TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD WRITE A
% BOOK.
% AND I SAID, WELL, I HATE TO
% WRITE, YOU KNOW.
% I'M AN ORAL PERSON.
% AND I'M A VICTIM OF MY WRITING
% INSTRUCTORS, BECAUSE I WAS
% IMPRESSED BY THE MAIN POINT IS
% THAT WHEN YOU WRITE IT, IT'S IN
% PERMANENT STATUS.
% AND SO THEY SAID, WELL, WE CAN
% HELP YOU.
% I SAID, OH, REALLY?
% SO THAT'S HOW IT STARTED, OVER A
% DINNER AT THIS LOVELY HOME THAT
% THEY HAD WITH ARTIFACTS.
% NOW, THEDA IS VERY MODEST ABOUT
% HER ACTIVITIES, BUT SHE AND HER
% LATE HUSBAND WERE WORLD
% TRAVELERS.
% AND WHEN I MEAN WORLD.
% THEY HAVE BEEN OVER -- IN OVER
% 100 COUNTRIES.
% YOU PROBABLY HAVE DONE MORE
% SINCE THEN.
% >> YOU'RE EXAGGERATING.
% IT'S CLOSER TO 90, BUT...
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> 15 BOOKS, 90.
% >> AND A NUMBER OF THOSE WITH
% ADA.
% >> SO WE STRUCK UP A WONDERFUL
% FRIENDSHIP, AND WE'RE TRAVEL
% BUDDIES IN VARIOUS PLACES.
% PANAMA CANAL, ITALY.
% >> EGYPT.
% >> MEXICO.
% TO START WITH.
% OKAY.
% SO IT'S BEEN A PROCESS WITH THIS
% BOOK.
% I HAVE NEVER DONE A BOOK BEFORE,
% BUT I LIKE TO TALK.
% AND SO THEY MODIFIED THEIR IDEAS
% ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD PROCEED
% WITH THIS.
% AND SO I WENT THROUGH MANY, MANY
% HOURS OF INTERVIEWS.
% >> AND AND 60 OR MORE.
% >> WOW.
% IT FELT LIKE MORE THAN THAT.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> AND YOU LIKE HER.
% >> WELL, THEY'RE BOTH CHARMING
% PEOPLE.
% OKAY.
% SO, THEN IT HAD TO BE
% TRANSCRIBED AND THEN MICHAEL GOT
% SICK AND THAT TOOK TIME AND THEN
% UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED ON.
% ANYWAY, HERE WE ARE.
% >> AND THEN, AND THEN THERE WERE
% THINGS THAT NOT ONLY ADA
% COULDN'T QUITE REMEMBER ALL OF,
% BUT ALSO I'M AN HISTORIAN, AND
% HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE
% TO CHECK EVERY LITTLE FACT.
% AND SO I ENDED UP DOING A LOT OF
% RESEARCH IN ARCHIVES.
% I READ "INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY"
% FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END
% LOOKING FOR MENOMINEE STUFF.
% I THOUGHT I HAD COVERED
% EVERYTHING THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN
% ABOUT ADA OR THAT ADA HAD
% WRITTEN.
% UNTIL ADA'S LONG-TIME ASSISTANT
% PASSED AWAY AND HER LAWYER, WHO
% WAS HANDLING HER ESTATE, CALLED
% AND SAID THAT THERE WERE 50
% BOXES OF ADA'S PAPERS FROM WHEN
% SHE WAS AT THE BIA IN HER
% STOREROOM.
% SO HE HAD IT MOVED OVER TO ADA'S
% GARAGE, AND I WENT TO ADA'S
% HOUSE TO GO THROUGH IT.
% WELL, I OPENED THE FIRST BOX AND
% I GO THROUGH AND FORTUNATELY HER
% ASSISTANT WAS EXTRAORDINARILY
% WELL ORGANIZED.
% AND SO THERE WASES AN INDEX!!! THERE WAS AN INDEX AT THE
% BEGINNING OF WHAT WAS IN IT AND
% EACH LETTER THAT WAS IN A FILE.
% AND SO I THOUGHT THIS IS NOT
% GOING TO BE THAT BAD.
% SO I PUT THAT BOX DOWN.
% AND I OPENED THE SECOND BOX.
% AND A RAT THAT WAS AT LEAST
% THREE FEET LONG JUMPED OUT AND
% OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> WELL, I SENT ADA TO THE
% GROCERY STORE TO GET SOME RAT
% KILLER.
% AND I KEPT ON PLOWING THROUGH
% THEM, ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY THAT
% WE DID MOVE THEM INTO THE HOUSE
% AT THAT POINT AND PROCEEDED FROM
% THERE.
% SO THIS WAS REALLY NOT ONLY A
% JOINT EFFORT, BUT A TEAM EFFORT,
% BECAUSE WE HAD WONDERFUL SUPPORT
% FROM THE AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER
% AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
% CAROLINA, WHO ARRANGED FOR THE
% BRUISE, ARRANGED!!!INTERVIEWS, ARRANGED FOR THE
% TRANSCRIBING AND FOOTED THE BILL
% FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF IT.
% AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO THEM.
% I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING VERY
% SPECIAL ABOUT AMERICAN INDIAN
% CENTERS ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.
% WE TALK ABOUT INDIANS BEING
% TRIBAL PEOPLE, BUT THERE'S ALSO
% A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT CUTS
% ACROSS TRIBAL LINES.
% AND I THINK THAT IN THEIR
% WILLINGNESS TO HELP WITH THIS
% AND TO FUND THIS, IN PART, I
% THINK THAT THAT DEMONSTRATES THE
% EXISTENCE OF SUCH COMMUNITY.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> SO 60 HOURS, AT LEAST, RIGHT?
% ADA, PROBABLY MORE LIKE 100,
% RIGHT?
% SOME OF THAT, I ASSUME, WAS
% PLEASURABLE, TO REMEMBER SOME OF
% THESE THINGS.
% WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MORE
% PLEASURABLE THINGS TO REMEMBER
% ABOUT YOUR LIFE IN THIS PROCESS
% OF PUTTING TOGETHER THIS STORY
% OF YOUR LIFE?
% >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAD TO
% TAP INTO MY MEMORY, AND THAT WAS
% THE HARD IN CERTAIN AREAS.
% BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, THE BOOK WAS
% OVER 83 YEARS.
% AND THAT WAS A LOT OF TIME TO
% COVER.
% BUT, ACTUALLY, IT WAS AN
% INTERESTING INTELLECTUAL
% EXERCISE, BECAUSE I HAD TO
% RETHINK AND ALSO TO REMEMBER.
% SO REMEMBER THAT.
% RETHINK AND REMEMBER FOR THOSE
% OF YOU WHO ARE FUTURE AUTHORS.
% SO AT TIMES IT WAS FRUSTRATING
% BECAUSE I WAS IRKED WITH MYSELF
% THAT I COULDN'T REMEMBER, YOU
% KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS.
% BUT AS YOU HAVE HEARD, BOTH SHE
% AND HER LATE HUSBAND WERE
% SCHOLARS, WERE AND ARE SCHOLARS,
% AND THEY UNCOVERED A LOT OF
% STUFF THAT I DIDN'T KNOW, WHICH
% I THOUGHT WAS FABULOUS.
% LIKE THIS PICTURE OF ME FROM
% 1939 WHEN I WAS A TEENSY KID.
% >> THAT WAS IN THE BOX WITH THE
% RAT.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> IS THAT RIGHT?
% OKAY.
% SO --
% >> IT'S IN THE BOOK.
% NOT THE RAT, BUT THE PICTURE.
% >> YEAH.
% BUT THEY WERE TROOPERS.
% AND THEY WORKED HARD AND MADE
% GOOD USE OF THE TIME.
% AND I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD ALL THAT
% STUFF, BUT I HARDLY EVER THROW
% ANYTHING AWAY UNTIL I'VE REALLY
% LOOKED AT IT.
% SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T ALLOW
% ANYBODY INTO MY HOUSE.
% BECAUSE IT'S PILES OF PAPERS
% THAT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO FILE.
% MY DEAR FRIEND OLIVIA BIKFORD
% WAS WONDERFUL IN DOING THAT.
% SO I CERTAINLY MISS HER.
% SO CHERISH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR
% FAMILY AS YOU PROCEED WITH YOUR
% LIFE.
% I THINK TOO OFTEN WE TAKE IT FOR
% GRANTED.
% AND WE CAN'T DO THAT.
% EVERY DAY IS! IS A GIFT AND A
% BLESSING, AND I FEEL VERY
% BLESSED KNOWING BOTH OF THESE
% PEOPLE HERE, THEY'RE SCHOLARS,
% THEY'RE TEACHERS, THEY'RE HUMANS
% AND THEY ARE FUN!
% >> WELL, THANK YOU, ADA.
