D-Q University Tribal College March to Board of Trustees Meeting 5/17/08 11am

D-Q University is California's Only Tribal College and was founded in 1971 by Native American and Chicano Activists that occupied a former Army base to build an Indigenous institution of higher education. The original vision was for an Inter-tribal University, inclusive of all Nations from North to South America, the Eagle and the Condor united. It lost its accreditation in 2005 due to former Board of Trustees financial mismanagement and administrative corruption. The Associated Student Body of D-Q University have been the only ones running any sort of educational programs on campus, in order to remain in compliance with the requirements stated on the deed to the land. These programs include Indigenous Permaculture Program, Biodiesel Program and media workshops with Indigenous Nations Network. We have offered to work with the board, and have numerous volunteer teachers that will work toward attaining accreditation. We are the caretakers and stewards of this land. We want our rights to an education be respected. For many months the board has refused to work with the students and has attempted to block any progress made by D-Q. D-Q U ASB has been inquiring as to why there is no transparency from the board, why issues regarding GSA land review and missing transcripts/student funds from the former administration have not been addressed. The board and their supporters have embarked on a slander campaign against the community and students for blowing the whistle on their negligence of the school. In 2005 the Board of Trustees and Yolo County Sheriffs went on a rampage against students and community supporters, sending out a SWAT team and harassing students and community members, during a peaceful protest. During this year, the dorms were raided by police, K-9 units were sent into the students' living quarters, without warrants, and students were evicted without due process. In total, 7 Student Leaders were arrested this year. On Feb. 20, 2008 Board of Trustees Jane Elliott, Shirley Lincoln (both of whom are employees of the BIA ~ aka Bureau of Indian Affairs) and Margaret Hoaglin called the Sheriffs on Student Leaders that were living on campus. Without due process, the Sheriffs forcefully arrested 3 Students and charged them with "trespassing", using citizen's arrest. Overwhelming community support was received, and less than an hour later, students and community were back on campus. On March 31, 2008 Board of Trustees called the Yolo County Sheriffs Department to arrest several community members on campus. This included students, community members and elders. Under the same false charges of trespassing, 18 Youth and Elders were arrested on campus. Women were arrested at gunpoint and arrestees were forced to be on their knees as Yolo County Sheriffs tore through the doors, ransacked the dorms, illegally going through the rooms and students' possessions, violating our civil rights and even stealing trophies for themselves such as students' bows and arrows and dvd players. Thousands of dollars of taxpayers money was wasted to wage war on innocent youth and elders. We demand an investigation into this injustice. Many people were able to flee, only after being told by Sheriffs to "run to the fields" like dogs. All while Jane Elliot, Shirley Lincoln and Susan Reese were laughing and taking pictures. April 2, 2008 two more Student Leaders were awaken at gunpoint, with tasers to their heads, as they slept next to the sweat lodge on ceremonial grounds. They were arrested by Yolo County Sheriffs as they snickered "why don't you guys just build a sweat lodge in jail..."Thanks to support from Indymedia and our allies in the community, the world was made aware of our situation. All 23 charges have been dropped by the District Attorney, we believe this is due to overwhelming community support! Jane Elliot and Shirley Lincoln have turned in their letters of resignation from the Board of Trustees, after receiving pressure to do so by the BIA! We are very thankful for the community support! The movement continues and we hope to have classes in the fall, despite harassment by the police and the board. We would appreciate any sort of legal help and representation so that we may stop this from happening to students and community in the future. New Board members are needed and applications will not be accepted online. The completed packets are to be turned in to the board in person, during a board meeting, every third Saturday of the month on D-Q U campus. Teachers and students and staff will also be needed in the near future. All we want is our school back. We ask for classes to be taught and ceremonies to be honored. Nothing more. A Board of Trustees is supposed to bring in funding for the school, hire staff and administration, and look after the well-being of the students and the land. None of which requirements are being met since 2005. If the students can run classes on campus, why can't the board! The gross abuse of power and authority by the board needs to be addressed, and our voices need to be heard. Join us as we demand accountability and Native education at D-Q University. For health, life, water and land and the next generations to come, we march. The D-Q University Associated Student Body is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization that is dedicated to the preservation of our campus as an Indigenous institution for higher education and traditional cultural knowledge, for the healing of Mother Earth, our people and the world. Visit us on campus to find out more information!

It was hard enough struggling against racist white authorities, but by that time, AIM (American Indian Movement) and it's supporters realized that our struggle for Indian dignity and self-determination couldn't succeed unless we also expose and deposed our own sellouts. Those were the Indians we sometimes called "apples" - Red on the outside, but White on the inside - from the book "Where White Men Fear to Tread by Russel Means 1995