Final Thread--Thank You; You Decide

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I am leaving this thread as there are earthshaking-life-and-death issues to
discuss going far beyond my own situation.

I want to thank all of you for expressing your confidence and support. I
finally found, and am now putting out, all the "evidence" being used against
me--that I  found and was never presented with--in support of charges I am
still unaware of at least in the last charge by the multicultural student
retention director.

Some have asked for more details to make an informed judgment about the
particulars and how they may be of support. I respect that and have tried
not to put my own spin but rather give out the evidence I have or that has
been alluded to and then let the reader decide what is going on here. If,
you do decide that what is going on here is pretext and piling on in service
of ulterior intentions to stack up enough to get me fired in service of
reactionary interests and intentions (censorship, payback for exposing
potential illegalities etc) then you may, if you so choose, express that
opinion. I only invade these lists with my situation because it is not only
my situation; all over this country activists of conscience are being
intimidated, bullied, silenced, fired etc by reactionary forces the lack the
preparation and capabilities to debate and thus can only attempt to
intimidate, silence, fire and even murder activists they cannot take on in
debate.

All the statements I have made with respect to the climate, machinations,
interest groups etc here where I work I believe to be true and come from
inside contacts I have every reason to believe credible. Further, I have
raised those issues publicly (e.g. about insider hiring, relatively large
numbers of staff coming from one local church) etc and no one has yet told
me this information is incorrect. One of the reasons many Indians appear to
be confrontational and direct is that we know that we cannot correct the
incorrect we may be harboring if the other party does not even know what
notions or opinions the other person may be holding or what we may be
believing to be true. By being direct, saying exactly what we mean and feel,
it is not only the highest form of respect, even to one's enemies, it is an
invitation to force us to correct those views we are holding that may be
unintentionally incorrect. Look at what happened with my friend Eun. She had
been programmed to see me as evil incarnate. The few times I passed her, she
would barely smile or say anything. It was only when she was able to be
direct, confront me with what she had been told that I could then answer. I
cannot answer incorrect views, or correct unintentional untruths--that I or
others may hold--that I do not know are being held and passed on in secret;
that is the climate here and in many places--backroom cults, covert slander,
demonization and marginalization.

I was getting the most vile porn sent to me almost evey day. Each time I
would send it directly to the president, vice-president, dean, computer
services and to the Feds. I had no choice in order to try to document the
sources and to establish a public record in case of a set-up. Each time the
administration would claim it was just being on some list. One faculty
member here was caught, according to officers of the Washington State
Patrol, and a finding of the Washington State Ethics Commission, and the
news accounts, with over 1700 computer files of some of the most vile
child--and adult--pornography. Interestingly, perhaps a coincidence eh?, the
type of vile stuff sent to me (animals etc) is exactly some of the same type
of vile stuff found in his computer. Who knows eh? According to news
accounts, some of what was found involved private solicitations of private
photos (called predatory behavior) not just commercial stuff. I turned it
in, as required by law, a technicality in the warrant got him off criminal
charges, but he was nonetheless convicted of--and stipulated to--having
child pornography by the Washington State Ethics Commission. He is still on
staff, some fellow faculty collected monies for his defense and summarily
harrassed and isolated me.

So what this is really about, in my opinion, my attorney's opinion and in
the opinion of many others is: Felony Blackfootness; Felony Truth Telling;
Felony Refusal to Sit Silently When Patent Lies are Being Told and Innocents
are Being Harrassed and/or Unfairly Dismissed; Felony
Holding/Speaking/Writing of Unconventional/Unpopular Views; Felony Refusal
to Sit Silently in the Face of Naked Racism, Abuse of Power and Covert
Activities of Those Who Smile in Public While Sticking it to Innocents in
Backrooms; Felony Refusal to Join in Cover-ups With My Own Silence About
Matters I had a Substantive and Good-faith basis to believe Were Going on;
etc.

I thank everyone who has given me support and those who feel they do not
know enough to pass judgment or whatever, I understand and respect that
stand as well. I have now given out all the "evidence" against me that I
have been made aware of being used against me, now you can decide. If this
were just about me, I would not bother others about my problems; I truly
believe, and some of the notes sent to me without my solicitation, by staff
and faculty, so indicate, many others are suffering here and elsewhere for
the same above-mentioned "crimes".

