The friend is Tewa, has worked extensively across the country with many different Native Museums, Nations and Artists. She was the one who curated the education exhibit at the Heard Museum, has personal ties to different communities including Hopi, and considers multiple artists (like Rebecca Belmore) her close friends but yet her 60+ years of first hand knowledge is considered nothing because the other graduate student, whose white, said she knew more simply because she took a class. Completely pisses me off and this is something she has encountered all the time, a white person/people claiming they know more about Indians than Indians do. (I hate saying “white people” but in this case its true) Unfortunately for my friend this correction cost her tuition (which she now has to pay back), health care, and a monthly stipend. It was an unfair fight from the beginning because the department had already made up their mind, taking the side of the other graduate student. I’m not sure what other actions can be taken to reverse this decision but my friend has already contacted offices outside the department in the university to look into this.
Another lesson in white people thinking education trumping experience, and fucking someone over because of it.