% THEDA, DO YOU REMEMBER IN
% WRITING CERTAIN PARTS OF THE
% BOOK THAT WERE EITHER MORE
% PLEASURABLE OR CHALLENGING?
% >> I LOVED HEARING ABOUT ADA'S
% CHILDHOOD.
% AND HER MEMORY OF HER CHILDHOOD
% AND HER YOUNG ADULTHOOD, HER
% TIME IN NEW YORK WHEN SHE WAS AT
% COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, HER TIME
% THERE WORK WITHING AS A SOCIAL
% WORKER.
% IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL
% TO HEAR HER TELL THOSE STORIES.
% I THINK THE HARDEST PART TO WORK
% ON WAS HER TIME AT THE BUREAU OF
% INDIAN AFFAIRS.
% FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE THAT'S A
% CHAPTER IN ADA'S LIFE THAT WE
% KNOW RELATIVELY LITTLE ABOUT AS
% IT CONNECTS TO HER.
% WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE THINGS
% THAT WERE ON THE FRONT BURNER AT
% THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
% DURING THOSE YEARS.
% INDIAN GAMING WAS BEGINNING TO
% EXPAND.
% IT HAD BEEN FAIRLY LIMITED UNTIL
% ADA WAS IN THE BUREAU OF INDIAN
% AFFAIRS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
% EVERYBODY WANTED TO GET ON THE
% GAMING BANDWAGON.
% AND ADA WAS IN SOME WAYS A
% SUPPORTER, BUT I DON'T MEAN TO
% TELL YOUR STORY, BECAUSE IT GAVE
% TRIBES RESOURCES TO TAKE OVER
% THEIR OWN AFFAIRS.
% AS LONG AS THEY WERE SO
% FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT ON THE
% FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INDIAN
% TRIBES COULDN'T PLOT THEIR OWN
% COURSE.
% AND SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL AT
% CONNECTING GAMING MONEY AND
% TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.
% AND THIS WAS SUCH AN EXCITING
% STORY BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS
% ONE THAT REALLY HAD NOT BEEN
% TOLD ADEQUATELY.
% AND I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING ON
% THAT.
% AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW MUCH
% ABOUT THAT PERIOD.
% YOU HEARD THAT I WAS AN
% HISTORIAN OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH.
% I PRIMARILY TAUGHT AMERICAN
% INDIAN HISTORY, SO IN PLACES
% OTHER THAN THE SOUTH, BUT I DO
% SPECIALIZE ON SOUTHERN INDIAN
% TRIBES.
% AND SO I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL
% FROM THE PERIOD OF THE '90s IN
% PARTICULAR BY GOING THROUGH
% ADA'S PAPERS.
% THOSE 50 BOXES WERE AN EDUCATION
% FOR ME.
% >> THANK YOU.
% LET'S GO TO THAT TIME THEN,
% SINCE YOU BRING THAT UP, AND
% DETAIL THAT TO SOME EXTENT IN
% YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT PERIOD.
% I WAS STRUCK IN READING AND
% REREADING THAT SECTION OF THE
% BOOK HOW MUCH CONFLICT THERE WAS
% AND THE COMPLEXITY OF NAVIGATING
% THE VARIOUS INTERESTS AMONG
% PRETTY EGOTISTICAL PEOPLE WHO
% HAD PRETTY CLEAR AGENDAS.
% A VERY ANTIINDIAN PERSON, COULD
% YOU JUST COMMENT ON HOW DID YOU
% HANDLE THAT WITH SUCH APPARENT
% GRACE IN TERMS OF THE OUTCOME OF
% SOME OF THE THINGS THAT TOOK
% PLACE.
% YOU DID RECOGNIZE 226 ALASKAN
% NATIVE COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS
% NEARLY DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF
% TRIBAL NATIONS.
% THAT WAS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO
% AND THAT WASN'T SOMETHING
% EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED ABOUT
% HAPPENING.
% BUT NONETHELESS THAT HAPPENED
% AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK
% DESERVES THE APPLAUSE THAT IT'S
% ACHIEVING HERE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> WELL, THAT'S A WHOLE STORY.
% BUT, ANYWAY, I'LL HIT SOME OF
% THE HIGHLIGHTS.
% I FEEL THAT IT'S REALLY
% IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GROUNDING.
% YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND
% KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
% AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THEN YOU
% HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
% OKAY.
% SO IN TERMS OF THE ALASKA
% NATIVES, I WAS CERTAINLY
% SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
% AND I ANNOUNCED WHEN I BECAME
% THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, I TOLD
% PEOPLE I WANTED TO DO AS MUCH AS
% I COULD AS FAST AS I COULD FOR
% AS MANY AS I COULD.
% AND OF COURSE THIS SURPRISED
% MANY.
% BECAUSE BEING THE FIRST WOMAN
% AND AN INDIAN AT THAT, PLUS
% BEING A SOCIAL WORKER, THESE ARE
% NOT HIGH TICKET ITEMS IN THIS
% SOCIETY, RIGHT?
% OKAY.
% THERE WAS A LOT OF CURIOSITY.
% AND THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW
% THE OFFICE, IT WAS THIS KIND OF
% DRAB, BORING OFFICE.
% AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY
% THAT MY FRIENDS HERE IN THE
% SOCIAL WORK COMMUNITY, STEVEN
% WEBSTER AND HIS WIFE, SUSAN,
% SENT ME THIS HUGE PLANT.
% AND THAT BRIGHTENED UP THE
% OFFICE TO A DEGREE.
% BUT I ALSO DECIDED THAT I WASN'T
% GOING TO HAVE JUST A BIG, LONG
% TABLE WHERE YOU HAD SOMEBODY AT
% THE HEAD, SOMEBODY AT THE BOTTOM
% AND THEN OTHERS IN BETWEEN.
% SO I SAID, BOY, I WOULD REALLY
% LIKE TO HAVE A ROUND TABLE.
% THEY'RE GOING LIKE WHAT?
% SO THEY SAID, WELL, OKAY.
% SO OUT CAME A TABLE LIKE THIS,
% PEANUT-SIZED ROUND TABLE.
% SO THEN I SAID, WELL, THAT'S NOT
% WHAT I WOULD LIKE.
% AND COULD YOU HAVE SOMEBODY GO
% TO THE GOVERNMENT WAREHOUSE.
% AB BORE!WOMAN KNOWS ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE.
% HELLO.
% I'M A GRADUATE OF COLUMBIA
% UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF
% WISCONSIN-MADISON, NOT PO DUNK
% U.
% I GOT A WONDERFUL EDUCATION AT
% MADISON HERE.
% SO THEY CAME BACK WITH A
% WONDERFUL CIRCULAR WOODEN TABLE.
% AND I SAID, THANK YOU.
% THAT'S RIGHT THERE.
% OKAY.
% SO THEN THE PEOPLE WOULD COME
% IN.
% AS YOU'RE CONSTANTLY SEEING
% PEOPLE.
% AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE
% QUESTIONING, WELL, WHERE DO WE
% SIT?
% I SAID, WELL, IT'S A ROUND
% TABLE, YOU CAN SIT ANYWHERE AND
% WE'LL ALL TALK TOGETHER.
% WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WERE
% EXPECTING, BECAUSE THERE'S GOT
% TO BE A HEAD AND THERE'S GOT TO
% BE A FOOT, YOU KNOW.
% SO, ANYWAY, A THAT WAS KIND OF
% WEIRD TO THEM.
% SO THAT KIND OF SET THEM APART
% -- OR SET ME APART FROM THE
% USUAL.
% >> AND SO I WAS AWARE THAT THERE
% WOULD BE A LOT OF SUBTERFUGE
% BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND, BEING
% A WOMAN AND BEING AN INDIAN, AND
% AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL.
% EVEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS TOLD ME
% THAT IF THIS HAD BEEN OFFERED TO
% HER, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN IT.
% WELL, IT'S NOT QUITE A QUESTION
% OF BEING OFFERED.
% YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VERY
% RIGOROUS PROCESS TO GET
% NOMINATED.
% YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH -- ONCE
% THE HEADHUNTERS DECIDE THAT
% YOU'RE A POSSIBILITY, THEN THEY
% DRAW UP A LIST OF PEOPLE AND
% THEY THEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH A
% FULL FBI FIELD INVESTIGATION.
% AND SO I ACTUALLY WENT TO ONE OF
% THE OFFICES IN ONE OF THE TOWNS
% IN WISCONSIN.
% I THINK IT WAS GREEN BAY.
% I SAID, HELLO, I'M ADA DEER AND
% I'M BEING CONSIDERED FOR A
% PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT.
% AND THEY'RE GOING, LIKE, WHAT?
% THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE
% ONEIDA.
% SO I THINK THEY DID SOME SPADE
% WORK THERE.