Thank you all. My health has not been good, and I suspect that some of this
is being piled on knowing full-well the deleterious effects on my health. At
one meeting the vice-president asked me if I would care to "share" what
kinds of medications I might be on. All of his letters to me, give cc's to a
private employment lawfirm in addition to the State Attorney General's
office. Below is the last stuff I have being used against me.

Now, back to the real world eh? Thanks to all of you, I am really humbled by
all of this help from such kind and determined folks; it is an honor to know
all of you even if we disagree on particular issues. Just to be on these
lists takes a lot of courage in these times. To get the gist of what is
going on, start at the bottom of the following:

Jim C.


Dear Dr. Beyer and Dr. Evans,

Below is a portion of a message just sent to me. The name has been deleted
per this person's request; suffice to say this was overheard in a public
place. This person is prepared to testify under oath what he or she
overheard and other witness to this and other conversations.

Perhaps when speaking with your legal advisors, State and private, they
might explain the concepts of "Willful Blindness" and "Depraved
Indifference" to you. Believe it or not, I am trying to de-escalate not
escalate this adversarial situation; my interests, and those of my daughter
who depends upon me, do not allow me to let this go on any more. This is
particularly so when the person involved in potentially slandering me is
supposed to be a "Multiculturalism Mentor".

Thank you for your consideration of this matter. I did get your letter about
the executive session criteria. I must note, however, that I have had two
previous executive sessions with the Board on personnel matters. I will of
course respect their wishes with respect to non-refusal to meet with me in
executive session.

James M. Craven
Professor of Economics, Chair, Business division.


BTW-Brandi, who works as a peer mentor, never gave permission for Karen to
discuss her heritage much less her family's relationship to you on a public
forum. In fact, she did not know about it until after the fact. When Karen
discussed the issue (later) Brandi she pooh-poohed  as not a big thing and
left out huge chunks of info.  Meanwhile, she printed out copies of the
email and shared her "triumph" over you with  others who visited her.


But I see how hard you work to try to influence and teach and question and
though I have not always agreed with your style, I understand and respect
your motivation.

Thanks for inspiring me to continue to fight ignorance and continue my own
growth.



Thank you Jim for your apology.

Karen Brown
Multicultural Student Affairs/Retention Program Manager
Gaiser Hall, room 141A
x2284

Thanks Karen, and thanks for your apology as well.

You know Brandi is from the Browning Tribe which use the term "Blackfeet",
although in terms of "blood", most of her relations, her grandfather George
for sure, are from Kainai Blackfoot, so those from the Canadian side (like
me) are Blackfoot whereas those from Browning call themselves "Blackfeet".
Actually, we are all "Pikaani" (spelled "Pikuni" in Browning) or Blackfoot.

Let me explain to you and those reading why some Indians get very sensitive
about who is "representing" Indians at various conferences and events. We
are literally the only ones--minorities--defined in terms of "blood quantum"
and who have to "prove" our blood-quantum (itself an illusion in many ways)
to be "certified" as "real" Indians according to the U.S. Government. One
document from the BIA reads as follows: "Set the blood quantum at
one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid definition of Indians, let intermarriage
proceed, and eventually Indians will be defined out of existence." Adolf
eichmann could have written that plan for total genocide.

There is no DCA (Department of Caucasian Affairs), there is no DAAA
(Department of African-American Affairs) etc; only a Department of Indian
Affairs. Further one must be at least "one-quarter", among
Blackfoot/Blackfeet to be "certified." Indeed I know people who are
"full-blood native" but are not enrolled as they do not have enough
blood-quantum from one particular tribe or nation to be quarter-blood and
qualified (e.g. some who are part Gros Ventres, Cree, Blackfoot, Sarcee,
Crow etc) so that they are not one-quarter from one group. It is also a sad
reality that there are many people with Indian blood scattered all over
(history of abduction, rape, forced relocation etc just like
African-Americans) who either do not know they even have Indian blood and/or
do not know from what group.

