Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) was established in 1884 to fulfill the federal Indian trust responsibility to Native American people. The University of Kansas was founded in 1865, and the city of Lawrence was founded in l854. The land which HINU, KU and the city of Lawrence sits is former treaty lands of various Indian nations. Prior to Kansas statehood, the lands were known as the Kansas Territory and KU was then described as the university of the Kansas Territory of Kansas. There were many emigrant Indian tribes who made their home in the Kansas Territory but were forcibly removed by the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Today, the Kickapoo Nation, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Iowa Nation and Sac & Fox nation remain in Kansas and practice inherent self-governance sovereignty.
Land acquisition of government land was central to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society in the founding of Lawrence. Government land formerly Indian lands Indian treaty land cessions fundamentally shaped U. S. expansion including the state of Kansas, the city of Lawrence, the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU). Former Indian treaty lands were ceded for Haskell in exchange for Indian treaty education. Haskell exists in a sovereign political status in a unique relationship with the United State. Thus, Haskell provides federal Indian education trust responsibility to all tribally enrolled members of the nation’s 574 federally recognized Indian tribes including Alaska.
Lawrence is home for Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas. Haskell was originally called the United States Indian Industrial Training School. an Indian boarding school for Indian children who were forcibly removed from their families and homelands throughout the Unted States. Assimilation and cultural erasure were the purpose of the federal Haskell Indian Industrial Training School.
The Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act federal legislation to transform the past assimilation education practices at Haskell has been introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KAN) and Representative Tracey Mann (R-KAN). The Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S.761, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) fulfills the federal trust responsibility as is the purpose of the HINU Improvement Act and a search for the truth. Haskell, the University of Kansas and the city of Lawrence share much of the same History in land transformation and development of the state of Kansas and the nation.
Haskell co-exists with unique federal inherent rights in the communities of KU and Lawrence. Haskell Indian student beneficiaries’ and Indian education is a sovereign political status. Haskell is eco-conscious and respectful of Mother Earth with natural resources and biological diversity. Universities need to develop strong community connections and intellectual exchange. Lawrence is known as a college town, but Haskell lacks recognition and exists in the shadows. Academics and culture are virtues.
The HINU Improvement Act calls for an autonomous Haskell Board of Regents, i.e., the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) governance of the University of Kansas. The city of Lawrence actively collaborates with and supports KU’s legislative agenda, advocating for increased state funding for higher education and facility upgrades at the state legislature.
The city of Lawrence’s support and advocacy for Haskell’s federal legislative agenda is likewise needed for higher education goals at Haskell.
Haskell Indian Nations University, the University of Kansas and the city of Lawrence are intertwined with History, education and sovereignty. Community connection is our strength, and intellectual exchange is key to a thriving community for all. A Call for Action to Senator Moran, Representative Mann, Senator Murkowski and Senator Warren to pass the HINU Improvement Act and Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S.761) to ensure genuine self-governance, academic freedom and Indianself-determination at Haskell is needed.
M’gwitch, 🪶
Steve Cadue
Kickapoo Nation Kansas
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