% AT ANY RATE, AND SO I SAID THE
% ONLY THING YOU'RE GOING TO FIND
% IN MY RECORD ARE SPEED TICKETS.
% I SAID, THE WORLD IS IN SLOW
% GEAR AND THE DEER IS IN FAST
% GEAR.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> AND OF COURSING THEY DIDN'T
% KNOW -- I LIKE TO BE HUMOROUS.
% I LIKE TO LAUGH, YOU KNOW.
% AND SO I WASN'T THIS IRONCLAD
% BUREAUCRAT, YOU KNOW, JUST
% SITTING THERE LIKE THIS, DUH.
% NO.
% BUT, ANYWAY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
% THAT ABOUT ALL BUREAUCRATS.
% THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE AROUND,
% BUT THEY'RE IN A MINORITY.
% OKAY?
% >> SO YOU SEE WHY THIS WAS SO
% MUCH FUN.
% >> HEY, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION
% NOW THAT YOU ASKED ME?
% >> I DON'T REMEMBER.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> ANYWAY, I WANT TO FINISH THIS
% POINT, THAT RACISM AND SEXISM
% AND ALL THESEISMS!! THESE ISMS ARE VERY
% EVIDENT IN OUR SOCIETY.
% IF THEY DON'T LIKE YOU, THEY
% UNDERMINE YOU.
% THEY LOSE YOUR LETTERS AND THEY
% START GOSSIPING.
% THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW I
% COULD BE THIS FAR UP.
% AND I'M A SINGLE PERSON BY
% CHOICE AND I MADE THAT WHEN I
% WAS VERY YOUNG I MADE THAT
% CHOICE.
% AND PEOPLE WERE KIND OF
% SURPRISED.
% HERE I WAS IN THIS HIGH
% GOVERNMENT POSITION, AND I
% DIDN'T HAVE A MAN AT MY SIDE,
% YOU KNOW.
% SO THAT UPSET A LOT OF PEOPLE,
% TOO.
% SO, ANYWAY, SO THERE WERE -- I
% TELL PEOPLE THAT THERE WERE
% ARROWS FROM THE --
% >> INDIANS.
% >> FROM THE INDIANS AND SPEARS
% FROM THE WHITES.
% BUT I TELL EVERYBODY, I HAVE
% TOUGH DEER HIDE.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> PLUS I'M A VERY DETERMINED
% PERSON.
% SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD
% GROUNDING IN WHAT YOU WANT TO
% DO.
% I ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT TO
% THEM.
% BUT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.
% AND I THINK SOMETIMES I GET
% UNDUE CREDIT FOR THINGS.
% BUT I'LL TAKE IT ANYWAY.
% SO THIS IS FOR ALASKA.
% THIS IS ACTUALLY -- IT WAS THE
% SECRETARIAL ORDER.
% AND I HAD BEEN TO ALASKA ON MY
% OWN BEFORE COMING INTO THE
% BUREAU.
% AT ANY RATE, I SAID, WELL, I
% DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS.
% SO I MADE A CALL AND CALLED IN
% THE LAWYERS.
% I SAID, I NEED TO BE BRIEFED ON
% THIS.
% AND SO THEY BRIEFED ME.
% AND THERE'S SO MUCH CHICANERY
% THAT GOES ON.
% IT WAS VERY SAD TO HEAR WHAT
% HAPPENED.
% THE SENATOR STEVENS, TED
% STEVENS, WAS THE SENATOR, AND HE
% WAS THIS IMPORTANT PERSON FOR
% APPROXIMATELY 50 YEARS IN
% ALASKA.
% AND YOU GO INTO THE AIRPORT AND
% IT'S TED STEVENS INTERNATIONAL
% AIRPORT.
% HE HAD A LOT OF POWER AND
% INFLUENCE.
% HE DID QUITE A LOT OF GOOD.
% BUT HE ALSO IN THE TERMS OF THE
% ALASKA NATIVE CLAIM, HE DIDN'T
% CONSULT THE INDIAN PEOPLE.
% HE HAD A GROUP OF INDIANS THAT
% WERE SUPPOSED TO BE CONSULTED,
% BUT ACTUALLY THEY MADE THE
% DECISIONS.
% HE AND HIS BUDDIES MAKE THE
% DECISIONS ABOUT THE ALASKA CLAIM
% SETTLEMENT ACT AND DIDN'T
% CONSULT THEM.
% >> WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE FOR
% ALASKAN NATIVES TRIBAL
% SOVEREIGNTY.
% >> THAT'S RIGHT.
% SO AT ANY RATE THIS LIST CAME IN
% AND I ASKED PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN
% THIS TO ME.
% SO I SAID ALL THESE VILLAGES
% WERE LEFT OUT OF THE ALASKA
% CLAIM SETTLEMENT ACT?
% THEY SAID YES.
% I'M SAYING WHAT, TO MYSELF, YOU
% KNOW.
% ACTUALLY, I'M ALWAYS CALM.
% I'M NOT VERY EMOTIONAL EVEN
% THOUGH I'M ANGRY BECAUSE I DON'T
% WANT TO GIVE THEM A REASON FOR
% NOT LISTENING TO ME.
% AND SO I'M DIPLOMATIC.
% AND A READ A LOT ABOUT MY
% MENOMINEE PEOPLE AND THAT WAS
% ONE OF THEIR STRENGTHS.
% THEY WERE DIPLOMATIC, AND AS A
% RESULT OF THEIR DIP! DIPLOMACY -- I'M
% DEVIATING A LITTLE BIT HERE, BUT
% I TRIED TO BE DIPLOMATIC WITH
% EVERYBODY, LOOK THEM STRAIGHT IN
% THE EYE, TALK TO THEM, LISTEN TO
% THEM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF
% MANAGING CONFLICT, YOU CAN'T
% MANAGE ALL THE CONFLICTS BECAUSE
% SOME OF THEM ARE TOO DEEP AND
% THERE ARE LOTS OF HIDDEN
% AGENDAS, PEOPLE UP AND DOWN,
% ABOVE YOU AND BELOW YOU.
% BUT THOSE THAT CAME ACROSS, I
% RECOGNIZED OTHER TRIBES.
% SO THEN I FINISHED THE BRIEFING
% AND THEN I SAID, OKAY.
% SO MY SIGNATURE ON HERE MEANS
% THAT ALL THOSE NATIVE VILLAGES
% WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND RECEIVE
% SERVICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT,
% LIKE THE OTHER TRIBES DO.
% AND THEY SAID YES.
% OKAY.
% SO I SIGNED IT.
% AND THAT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH
% POWER THAT ONE CAN EXERT.
% AND YOU CAN'T DISMISS THE
% PROBLEMS.
% IF YOU DON'T DEAL WITH THEM,
% THEN SOMEBODY ELSE HAS TO DEAL
% WITH THEM.
% AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF MY
% PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MAKING
% IT POSSIBLE FOR THE ALASKA
% NATIVE PEOPLE TO BE RECOGNIZED
% AS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES.
% AND --
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> SO THIS PAPER ARRIVED AT MY
% DESK.
% I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO A LOT OF
% HOMEWORK.
% AND BY THIS TIME PEOPLE ARE
% BEGINNING TO WONDER WHAT KIND OF
% A PERSON AM I.
% I'M EXERTING, SIGNING ALL THESE
% PAPERS, AND I'M SIGNING GAMING
% COMPACTS.
% >> SHE'S DOING THINGS FOR
% INDIANS.
% >> YES.
% YEAH.
% I WAS DOING MY JOB.
% >> YEAH.
% >> YOU KNOW.
% HELLO?
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> SO MANAGING CONFLICT IS HARD,
% AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE
% DETERMINATION.
% YOU HAVE TO HAVE STRENGTH.
% YOU CAN'T LET PEOPLE TELL YOU
% YOU CAN'T DO IT.
% OH.
% I HAVE TO TELL YOU PART OF THIS.
% SO I GET INTO WASHINGTON.
% I START -- I SAID, OKAY.
% THIS IS WITH MENOMINEE
% RESTORATION.
% SO I GO FIRST TO THE BIA AND I
% GET TO AN APPOINTMENT WITH THIS
% GUY.
% I STILL REMEMBER HIS NAME.
% SCOTT CEET.
% I TOLD HIM I'M HERE TO WORK ON
% THE TRIBAL RESTORATION.
% HE SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO
% HAPPEN.
% WHAT?
% >> THIS IS IN THE 1970s.
% GO AHEAD.
% >> RIGHT.
% RIGHT.
% BUT THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR MY
% WHOLE STORY.
% AND SO THEN I SAID, WELL, WHO'S
% YOUR SUPERVISOR?
% SO I GO TO HIS SUPERVISOR.
% IT WAS A GRAND -- OH.
% AB ROAR!SHE KNOWS TO ASK FOR THE
% SUPERVISOR.
% YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE.
% YOU CAN'T CAVE IN.
% YOU JUST KEEP PLOWING AHEAD AND
% GO OVER THEM OR BEHIND THEM OR
% GET SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S MORE
% POWERFUL TO STEP IN.
% YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL YOUR TOOLS
% THERE.
% SO, AT ANY RATE, THE SUPERVISOR
% SAYS, WOW, THIS IS EXCITING.
% WE'LL SUPPORT YOU.
% SO, ANYWAYS, I'M THERE.
% FAST FORWARD.
% WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALASKA.
% THERE HE WAS ALL THIS TIME,
% STILL NOT HELPING INDIANS.
% HURTING INDIAN PEOPLE.
% THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
% BIA AND THE GOVERNMENT THAT
% DON'T DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED
% TO DO.
% AND IT WAS KIND OF A SWEET
% VICTORY TO GREET HIM AS THE
% ASSISTANT SECRETARY WHEN HE WAS
% TRYING TO DISMISS ME WHEN I CAME
% TO WORK ON THE RESTORATION ACT.
% SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LONG
% MEMORY, RIGHT?
% >> ADA HAS A VERY GOOD MEMORY.
% >> YEAH.
% SO I DON'T KNOW.
% I KIND OF DEVIATE.
% THAT'S THE WAY MY THOUGHT
% PROCESS GOES.
% SO, AT ANY RATE, WHAT ELSE?
% >> LARRY IS ASKING THE
% QUESTIONS.
% >> YEAH.
% THAT'S RIGHT.
% OKAY.
% YOU SAID ABOUT THE RESTORATION
% IS IMPORTANT.
% REALLY AN IMPORTANT, CRITICAL
% THING.
% YOUR NAME IS REALLY SYNONYMOUS
% WITH MENOMINEE RESTORATION AND
% ALSO THE RECOGNITION OF THE
% ALASKA TRIBES.
% IS THAT GOING TO BE YOUR LEGACY,
% DO YOU THINK?
% HOW DO YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOUR
% LEGACY IS GOING TO BE?
% >> I DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT MY
% LEGACY.
% I DO WHAT I DO AND IT GIVES ME
% GREAT JOY TO HAVE THE POWER THAT
% I HAD IN THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
% POSITION.
% I RECOGNIZED OTHER TRIBES AND A
% LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE
% BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
% AND IT WAS EXCITING.
% AND YOU HAVE TO -- YOU'RE UP
% THERE BY YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU
% DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU
% SHOULD HAVE.
% AND I KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING
% TO HAPPEN.
% AND SO I WASN'T BEFUDDLED BY
% THAT.
% I JUST KEPT EVERY DAY DOING WHAT
% I THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.
% AND SO I'M NOT DONE YET.
% >> SO WHAT IS IT NOW THEN THAT
% YOU ARE WORKING ON?
% HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN RECENT
% YEARS.
% >> WELL, MY MOST RECENT CAMPAIGN
% WAS HELPING MY GODSON, BEN
% WICKLER, BECOME THE CHAIR OF THE
% WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
% NOW, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND --
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> NOW, IS HE IN THE AUDIENCE?
% >> ALL RIGHT, BEN!
% >> STAND UP.
% STAND UP.
% COME ON UP HERE SO THEY CAN SEE
% YOU.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> OKAY.
% >> THANKS, BEN.
% >> HIS MOTHER LYNN IS ONE OF MY
% DEAREST, DEAREST FRIENDS.
% AND SHE AND I ARE BOTH SOCIAL
% WORKERS.
% OUR OFFICES WERE RIGHT ACROSS
% FROM EACH OTHER.
% LONG STORY SHORT, I WAS VERY
% INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF THINGS
% WITH THE FAMILY AND IT WAS
% WONDERFUL SHARING THE
% EXPERIENCE.
% AND WITH BEN I WAS THERE, BUT I
% WASN'T HOVERING OR SMOTHERING.
% I WAS ONLY THERE WHEN I GOT
% INVITED.
% AND SO SOME OF THE BIRTHDAY
% PARTIES.
% AND THEN HE PAID ME BACK IN ONE
% WAY.
% WHEN I WAS 64, HE GOT HIS HIGH
% SCHOOL BUDDIES TOGETHER AND THEY
% SANG "WHEN YOU'RE 64."
% SO HE HAS THIS VERY INCLUSIVE
% AND EXPANSIVE APPROACH TO
% EVERYTHING.
% AND SO WE TALKED AND I'VE BEEN
% TO HIS BAR MITZVAH AND I WAS IN
% HIS WEDDING AND NOW I SPEND TIME
% WITH HIS THREE CHILDREN.
% IT'S JUST A VERY JOYOUS
% EXPERIENCE.
% BUT THEN HE AND HIS WIFE MOVED
% LAST DECEMBER.
% THEY CAME TO MADISON.
% AND NEITHER OF THEM HAD A JOB.
% WELL, PRETTY SOON THE WORD IS
% OUT.
% BEN WICKLER IS HERE.
% BECAUSE HE HAS HIS OWN
% REPUTATION, TOO.
% ALL RIGHT.
% SO, ANYWAY, LONG STORY SHORT,
% THE THEN OUTGOING DEMOCRATIC
% PERSON SAID SHE WAS -- AFTER TWO
% TERMS SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE
% THERE OR SHE WAS NOT GOING TO
% RUN.
% AND SO HE DECIDED -- AND SHE
% WANTED HIM TO KNOW THAT AND RUN.
% AND SO I GOT INVOLVED IN HIS
% CAMPAIGN.
% AND IT WAS REALLY FUNNY BECAUSE
% HE GOT ACCUSED OF BEING A
% CARPETBAGGER AT FIRST BECAUSE
% HE'D BEEN ABSENT FROM WISCONSIN.
% HE GREW UP IN THE MADISON AREA.
% SEE, I DON'T JUST DO INDIANS.
% I DO EVERYBODY.
% OKAY?
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> WELL, IT'S TRUE, YOU KNOW.
% >> IT IS TRUE.
% >> I GET INVOLVED WITH ALL KINDS
% OF PEOPLE.
% IT ENRICHES MY LIFE SO MUCH AND
% I GET SUCH JOY AND SATISFACTION
% BEING OF SOME ASSISTANCE TO
% WHOEVER I CAN HELP.
% OKAY.
% SOCIAL WORKERS, WE LIKE TO HELP
% PEOPLE.
% BUT YOU GO TO SOCIAL WORK
% SCHOOL, YOU LEARN TO HELP,
% RIGHT?
% SO IT'S MEANINGFUL.
% AT ANY RATE, HE MENTIONED THAT
% HE STARTED TELLING PEOPLE WHAT
% HIS BACKGROUND WAS IN WISCONSIN.
% SO I'M JUST SAYING ONE EXAMPLE
% IN HOW IT'S REFLECTING OUT.
% ALL RIGHT.
% WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WE
% TALKED ABOUT WHAT HE WANTED TO
% DO.
% HE WAS KIND OF EXPLORING.
% HE WANTED TO GO INTO POLITICS
% AND BECOME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
% BUT, ANYWAY, HE DIDN'T DO THAT.
% HE WENT TO HARVARD.
% THEN HE WORKED IN THE OFFICES IN
% WASHINGTON WITH SOME OF THE
% SENATORS.
% AND THEN, WELL, ANYWAY, HE CAME
% BACK HERE.
% BUT HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH
% MOVEON.ORG.
% SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HE RAN AND
% THEN HE STARTED TELLING PEOPLE
% THAT I WAS HIS GODMOTHER.
% AND PEOPLE SAID, WHAT?
% SO THEN HE ASKED ME TO COME AND
% CAMPAIGN WITH HIM.
% SO I DID THAT FOR A WHILE.
% AND THEN I INTRODUCED HIM OR
% SUPPORTED HIM WHEN THE STATE
% CONVENTION WAS.
% AND HE WON.
% AND THERE HE IS.
% HE'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
% IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF
% WISCONSIN!
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% I THINK YOU'RE READY TO HEAR
% QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
% >> OKAY.
% AS YOU CAN SEE, I CAN TALK
% ENDLESSLY.
% BUT I BELIEVE IN SHARING AND
% CARING.
% >> GREAT.
% IF YOU COULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR
% HAND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
% ASKING A QUESTION.
% WE HAVE TWO MICS THAT WILL BE
% COMING AROUND.
% DOWN FRONT.
% >> HI, ADA.
% IT'S SHALA.
% HI.
% >> OH, SHALA.
% >> GREAT TO SEE YOU AND THANKS
% FOR THE BOOK.
% BUT I WANT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR
% TIME RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AND
% HOW YOU THINK THAT MIGHT PAVE
% THE WAY FOR DISTRICT 7.