Now we do have some who do indeed have some Indian blood and are proud of it
and that is great. They need to get in touch with their roots. But I also
know, even as enrolled Indians, card-carrying, who have never been to the
Rezes of their People, are unknown by their people, have never done even one
thing for their people, and are unlikely to ever hook-up with their people.
By touting their supposed "blood-quantum", real or illusory, they are aiding
and abetting the blood-quantum game that is used to statistically
exterminate and eliminate (along with ttreaties and treaty responsibilities)
these different nations. You cannot imagine how many people come to me to
tell me about their supposed "Blackfoot Great-grandmother, whose name they
cannot remember or do not know, but know she was Blackfoot, and ask me how
they can get "enrolled" and by the way, how can they get some "Indian money"
for school. Because a lot of non-Indians do not know much about these
realities, it is quite easy for some to pass as Indian, or perhaps are
Indian in terms of blood, but know nothing about the realities and cultures
of their respective nations. Some of them go to conferences, honestly well
intended, but wind-up setting back our cause because of their own innocent
ignorance about the realities they have been brought in to speak about
having been "designated" as "THE"... Possibly by non-Indians unsure of who
and what is a Blackfoot, Cherokee etc etc.

This is why we ask about bona fides and when we ask, it is not an immediate
accusation, but rather, an inquiry and suggestion as to how to determine the
best representatives of a given nation or indeed Indians in general if
someone is being selected more as a generic Indian rather than
representative of a particular nation. It is very important to us as we have
been/are often the victims of wannabes or even people with some Indian
"blood" but who know little or nothing about the cultures from which some of
that blood came. Among Blackfoot, for example, as it is among most nations I
know, we have no concept of an "adopted Blackfoot" versus "Blackfoot by
blood." Once someone has been properly adopted, that person is Blackfoot in
every sense regardless of blood.

So we pose the questions that I posed: Was this person raised on the Rez? Is
this person known by the community they claim? Has this person given service
to the community they claim? Has this person lived within that community
they claim? Has this person been painted and named, when, where and by whom?
I have been painted, first by George Kicking Woman, and later by Traditional
authorities of my Band (Apatohsipiikani Blackfoot) and named
"Omahkohkiaayo-i'poyii-ni-naa" (if someone tells you they carry an Indian
name, ask them to give it in the language of the nation in which they were
named as some people make up their own names and/or are named by those not
authorized to name). We do not ask if someone is BIA/DIA certified; that is
non-Indians and/or some sell-outs that ask if someone is "BIA/DIA
certified". Leonard Peltier, for example, was never BIA enrolled and refuses
to be as it is his belief that only Lakota define who and what is a Lakota.

So my point is that in your present capacity, where you may be deciding who
will go to Students of Color conferences or whatever, and you need someone
to "represent" Indians and Indian issues in general, please do understand
that you must be careful about whom you send as if you send someone based on
"looks" or even supposed "blood-quantum", not having any real roots in any
real Indian community, you may well do Indians and our cause some damage.
That is why I inquired and was the basis of my questions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. It is an irony that in
American history, if someone had "one drop" of African-American blood they
were defined as African-American but Indians are supposed to "prove" their
blood to those governments bent on our extermination.

Jim Craven







-----Original Message-----
From: Craven, Jim
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 3:36 PM
To: *FORUM at Clark College
Subject: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum]
RE: [ Forum] RE: [ Forum] WSJ a rticle on an ticipated la rge-scale Ir aq
destr ucti on and w ar profiteer ing


Hi Karen:

Thank you for the note. Yes, George Kickingwoman is one of my spiritual
advisors who once painted me.

If you read my note, I said I do not know and do not want to know; I also
said that this person could indeed be well qualified or perhaps not I do not
know. I only raised some issues that are very real issues for all Indians
which includes on what basis are some designated Indian and by whom.

Yes, I'll get to you privately on this. I did take exception to the use of
the term "A" Native American woman. Perhaps next time you might say a
Blackfeet woman named Brandi Kicking Woman will be going... And by the way,
her grandmother Molly was also one of my spiritual advisors and I miss her
greatly.

Thanks for the note, but you know, this kind of exchange, while a bit testy
perhaps, may be good for all to see; these issues are real for us as you
know just as there are many ways in which African-Americans feel
disrespected even when those who do so did not intend such.

Thanks,

Jim



Hi Jim:

As the MSA/Retention Manager I have always tried to honor all cultures
within our community.  I know you have strong feelings about the treatment
of first-generation Americans; as I have strong feeling about the historic
treatment of African-Americans.  I'm trying to do my best to create a
welcoming environment for our students and we are planning to recognize all
cultures next year with our MSA programming---and I hope you will be a
partner in this endeavor.

