A journalist discussed controversial issues including racist sports mascots as members of the RedHawk Native American Arts Council danced at the opening reception for Native American Heritage Month on Thursday night.

The Native American Council set “Contemporary Native America: Envisioning Today’s Kaleidoscope of Cultures, Keeping Yesterday and Tomorrow in Sight” as the theme for Columbia’s observance of the nationwide celebration. About 50 students, administrators, and community members gathered in Lewis Parlor for the launch.

“Sometimes in New York City it’s hard to provide a strong Native American voice, and I’m glad that we were able to do that tonight and this month and throughout Columbia’s history,” JoAnn Kintz, CC ’08 and NAC president, said.

While attendees dined on food provided by the Native Sisters Harvest catering company, Tim Giago, who founded both the Native American Journalists Association and the first independently-owned Native American newspaper, spoke of his use of journalism as a tool in the struggle for Native American rights.

“I believed that the power of the pen could bring about changes that, a lot of times, violence couldn’t,” he said.

His newspaper’s editorials, which often confronted controversial issues—such as racist sports mascots, questionable hiring practices in local businesses, and the abuse of Native American children by Catholic schools—resulted in multiple attacks on the paper’s office and on Giago himself. He once got into his car and, he said, “my windshield disintegrated in my face.” A bullet had flown past his head and out the car’s back window.

“Those were the times when I wondered why in hell I had started a newspaper and why I was crazy enough to keep it going,” he said. “Here I was trying to do good, and I was being threatened with death.”

Giago spoke of his career as a calling predicted by the Lakota name he received as in childhood, Nanwica Kciji, or Stands Up for Them. “My grandfather ... gave me my name,” he said. “I had no idea that I would one day be in a profession where I would have to stand up for my people.”

His speech was bookended by dances from the RedHawk Native American Arts Council. “Our slogan is to capture their [viewers’] hearts to the beauty of our culture, so that we can capture their minds to who we are,” dancer Cliff Matias said.

The dancers encouraged the audience to join them in an Iroquois smoke dance. Ten initially sheepish volunteers became confident as they learned and performed basic steps alongside the professionals. “You don’t hold anything back when you dance,” John Haney, CC ’11, said.

Giago said that he found the gathering encouraging. “To see these young people who are hanging onto their traditions and their culture here in this big city—it’s a beautiful thing.”

The respect was mutual. “I thought it was heartfelt,” Enontabe Wanna, BC ’11, said. “Sometimes you get these speakers who come with these speeches all prepared. His [speech] really hit home.”

“I’m 73 years old, and I’m not going to be around much longer, and I hope that I can bring along some young people to take up that mantle when I drop it,” Giago said in closing. “Take up my Lakota name, Nanwica Kciji.”

Mary Kohlmann can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.