% >> OKAY.
% GOOD.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> WELL, LET'S SEE.
% LET ME SAY THAT I FIRST GOT
% DRAGGED INTO RUNNING FOR THE
% SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE WAY
% BACK WHEN, IN THE '70s, AND I
% CAME DOWN.
% I WAS CHAIR OF THE MENOMINEE
% RESTORATION COMMITTEE.
% THAT WAS INTERIM TRIBAL
% GOVERNMENT THAT HAD TO BE SET UP
% IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
% RESTORATION ACT WAS PASSED BY
% CONGRESS.
% BUT I DECIDED THEN THAT THEY
% SHOULD ALL -- WE SHOULD ALSO
% HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN
% MENOMINEE.
% AND I CAME DOWN TO THE
% DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND THE WOMAN
% SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
% TALK ABOUT THAT.
% WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU.
% I SAID I DIDN'T DRIVE THREE
% HOURS DOWN HERE TO TALK ABOUT
% ME.
% SHE WAS JUST ADAMANT.
% SO I CAVED IN.
% AND SHE SAID, WELL, I SAID, WHAT
% ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
% SECRETARY OF STATE.
% OH.
% I HAD A VAGUE IDEA WHAT IT WAS.
% AND THEN SHE ASKED, WELL, WHY?
% IT'S VACANT.
% THAT'S THE REASON TO RUN FOR
% SECRETARY OF STATE.
% IT WAS VACANT.
% SO I TALKED WITH A FEW PEOPLE
% AND THEY SAID OKAY.
% WELL, THEN I FOUND OUT THAT I
% REALLY LIKED CAMPAIGNING.
% I LIKED ESPECIALLY GOING UP TO
% NORTHERN WISCONSIN WHERE THEY'RE
% NOT VERY FOND OF INDIANS UP
% THERE, YOU KNOW?
% SO THERE I AM UP THERE.
% NOT EVERYBODY, BUT MOST OF THE
% PEOPLE, OKAY?
% AND SO I WOULD WALK INTO THE
% OFFICE.
% HELLO.
% I'M ADA DEER AND I'M RUNNING FOR
% SECRETARY OF STATE.
% THEY GO LIKE WHAT?
% SEE, YOU HAVE TO TOUGHEN
% YOURSELF UP.
% I'M CRASHING THROUGH, RIGHT?
% SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY
% ADAMANT IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
% AT ANY RATE, SO THEN I SAID,
% WELL, THE DUTIES OF THE
% SECRETARY OF STATE ARE, ONE OF
% THEM IS TO MAINTAIN THE SEAL OF
% THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN, IN
% ADDITION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE
% DUTIES.
% OH.
% YOU KNOW, SO I SAID THANK YOU
% VERY MUCH.
% I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.
% WELL, THEN MY CAMPAIGN TROOPS
% SAID -- OH.
% I CAME IN FOURTH IN THE FIELD OF
% NINE.
% VEL PHILLIPS WAS THE SECRETARY
% OF STATE.
% THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO DO IT
% AGAIN.
% SO THAT TIME THEN I BECAME A
% CANDIDATE AND WAS SECOND IN A
% FIELD OF FOUR.
% SO I SAID, OKAY.
% I'M DONE WITH THIS.
% MY CAMPAIGN TROOPS LIKE
% CAMPAIGNING, AND SO -- AND THEY
% LIKED ME AND WE HAD FUN.
% OKAY.
% SO, ANYWAY, WE THEN -- THEY
% CALLED ME UP THEN, SAID, YOU
% HAVE TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.
% AND I SAID CONGRESS?
% I SAID, WHOA, THAT'S A BIG STEP.
% BUT THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE
% PEOPLE I HAD MET IN WASHINGTON
% WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR THE
% RESTORATION ACT.
% I THOUGHT, WOW, MANY GOOD
% PEOPLE.
% AND THAT'S A WHOLE LONG STORY.
% THERE'S BECOMES ABOUT THE
% MENOMINEES AND YOU CAN READ
% THEM.
% AND ANYWAY -- AND I COULD TALK,
% BUT THAT'S NOT THE FOCUS OF THE
% TIME HERE.
% AT ANY RATE, I SAID, OKAY.
% , BECAUSE I THOUGHT TO MYSELF
% MANY TIMES, THESE PEOPLE ARE
% RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT, YOU
% KNOW?
% AND YOU CAN REALLY SAY THAT NOW,
% RIGHT?
% [LAUGHTER]
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> SO, WELL, WE RAN THE
% CAMPAIGN, AND PEOPLE WERE ANGRY
% WITH ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
% ANY PAC MONEY.
% AND I SAID THE REASON IS I WANT
% TO BE UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED.
% AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT ME LIKE
% WHAT?
% THIS WAS IN 1992.
% AND SO I SAID, THAT'S THE TITLE
% OF SURELY CHISHOLM'S BOOK AND
% IT'S ALSO ON HER GRAVESTONE.
% SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO
% RUN AND BECOME A MEMBER OF THE
% CONGRESS.
% AND SHE WAS FROM NEW YORK.
% OKAY.
% SO THEN I DIDN'T WIN -- I WON
% THE PRIMARY, WHICH NOBODY
% THOUGHT I COULD, BECAUSE I
% DIDN'T TAKE THE PAC MONEY, I
% DIDN'T DO THE USUAL STUFF, YOU
% KNOW, THAT YOU DO.
% I DON'T THINK YOU COULD DO THIS
% NOW.
% BUT I RAISED OVER $500,000 FROM
% INDIVIDUALS.
% AND THE WORD GOT OUT PRETTY
% SOON.
% AND SO GLORIA STEIN'EM CAME.
% THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
% 250 PEOPLE PAID $50 FOR THE
% LUNCHEON, HEAR THOSE TWO AND
% SUPPORT ME.
% SENATOR BILL BRADLEY, MAXINE
% WATERS.
% I HAD A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.
% BUT THE PRESS DIDN'T LIKE ME,
% WELL, BECAUSE I DIDN'T FALL INTO
% THEIR TRAPS.
% THEY ALSO WANTED ME TO SAY ABOUT
% ABOUT MY PRIMARY OPPONENT.
% HIS NAME WAS DAVID CLAIREENBACK.
% HE'S A WONDERFUL PERSON.
% HE WAS ON THE STRAIGHT LINE.
% HE WAS SUPPOSED TO JUST ASCEND
% INTO THE POSITION.
% HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE
% MADISON COMMUNITY AND HE SERVED
% ON SOME BOARDS.
% MAYBE IT WAS THE COUNTY BOARD.
% DO YOU REMEMBER, JONATHAN?
% [COMMENT OFF MIC]
% >> MAYBE HE WAS A STATE
% LEGISLATOR, TOO.
% ANYWAY, THEY WERE ALWAYS ASKING
% ME ABOUT HIM.
% I SAID, HE'S RUNNING HIS
% CAMPAIGN.
% I'M RUNNING MY CAMPAIGN.
% WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
% THEY WERE TRYING TO TRAP ME INTO
% SAYING SOMETHING BAD ABOUT HIM,
% WHICH I DIDN'T DO.
% THEY JUST IGNORED ME.
% THAT WAS OKAY WITH ME.
% WHEN I WON THE PRIMARY, THAT WAS
% SOMETHING REALLY DIFFERENT.
% WOW.
% WHAT HAPPENED.
% SO I'M TELLING YOU ALL WHATEVER
% YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING, YOU
% NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, YOU
% KNOW?
% KEEP A STEADY HAND, DO WHAT YOU
% WANT TO DO AND THEN SEE WHAT
% HAPPENS.
% SO THIS ALL WAS LEADING UP THEN
% TO MY TIME WITH BEING CONSIDERED
% FOR WASHINGTON.
% AT ANY RATE, MR. CLINTON SAID --
% I DIDN'T WIN THE PRIMARY,
% BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD FOR ANY
% WOMAN TO REALLY GET UP AT THAT
% LEVEL.
% BUT AT LEAST I DID IT AND I HAD
% A LOT OF FUN AND I MADE A LOT OF
% FRIENDS.
% SOME OF YOU ARE PROBABLY SITTING
% IN THE AUDIENCE.
% AT ANY RATE, THEN MY TROOPS
% SAID, OKAY, THAT'S IT.
% I SAID, WELL, NOW, I GOT TO TELL
% ABOUT WHEN I -- THE PRESS
% CONFERENCE FOR THE PRIMARY.
% SO IT WAS KIND OF EXCITING.
% I WAS KIND OF LIKING THIS, YOU
% KNOW?
% AT ANY RATE, I SAID I'VE BEEN
% WAITING ALL MY LIFE TO SAY THIS.
% AND MY TROOPS WERE SAYING YOU'RE
% NOT GOING TO DO THAT, ARE YOU?
% I SAID YES.
