Created Equal: How state universities profit from land taken from Native Americans
A recent report from Grist investigated how a number of land-grant universities continue to profit from the land.
Aerial view of the "Demonstration Garden" at the Institute of American Indian Arts, a 1994 Land-Grant Tribal College and University Land-Grant member, in Santa Fe, N.M.
In 1862, the federal government passed the Morrill Act which ultimately allocated over 10 million acres of land to states to start and develop colleges.
States then developed or sold the property to start and fund universities, laying the foundation for America’s state college and university systems.
But the federal government acquired the land from Native Americans through unfair treaties, seizures or agreements, and a recent report from the nonprofit media organization Grist investigated how a number of land-grant universities continue to profit from the land.
In 1890, the second Morrill Act designated historically Black colleges and universities as land grant universities, and tribally controlled and accredited colleges weren’t granted the status until 1994. HBCUs and tribal institutions with land grant designations receive money instead of land.
Tristan Ahtone, editor-at-large of Grist, joined Created Equal on Tuesday to discuss the investigative report, along with Steve Yanni, land grant director for Bay Mills Community College, who joined to share the history and mission of tribal colleges and universities.
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Guests
Tristan Ahtone is the editor-at-large of Grist. He says the only way to repair this history is to undo what has been done.
“When it comes to reparative efforts for this history, I think what we are actually talking about [is] upending almost the entire history of the United States,” he said.
Steve Yanni is the land grant director at Bay Mills Community College. He believes tribal colleges put Native American students in a better position to succeed.
“We know that tribal members have a connection to their communities, to the land … not being pulled away from those traditional sources of sustenance, of support, of family is really important in terms of their ability to be successful,” he said.
Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.
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