Jim, with regard to the Indian woman that will attend the conference in
Yakima---you may have backed into the proverbial "buzz saw."  Her name is
Brandi Kicking Woman.  She is a Blackfoot Indian and I understand that her
grandfather may be your spiritual advisor.  Frankly, I would be embarrassed
to show Brandi the e-mail you sent me.  Next time, please give me a call and
give me the courtesy to answer your questions face-to-face, rather than
embarrass us both over the campus forum.

Sincerely,

Karen Brown
Multicultural Student Affairs/Retention Program Manager
Gaiser Hall, room 141A
x2284



-----Original Message-----
From: Craven, Jim
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 2:37 PM
To: *FORUM at Clark College
Subject: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum]
WSJ a rticle on an ticipated la rge-scale Ir aq destructi on and w ar
profiteer ing


Thank you very much for a public exposition of some of the forms of hubris,
insensitivity and callousness to which Indians are routinely subject in this
country and at this institution. "Multicultural" Student Affairs/Student
Retention "Manager" eh? Right...Got it.

Jim Craven


-----Original Message-----
From: Brown, Karen
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 1:11 PM
To: *FORUM at Clark College
Subject: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] WSJ article
on an ticipated la rge-scale Ir aq destructi on and w ar profiteering


Hello everyone:
When I sent the email it was intended for Lori Jimmerson only. I did not
realize it was going to the entire forum.

I am sending seven students from Clark to the Student of Color Conference in
Yakima in April.

The students are not going to Iraq.

Karen Brown
Multicultural Student Affairs/Retention Program Manager
Gaiser Hall, room 141A
x2284



-----Original Message-----
From: Craven, Jim
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 1:01 PM
To: *FORUM at Clark College
Subject: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] RE: [Forum] WSJ article on
anticipated la rge-scale Ir aq destructi on and w ar profiteering



Hi Lori:
I have a Native American female who will attend the conference.

Karen Brown
Multicultural Student Affairs/Retention Program Manager
Gaiser Hall, room 141A
x2284



Response: This is extremely offensive and is quite indicative of the kinds
of tokenism, ignorance and superficial/pseudo respect for "diversity" that
goes on in this place. As usual, we have non-Indians, who obviously know
little or nothing about what a real Indian is, purporting to define who and
what an Indian is--or arrogating to "designate" a particular female as not
only "Native American" but to be the some kind of  "Native American female"
to fill some kind of quota for the conference.. This is the same kind of
stuff we get from the BIA and what we got from the former AA Officer whose
leaving from this campus, in my opinion, did more for AA and respect for
diversity than anything that has gone on on this campus for years.

I have no idea who this person is and do not want to know. But "just for the
record, it is not about purported "blood-quantum"; it is about life
experience and way of life. Perhaps this person will indeed be best suited
to represent--and deal with--issues of Indian women at this conference and
perhaps not. Has this person been raised Indian? Has this person ever lived
on a Rez? Is this person recognized by the community from which she comes (I
do not mean BIA enrolled but recognized by the Elders, Government and
community from which she comes?). What does this person know about the real
conditions and issues faced by Indian women?

In my opinion, multiculturalism at this campus--which no one on the
multiculturalism committee has yet been able to define--is a fraud and an
insult. All we get over and over is MLK Day (not even Malcolm X, Harriet
Tubman, WEB Du Bois, Frederick Douglas,) based on the limited experiences
and/or personal connections of those purporting to deal with
"multiculturalism", and for other groups we find this kind of insulting and
superficial treatment.

First of all, we are not generic "Native Americans". We are Cherokee,
Blackfoot, Osage, Lakota--different nations. Secondly very few real Indians
use the term "Native American" (that is usually solicitous liberals who use
that term) as we do not define "real American" on the basis of how far back
in U.S. history one's ancestors go and also, we were not even "made"
(without our permission) "Americans" until 1924. And finally anyone who
knows anything about the status and treatment of Indians in America knows
that Indians, like African-Americans, have anything but the rights that
other "Americans" enjoy in America.

Please, please, better to ignore us than this kind of superficiality.

Jim Craven
Blackfoot Nation
(a Blackfoot not "Native American")


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