% I'M THE CANDIDATE.
% YOU'RE THE CAMPAIGN PEOPLE.
% I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO DO WHAT
% YOU TELL ME, YOU KNOW.
% SO, ANYWAY, SO I RAISED MY HAND
% AND I SAID I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL
% MY LIFE TO SAY THIS.
% ME MENOMINEE.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> ME NOMINEE.
% I STILL HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP TO
% ME AND THEY SAY "ME NOMINEE."
% I THINK THAT'S A PHENOMENAL
% IMPACT.
% >> ONE OF HER SLOGANS WAS
% "NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEER."
% >> YEAH.
% AND THE JOHN! JOHN DEERE COMPANY WAS
% UPSET.
% THEY THOUGHT I STOLE THEIR
% MOTTO.
% SO I SAID -- MY TROOPS WERE A
% LITTLE BEFUDDLED.
% I SAID, OH, THEY CALL AGAIN,
% I'LL TALK TO THEM.
% THEY NEVER CALLED AGAIN.
% I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I'M THE
% PLAIN AND SIMPLE DEER.
% I'M NOT THE FANCY DEER.
% WELL, ANYWAY, I KIND OF FORGOT
% EXACTLY WHAT THIS PERSON WANTED
% TO KNOW.
% WELL -- OH, I KNOW.
% YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS.
% SO THEN I DECIDED WHEN I WAS
% READING -- I LOVE TO READ.
% I COULD RETIRE FROM LIFE AND
% READ, BUT THEN I COULDN'T GET
% ANYTHING DONE.
% I HAVE THIS DO GENE IN ME.
% I READ WHERE MR. CLINTON WANT
% ADD GOVERNMENT WHO LOOKED LIKE
% AMERICA.
% THAT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA.
% HERE I AM, YOU KNOW.
% WOMAN SOCIAL WORKER.
% PLUS I WON THE DEMOCRATIC
% PRIMARY, RIGHT?
% AND I WAS THE FIRST PERSON --
% FIRST WOMAN TO BE A CHAIR OF MY
% TRIBE.
% NOW, THAT WAS ALSO HARD FOR MY
% TRIBAL PEOPLE, TOO, BECAUSE THE
% WOMEN -- SOME OF THE WOMEN AND A
% LOT OF PEOPLE SAID, WELL, OUR
% TRIBE HAS ALWAYS BEEN RUN BY --
% OR NOT RUN, BUT LED BY MEN.
% I SAID, WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE
% PROBLEM, YOU KNOW?
% AND YOU GOT TO HAVE HUMOR IN
% THIS, RIGHT?
% YOU CAN STILL MAKE A POINT,
% RIGHT?
% OKAY.
% AND SO, ANYWAY, LONG STORY
% SHORT, I BECAME ASSISTANT
% SECRETARY.
% THAT'S A WHOLE INTERESTING
% PROCESS.
% I GOT INTERVIEWED MY VARIOUS BY VARIOUS
% PEOPLE AND SO ON.
% SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS
% YOUR QUESTION.
% >> AND THEN SOME.
% >> IS THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?
% IF YOU DO RAISE YOUR HAND AND
% WE'LL COME AROUND.
% THANK YOU.
% >> DON'T BE SHY.
% >> HI, ADA.
% IT'S LINDY.
% >> HI, LINDY.
% WHERE ARE YOU?
% >> I'M RIGHT HERE.
% >> I CAN'T SEE YOU.
% >> WOULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
% ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
% MILES AND AMY HORTON?
% >> WELL, THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.
% AND MILES HORTON AND AMY HORTON
% WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THE SOUTH.
% THEY WERE REALLY INVOLVED IN
% SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS.
% AND WHAT IS THE NAME OF THAT?
% THE HIGHLANDER SCHOOL.
% YEAH.
% RIGHT.
% AND THEY PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT
% PART.
% I LEARNED THIS FROM MY FRIEND
% AMY HORTON.
% AND I DID MEET MILES HORTON.
% AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIM.
% THEY HAD TRAINING SESSIONS FOR
% THE BLACKS DURING THE CIVIL
% RIGHTS ERA, AND THAT IMPRESSED
% ME.
% WE WERE GULLS GOING TO!!! ALWAYS GOING TO GO, BUT
% WE WERE ALWAYS WAY
% OVER-COMMITTED, AND SO WE NEVER
% DID GO.
% BUT I HAVE A VERY HIGH REGARD
% FOR THE HIGHLANDER SCHOOL AND
% WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THE
% TRAINING THAT PEOPLE GOT THERE.
% YES.
% OH.
% YES.
% >> NOT A QUESTION.
% IT'S JUST A COMMENT.
% >> WAIT FOR THE MIC.
% THANK YOU.
% >> THIS IS YOUR FRIEND KAY.
% I!NOT A QUESTION, JUST A COMMENT.
% I DON'T REMEMBER IF THIS TOOK
% PLACE WHEN YOU WERE IN
% WASHINGTON OR NEW YORK.
% BUT A PURSE SNATCHER CAME AFTER
% ADA AND GRABBED HER PURSE AND IT
% WAS IN THE PAPERS AND I WAS SO
% PROUD.
% SHE SAID, THOUGHT TO HERSELF AND
% THEY QUOTED HER, MY NAME IS DEER
% AND SHE TOOK AFTER THEM AND GOT
% IT BACK.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> IT INVOLVED JUMPING ON A CITY
% BUS TO CHASE THEM.
% THE STORY'S IN THE BOOK.
% >> ADA, WHO IS THE MOST
% DIFFICULT PERSON YOU'VE HAD TO
% DEAL WITH AND HOW DID YOU HANDLE
% HIM OR HER?
% >> WAIT.
% WHO'S ASKING ME.
% >> I AM.
% >> WHO?
% >> TOM LEVI.
% >> YOU'RE ASKING ADA, RIGHT?
% >> I'M ASKING ADA, WHO IS THE
% MOST DIFFICULT PERSON YOU'VE HAD
% TO DEAL WITH IN YOUR CAREER AND
% HOW DID YOU HANDLE HIM OR HER?
% >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
% A PERSON, BUT I GUESS YOU COULD
% SAY THIS.
% I WAS WELCOMED.
% OKAY.
% WHEN I GOT INTERVIEWED, I GOT
% INTERVIEWED BY HENRY GONZALEZ,
% WHO WAS THE HUD SECRETARY AT THE
% TIME, AND BY BRUCE BABBIT.
% SO FIRST THEY TALKED WITH HENRY
% GONZALEZ, BECAUSE IN THE HUD
% OFFICES THERE, THEY HAD A
% PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC HOUSING FOR
% INDIANS AND OTHERS AND I COULD
% DO THAT BECAUSE I WORKED IN THE
% PROJECTS WHEN I WAS IN NEW YORK.
% AT ANY RATE, NO, HE SAID, WELL,
% SOMEBODY ELSE HAD -- HE WAS
% THERE IN THAT POSITION.
% I SAID, WELL, OKAY.
% I STARTED TO GET UP.
% HE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE.
% HOW ABOUT ASSISTANT SECRETARY?
% AND I SAID, NO.
% HE SAID, HOW ABOUT SPECIAL
% ASSISTANT?
% AND I SAID DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
% ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO ME.
% AND THEN HE SAID, WELL, WHY DO
% YOU WANT TO BE AN ASSISTANT
% SECRETARY?
% I SAID, OH, POWER AND MONEY.
% OKAY.
% SO THEN I GOT INTERVIEWED BY
% MR. BABBIT, THE FORMER GOVERNOR
% OF ARIZONA, AND HE WAS THE
% SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND THAT'S
% WHERE INDIANS ARE, OKAY?
% >> ALONG WITH THE FOREST
% SERVICE.
% >> RIGHT.
% RIGHT.
% THE MINING IS NOT THERE ANYMORE.
% BUT, ANYWAYS, THE PARK SERVICE
% AND SO ON.
% ALL RIGHT.
% SO I TOLD HIM, I SAYS, I THANKED
% MR. BABBIT FOR INTERVIEWING ME
% AND I SAID, BEFORE WE GET INTO
% THIS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE
% COMMENT.
% I SAID INDIAN AFFAIRS ARE VERY
% COMPLICATED.
% THERE'S THE MORAL ISSUE.
% THERE'S THE LEGAL ISSUE.
% THERE'S A POLITICAL ISSUE.
% AND THESE ALL ARE IN TEAR!! INTERTWINED
% AND THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE
% STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS,
% THAT I'M EXTENDING TO YOU MY
% THINKING ON THAT TO START WITH.
% I JUST TOOK -- I JUST STARTED.
% I WASN'T SITTING LIKE THIS,
% PARALYZED, YOU KNOW.
% AND SO HE SAID, WELL, YOU CAN
% COUNT ON LEADERSHIP FROM ME.
