American Indians at Harvard Organizing Weekend Conference

Experts on the problems of American Indians will meet at Harvard in two weeks as part of the Third Annual Indian Weekend.

The meeting, which will center around a conference called "Change and the American Indian," is being sponsored by the American Indians at Harvard (AIH), a student group established in 1974 to assist Native Americans at the University.

The program is set for February 24 to 27.

At the conference American Indians will examine issues of concern to them, and educate the general public on these issues, Oscar S. Rodriguez '80, a member of AIH, said this week.

Speakers at the conference will include Thomas Tureen, the lawyer for the Passamoquoddy/Penobscot tribes in their successful lawsuit against the state of Maine, and Dr. Helen Redbird Selam, a professor at the Monmouth School of Education in Oregon and a member of the Cherokee tribe.

Conference participants will attend workshops as well as lectures during the program. One workshop, led by Frank Ryan, a student at the Law School and a member of the Gros Ventre tribe, will focus on the economic development of the Indian tribes.

Last year's conference attracted about 150 people, but AIH expects twice the attendance this year, Susan M. Williams '77, president of AIH, said yesterday.

AIH is conducting a publicity campaign, including writing letters to American Indians at local high schools and colleges, to increase attendance at the conference.

The conference will cost AIH about $9000, which will pay for lecture fees, mailing costs and travel expenses, Williams said. She added that AIH depends on individual contributions and foundation grants, and has already raised about $4000.

Williams, an Economics concentrator who is executive director of the Navajo Tax Commission, said the AIH sponsors cultural events, dinners, a lecture series and competes in an Ivy League Indian basketball league, in addition to organizing the annual conference.

AIH also works with the Undergraduate Admissions Office to increase Native American enrollment at the University. There are now 11 Native Americans enrolled in Harvard-Radcliffe.