Then and Now: The Pleiad's Coverage of Indigenous Peoples

The Pleiad's coverage of Indigenous peoples comes in many forms, with the most common types of stories written about and including Indigenous peoples being features, opinions, and news. In this project each of these categories is represented by two articles published years apart, one representing the "Then" and the other representing the "Now." The representative "Then" and "Now" articles are analyzed side by side to illustrate how changes in societal awareness have been reflected in The Pleiad's reporting.

The biggest differences between the "Then" and "Now" is the language used to describe individuals of Indigenous descent, and the framing of Indigenous involvement in these stories.

Many of the early articles use term "Indian"— a term deemed appropriate at the time— to describe Indigenous individuals and Nations. However, in the years since, advocates have expressed that using "Indian" in this context is offensive and disrespectful to Indigenous Tribes and Nations, hence, it has been phased out in more recent "Now" reporting.

The adoption of language that diminishes Indigenous history and accomplishments is also characteristic of the "Then" reporting. These stories minimize Indigenous history, specifically in their discussion of Native Land, and center white experiences on said land and in relation to the achievements of Indigenous peoples. Many of the changes seen in the "Now" reporting are a direct response to these practices in the "Then." The nature of the land acknowledgements has changed to honor the history of those Indigenous to the land, with a focus on centering the experiences and traditions of said Indigenous peoples.

 These differences in The Pleiad's reporting reflect a societal change in awareness of Indigenous history and traditions while also setting a precedent for future reporting on Indigenous peoples.

The timeline above shows the publication dates for the representative articles discussed in this project. These are by no means all of the examples of each type of story, but they represent trends in The Pleiad's reporting "Then" and "Now." This timeline perfectly divides the "Then" and "Now," with the "Then" being represented by articles written from 1985-2009, and "Now" being the articles spanning from 2013-2021. This even split is a direct result of the aforementioned changes in societal awareness of Indigenous history and traditions. Writing guidance changed with this awareness, so it is not surprising that The Pleiad's reporting followed suit.

On April 9th, 1999, Pleiad Staff Writer Carolyn Temporelli published a feature piece about community involvement. Temporelli's article discusses Albion's Habitat for Humanity International volunteers and their work, focusing specifically on the renovation of Ed and Dallie Salicki's home. The history of the home was later highlighted as one of its most interesting characteristics by Samuel Talsma, a student volunteer, who stated that the previous structures on the land were built at a time "when there was still a Potawatomi settlement." It was this quote that drew me to this article, as it discusses Indigenous land in the past tense and excludes any discussion of its original occupants. These choices illustrate a lack of regard and disrespect for the Indigenous peoples who resided in Duck Lake.

On October 27th, 2021, Shannon Barba, the Co-Marketing Coordinator of The Pleiad, published a feature about the dedication of a trail in the Whitehouse Nature Center. Barba's article focused on the legacies of Doug White and Dale Kennedy, two of Albion's former biology professors. Outside of teaching, both White and Kennedy studied house wrens, with some of these boxes still lining the trails of the Nature Center today. To honor this work and their time spent at Albion, a trail in the Nature Center was dedicated to the two former professors in late 2021. In this article, Barba states that the dedicated trail is on the "traditional land of the Anishinaabe tribes." This line caught my eye as the language used is specific to the Anishinaabe, and it is written in the present tense. Saying this land "is" as opposed to saying it "was" shows a level of respect for Indigenous history that the previous article lacked.

The transition from using vague language and disrespectful terms to discuss Indigenous inhabitation in the past tense to using language specific to an individual Nation in the present tense in The Pleiad's reporting reflects a shift in societal awareness when it comes to Indigenous history. How individuals write reflects how they think, and these contrasting tones in the features presented show how being respectful of Indigenous people and their history has become more of a priority for The Pleiad's reporters.

On April 10th, 2009, Kyle Francis, a Student Writer for The Pleiad, published an opinion piece discussing the opening of the Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan. Francis highlights the need for businesses that will bolster Michigan's economy, both employment and profit-wise. Francis then goes on to talk about the opportunity the casino presented for the locals in Calhoun County. The lack of any meaningful discussion about the achievement that was opening the casino for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi stood out to me as it not only minimizes their experience, but also centers the story on the experiences of others. This story is not about the success of the Potawatomi, instead it is about how others can financially benefit from the fruits of their labor.