% SO I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT WAS
% REALLY GOOD.
% I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY -- IT
% WAS VERY QUICK.
% I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO
% GRILL ME.
% BUT ANYWAY, SO ANYWAY I BECAME
% ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
% AND IT STARTED OUT OKAY.
% AND I JUST DECIDED THAT I WAS
% GOING TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN,
% LIKE I EARLIER STATED, AND OVER
% TIME MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM --
% I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A
% RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM TO START
% WITH.
% I GOT CALLED IN TO THE OFFICE BY
% HIS ASSISTANT OR HIS DEPUTY AND
% HE TOLD ME I WAS DOING A REALLY
% GOOD JOB AND SO ON.
% SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY
% GOOD.
% BUT, AT ANY RATE, OVER TIME IT
% DIDN'T JUST -- IT JUST DIDN'T
% GEL, OKAY?
% AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
% I FIGURED OUT THERE WAS ANOTHER
% SUB!SUBTERFUGE AND I WASN'T GOING TO
% GET ALL INVOLVED WITH ALL OF
% THAT.
% I WAS GOING TO JUST CONTINUE.
% AND SO I THINK THE FACT CAME OUT
% AFTER I HAD -- I'D BEEN CALLED.
% I TALKED WITH HIM ONLY ABOUT
% THREE TIMES.
% AND EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT I WAS
% DOING.
% YOU HAVE TO SIGN ALL THESE MEMOS
% AND SO ON.
% SO SOMEHOW OR OTHER, HE CHANGED
% HIS APPROACH.
% AND SO HE CALLED UP AND I DIDN'T
% HAVE THE HELP AROUND ME THAT I
% NEEDED, EITHER.
% SO I CALLED UP -- HE CALLED UP
% AND I WENT TO HIS OFFICE AND HE
% SAID, WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
% ALASKA.
% AND I SAID, OH, OKAY.
% AND IS ALASKA INDIAN COUNTRY.
% AND I SAID -- AND I'M THINKING
% TO MYSELF WHAT KIND OF A
% QUESTION IS THAT?
% OKAY.
% I SAID, WELL, OF COURSE IT'S
% INDIAN COUNTRY, YOU KNOW.
% NATIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON THIS
% CONTINENT FOR OVER 20,000,
% 30,000 YEARS.
% AND SO IN MY OPINION IT'S INDIAN
% COUNTRY.
% AND SO THEN THERE WERE SOME
% OTHER KINDS OF QUESTIONS.
% BUT THE POINT OF IT WAS THAT WAS
% ALASKA INDIAN COUNTRY.
% I SAID, WELL, YES, IN MY OPINION
% IT WAS.
% AND WE'RE THE TRUSTEES AND WE
% ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING
% THE INDIAN LANDS AND RESOURCES!S.
% AND WHY -- OH.
% SOMEBODY TOLD ME ABOUT A
% DECISION THAT WAS IN THE WANING
% HOURS OF THE REPUBLICANS, AND I
% DON'T QUITE KNOW WHO HE WAS.
% BUT, AT ANY RATE, I THINK HE WAS
% THE -- IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
% AND HIS DECISION WAS THAT THERE
% WAS NO INDIAN COUNTRY IN ALASKA.
% AND I'M SAYING -- HE SAID, AND
% -- BABBIT, MR. BABBIT SAID,
% WELL, I'M TAKING MY POSITION
% FROM JOHN.
% JOHN.
% I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME
% NOW.
% BUT HE WAS THIS SECRETARY.
% HE WAS THE LEGAL GUY IN THE --
% FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF
% INTERIOR.
% AND HE SAID, WELL, HE AGREED
% WITH SENINITTI.
% SO I SAID YES.
% I'M JUST TELLING YOU.
% YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NATIVE
% PEOPLE UP THERE THAT HAVE BEEN
% THERE FOREVER, YOU KNOW?
% FOR A LONG TIME.
% SO I SAID, WELL, GENTLEMEN, I
% SAID, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU AND
% YOU'RE BOTH WRONG.
% YOU KNOW, SO I'M TELLING BRUCE
% BABB IT!IT AND THE HEADED LAWYER FOR
% THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT THAT
% THEY'RE BOTH WRONG.
% WELL, YOU KNOW, SO I KNEW THAT
% THAT WOULDN'T SIT VERY WELL.
% BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SIT THERE
% AND AGREE WITH THEM, YOU KNOW?
% AND SO I KNEW THEN THAT THEY
% WOULDN'T LIKE IT.
% SO, ANYWAY, I THINK THAT'S WHEN
% HE DECIDED I HAD TO GO, RIGHT?
% SO I DID MY FOUR YEARS THERE AND
% PEOPLE ARE STILL THANKING ME FOR
% MY WORK.
% AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
% THANKING BRUCE BABBIT FOR HIS
% WORK OR THE OTHER GUY, YOU KNOW.
% MY NAME IS GOING DOWN TO
% HISTORY.
% I DON'T KNOW IF THEIRS ARE.
% [LAUGHTER] !
% >> BUT WHAT GIVES ME GREAT JOY,
% THAT WHEN I GO TO ALASKA, PEOPLE
% UP THERE SAY, ADA DEER, WHAT?
% THEY'RE JUST SO HAPPY THAT I
% COME AND THAT GIVES ME GREAT
% JOY, THAT THE PEOPLE UP THERE
% LIKE ME AND THEY RESPECT ME AND
% THEY HONOR ME.
% AND I DO THAT FOR THEM, TOO.
% AND SO YOU NEVER KNOW THE
% OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU'RE GOING
% TO HAVE, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN
% OPEN MIND AND AN OPEN HEART.
% AND I SAW AS MANY PEOPLE AS I
% COULD WHEN I WAS ASSISTANT
% SECRETARY.
% AND I HAD SOME FUN, TOO.
% I WENT TO THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY
% TO HEAR THE AUSTRIAN CHOIR.
% WHO WAS THERE BUT THE WOMAN --
% SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.
% THE TEENSY LITTLE WOMAN.
% >> RUTH BADER GINSBERG.
% THERE SHE WAS.
% JUSTICE GINSBERG.
% WOW.
% SO I WENT UP TO HER AND I
% THANKED HER FOR HER WORK.
% I TOLD HER WHO I WAS.
% I SAID, IT'S SUCH A JOY AND
% HONOR TO MEET YOU, YOU KNOW.
% I RAN INTO SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
% ONCE.
% THAT WAS IN THE LADIES' ROOM.
% YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
% HAPPEN DOWN THERE.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE FUN, YOU
% KNOW?
% YOU CAN'T JUST BE DRAGGING
% AROUND WITH ALL THESE PILES OF
% PAPERS ALL THE TIME.
% SO, AT ANY RATE, YEAH.
% SO I'M GLAD THAT I HAD THE
% OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE TO
% NOT ONLY MY TRIBE FOR
% RESTORATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE
% ENTIRE INDIAN NATIONS ACROSS OUR
% COUNTRY.
% >> ADA, WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE
% MORE QUESTION.
% >> OKAY.
% >> I HAVEN'T GONE TO THE BACK,
% SO WE'RE GOING TO GO WAY BACK
% HERE, WAY BACK, LITERALLY THE
% LAST ROW.
% >> HI, ADA.
% YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY GOOD
% AT TELLING JOURNALISTS WHAT THEY
% SHOULD COVER IN INDIAN COUNTRY.
% WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST
% PRESSING ISSUES ARE THAT
% JOURNALISTS SHOULD BE TELLING
% THE COUNTRY ABOUT?
% >> OKAY.
% THANK YOU, PATTI LOWE.
% [LAUGHTER]
% >> SHE'S A VERY MODEST PERSON,
% BUT SHE DOESN'T GET AWAY WITH
% IT.
% I HAVE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE
% ABOUT HER.
% SHE SHOWED UP AT MY CLASS AT THE
% SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, AND I
% TAUGHT -- I ORIGINATED A CLASS,
% CURRENT ISSUES IN AMERICAN
% INDIAN AFFAIRS.
% AND SHE SHOWED UP AT THE CLASS.
% AND I TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS
% NOT GOING TO BE A REGULAR CLASS.
% I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
% TERM PAPER AND WE'RE GOING TO
% HAVE -- AND IT HAS TO BE AT
% LEAST 15 PAGES AND THEY HAVE TO
% READ AT LEAST FOUR BOOKS AND I
% KNEW A LOT OF THE LITERATURE, SO
% I KNEW IF THEY WERE TRYING TO
% PULL A FAST ONE, I WOULD KNOW IT!
% IT.
% AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE ONE
% WRITTEN TEST AND ONE TERM PAPER.
% HERS WAS EXCEPTIONAL.
% SHE WAS A WRITER, A JOURNALIST.
% NOW SHE'S A PROFESSOR.
