Mar 19, 2012

American Indian rights program

Tadd Johnson, head of the American Indian Studies Department at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, will present a free program April 9 at noon in Chalberg Theatre on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. He is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and an attorney. He will discuss the American Indian Civil Rights Act. Johnson served as a tribal attorney for over 20 years and has also served as a tribal court judge, and a tribal administrator. He is a frequent lecturer on American Indian history and federal Indian law. He spent five years with the U.S. House of Representatives, ultimately becoming staff director and counsel to the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Johnson to chair the National Indian Gaming Commission. He earned his B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He has served as faculty member of the National Judicial College, served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and is co-host and co-producer of the Public Broadcasting Service program "Native Report." For information contact: Mary Sam, Director of Diversity, Equity and Tribal Relations, (218) 855-8159 or email msam@clcmn.edu