On April 28th, 2013, Geoffrey Knight, a Senior Student Writer for The Pleiad, published an opinion piece about the "Washington Redskins." In his opinion piece, Knight discusses his love for football, specifically, his love for the "Washington Redskin's" franchise. Knight opened by talking about the team's disappointing season, before shifting over to something he found even more disappointing, their continued use of "Redskin" in their name and as their mascot. The term "Redskin" was considered offensive and appropriative at the time, but despite the controversy, the name stuck around. Knight, an avid fan, expressed that he, and much of the fanbase was ready to see the name go, "in no way should tradition ever come before moral obligation." This article stood out because it centers the experience of Indigenous peoples who find the franchise's name offensive. The purpose of this opinion is to support the call for change despite pushback from individuals who deem tradition as more important than showing Indigenous peoples respect.

The "Then" and "Now" opinion pieces present the experiences of different groups in stories that center on Indigenous peoples. While the "Then" and "Now" report on different topics, what can be taken away from both is that The Pleiad's reporting has shifted to highlight the experience of the Indigenous peoples in a respectful way.

On November 1st, 1985, David Dinger, a Senior Staff Writer for The Pleiad, published a news article about recent excavations at the White House Nature Center.  Dinger's piece highlights the excavation of an Indigenous settlement in the Whitehouse Nature Center. Elizabeth Brumfiel, an Albion College professor, made the discovery with her prehistoric archeology class during dig sessions that began in 1979. Brumfiel discussed said discovery and talked about what life was like for those who settled in the area. She then went on to describe the artifacts found and the effects of the dig on the site, stating that the excavation "was not disturbing the overall effect of the site" and that "there was no major difference." The quotes outlined above illustrate common thought patterns surrounding the excavation of Indigenous settlements at the time. Once researchers discovered a site, the artifacts at said site were theirs to possess and present, with little thought going towards the implications that the disturbances of these sites had on Indigenous peoples.

On September 5th, 2018, Gabby Henriksen, News Editor for The Pleiad, published a news story about a repatriation at Albion College. In 2015, Bille Wickre, an Albion College Art History professor, discovered that Albion had been in possession of an object that belonged to the Zuni Nation since 1973. The object in question— an Ahayu'da— is considered a protector of the Zuni Nation, and without it, the Zuni Nation is weakened. Once notified of the discovery, Carleton Bowekaty, Octavius Seowtewa, and Nelson Vicinty of the Zuni Nation came to Albion on August 30th, 2015, to take the object back to be retired, restoring the protection of the Zuni people. This article stood out to me due to the emphasized importance of the repatriation of the Ahayu'da. This illustrates a newfound awareness and respect for Indigenous history and traditions that the previous article lacked.

The differences between the "Then" and "Now" news pieces are a result of an increased awareness of Indigenous traditions. The "Then" article discusses the removal of artifacts from Indigenous settlements as an unharmful practice, while the "Now" shows the very real ramifications such practices have on Indigenous Nations.

The "Then" and "Now" articles presented in this project show how The Pleiad's reporting has charged as a result of an increased understanding of Indigenous peoples, history, practices, and traditions. The features illustrated a newfound respect for Indigenous history, the opinions shifted to highlight Indigenous experiences, and the news stories changed the narrative on Indigenous traditions. All of these changes foster an environment of respectful student reporting on Albion's campus, and we can only hope that this trend continues.

Barba, Shannon. " Nature Center Trail Dedicated to Dale Kennedy and Doug White ." The Pleiad (Albion, MI), Oct. 27, 2021.

Dinger, David. " Anthro group digs at Nature Center ." The Pleiad (Albion, MI), Nov. 1, 1985.

Francis, Kyle. " A smart gamble ." The Pleiad (Albion, MI), Apr. 10, 2009.

Henriksen, Gabby. " Zuni Nation's Ahayu'da Repatriated at Albion College ." The Pleiad (Albion, MI), Sep. 5, 2018.

Knight, Geoffrey. " Time for change, a name change ." The Pleiad (Albion, MI), Oct. 28, 2013.

Temporelli, Carolyn. " Albion students help build homes for needy people ." The Pleiad (Albion, MI), Apr. 9, 1999.

Dana Parker is a junior Chemistry major with a minor in Molecular Biology. She is a member of the Emergency Medical Services Club, Biochemistry Club, and Wilson Institute. Parker was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, where she attended K-12 school with her two siblings. Growing up in Madison allowed her to explore her many interests, and through this exploration, her love of animals and scientific research grew. It was in high school that her interest in Indigenous history peaked in her sophomore World History course, where she completed numerous projects on Indigenous peoples and their connection to the Earth. She later moved to Michigan to obtain her undergraduate degree from Albion College. Once at Albion, she noted that the college– which stands on Native land– rarely acknowledges its original inhabitants. It was this observation that led her to analyze the coverage of Indigenous people in The Pleiad.