% YAY, PATTI.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> BUT I GOT TO KNOW HER.
% SHE CAME TO THE OFFICE.
% WE STARTED TALKING.
% SHE TOLD ME THIS WAS HER FIRST
% CLASS UPON RETURNING TO THE
% UNIVERSITY AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW
% SHE COULD DO IT.
% WOW.
% I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY HONEST.
% I SAID, PATTI, YOU'RE A MATURE
% WOMAN, YOU'RE A JOURNALIST, AND
% HERE YOU ARE EXPRESSING SOME
% DOUBT ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO DO
% THE WORK.
% WELL, OF COURSE YOU'VE
% DEMONSTRATED THIS TO ME.
% AND THEN SHE SMILED AND SHE JUST
% WENT ON AND GOT HER DOCTORATE.
% SO I HAD SOME IMPACT ON HER AND
% VICE VERSA.
% SO OKAY.
% WELL, I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK
% AT THEIR -- I FORGOT WHAT YOU
% CALLED IT, STYLE.
% THEY KEEP CALLING PEOPLE NATIVE
% AMERICANS, AND THIS IS ONE OF MY
% SPECIAL IRKS.
% WE ARE AMERICAN INDIANS, IN MY
% OPINION.
% THE REASON I SAY THIS, IT'S THE
% NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN
% INDIANS.
% IT'S -- THAT'S AN ORGANIZATION
% OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.
% IT'S THE NATIONAL INDIAN
% EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
% IT'S THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN
% INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
% PHYSICIANS.
% AND ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS IS
% NARF, NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS
% FUND.
% SO I WOULD LIKE THAT CORRECTED.
% BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL
% GO.
% BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ALWAYS TO
% WANT KNOW WHAT IS THE INDIAN
% PROBLEM, LIKE THERE'S ONLY ONE
% INDIAN AND ONE PROBLEM, YOU
% KNOW?
% WELL, I MEAN, AND IT'S VERY SAD.
% THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
% THAT ARE EDUCATED IN OUR CUND COUNTRY
% AND THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
% AMERICAN INDIANS, BLACK HISTORY
% AND CULTURE.
% WE HAVE TWO MUSEUMS NOW IN
% WASHINGTON D.C., SO THEY'RE
% DOING A GOOD JOB ABOUT EDUCATING
% AMERICANS ABOUT INDIANS AND
% BLACKS AND SLAVERY AND ALL THAT.
% SO I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO DO
% MORE IN-DEPTH REPORTING BECAUSE
% IT'S TOO OVER-SIMPLIFIED AND
% LOTS OF STEREOTYPES OCCUR.
% AND SO IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT
% ISSUE, VOTING.
% YOU KNOW, OH, THEY ARE REALLY
% SUPPRESSING THE VOTE ON THE
% INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND INDIAN
% COMMUNITIES.
% AND THAT'S --
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> INDIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT WAS
% PASSED IN 19 24, RIGHT?
% OKAY.
% SO THEY DIDN'T ASK THE INDIANS.
% SOMEBODY JUST DECIDED THEY
% WANTED TO DO THIS, RIGHT?
% AND THEY HE! THEY DIDN'T HOLD SESSIONS
% ABOUT EDUCATING PEOPLE OR
% ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
% AFTER WORLD WAR II ONE OF THE
% INDIANS IN NEW MEXICO WENT TO
% VOTE AND HE WAS TOLD BY THE
% AUTHORITIES THAT HE COULDN'T
% VOTE.
% WHAT?
% HE SAID HE JUST CAME BACK FROM
% EUROPE, WHERE I WAS FIGHTING FOR
% FREEDOM AND HERE HE COMES BACK
% HOME AND THEY DIDN'T DO A REALLY
% GOOD EDUCATION OF THE STATE
% ELECTION PEOPLE.
% AND SO HERE IN 1924 THE INDIAN
% CITIZENSHIP ACT PASSED AND HERE
% HE COMES AFTER WORLD WAR II.
% HE TOOK THEM TO COURT AND HE
% WON.
% SO VOTING.
% IT'S A CURRENT PROBLEM.
% THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
% WATER IS A PROBLEM.
% WE'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER
% THE WATER.
% AND OTHER RESOURCES.
% SO A PERSON HAS TO DIG INTO WHAT
% TRIBE ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT AND
% WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES.
% AND OH.
% I SHOULD SAY THAT I'M JUST
% REALLY ANGRY OVER THE FACT THAT
% OUR CURRENT OCCUPANT IN THE
% WHITE HOUSE TOOK AWAY THE
% FEDERAL RECOGNIZE!!!FEDERAL RECOGNITION OF THE FIRST
% TRIBE THE PILGRIMS MET.
% THEY SAVED THE LIVES OF MANY
% PILGRIMS.
% IT'S A SMALL TRIBE.
% BUT WHAT HAPPENED?
% AND WHY DID THEY DO THIS?
% RHODE ISLAND DIDN'T WANT ANY
% TRIBAL COMPETITION BECAUSE THEY
% HAD A CASINO OR CASINOS IN
% RHODE ISLAND.
% SOMEHOW OR OTHER THEY GOT TO THE
% CURRENT OCCUPANT.
% SO HE JUST TOOK AWAY THAT.
% SO WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON
% IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT'S
% RECEPTIVE TO DOING JUSTICE, THEN
% WE'RE GOING TO WORK.
% I'M GOING TO GET RILED UP AND
% I'M GOING TO GET THOSE PEOPLE
% WORKING OUT THERE.
% [APPLAUSE] !
% >> SO I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW IF
% THAT'S A COMPLETE ANSWER TO YOUR
% QUESTION, PATTI, BUT I THINK YOU
% HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REGIONS OF
% THE COUNTRY AND THEN SEE WHAT
% THEY ARE.
% BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FEDERAL
% LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED AND
% AMERICAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT
% AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS AND
% THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS OBEYED.
% SO THAT'S ONE THING.
% AND THEN OF COURSE ANY STATE
% WHERE THERE ARE INDIANS, THEY'RE
% THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN
% THE PRISONS, YOU KNOW.
% SO, YOU KNOW, -- AND WE ALWAYS
% ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF WHATEVER
% LIST IS IN THE CENSUS.
% SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF WORK
% THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE
% TRIBES AND BY INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
% AND ALSO YOU ALL NEED TO REFER
% -- TO INFORM YOURSELVES, TOO.
% THERE'S ALL KINDS OF BOOKS THAT
% YOU SHOULD READ.
% THE PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE U.S.
% INDIAN GIVERS.
% >> MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> OKAY.
% ALL RIGHT.
% SO, ANYWAY, I REALLY ENJOYED OUR
% TIME HERE.
% YOU'RE A VERY ATTENTIVE
% AUDIENCE.
% I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ECHO THE
% CHANCELLOR'S THANK YOU TO ALL
% WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS.
% AND I THINK THAT THE UNIVERSITY
% SHOULD DO MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS
% TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND CONTINUE
% THE WONDERFUL EDUCATION THAT IS
% AVAILABLE TO MANY PEOPLE OUT
% THERE.
% [APPLAUSE] !
% >> SO I THINK WE ALL COULD STAY
% HERE ALL NIGHT LISTENING TO
% ADA'S STORIES.
% BUT PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN IN
% THANKING THEDA PERDUE AND LARRY
% NESPER AND ADA DEER FOR THIS
% PROGRAM.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> THANK YOU.
% AND I'M GOING TO PRESENT ADA
% WITH THIS GIFT.
% [APPLAUSE] !
% >> SO ON BEHALF OF THE
% UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AND THE
% WISCONSIN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,
% WE'RE PLEASED TO SHARE THESE
% GIFTS WITH ADA AND LARRY AND
% THEDA.
% SO THANK YOU.
% [APPLAUSE] !
% >> SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
% YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US AND
% JOIN ADA AND THEDA IN THE SUNSET
% LOUNGE FOR A RECEPTION.
% WE WILL HAVE BOOKS FOR SALE.
% SO, AS ADA SAID, READ MORE
% BOOKS.
% YOU CAN PURCHASE A BOOK AND
% THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR SIGNING
% FOR A WHILE AFTER THE PROGRAM.
% AND A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF
% THAT BOOK SALE ACTUALLY GO TO A
% SCHOLARSHIP HERE AT THE
% UNIVERSITY IN ADA DEER'S NAME.
% SO YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING
% SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL.
% AS WE LEAVE, THE MAD TOWN
% SINGERS WILL PERFORM A
% TRADITIONAL TRAVELING SONG FOR
% ALL OF US TO WISH US SAFE
% TRAVELS AS WE DEPART FROM HERE.
% SO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
% HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
% [APPLAUSE] [DRUMMING!!
% [DRUMMING AND SINGING IN NATIVE
% LANGUAGE]