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American Indian educators, historians, activists, students, parents, tribal leaders and friends will hold a massive rally and press conference to respond to ignorant remarks and statements made by Governor Pawlenty's recently appointed Commissioner of Education, Ms. Cheri Pierson Yecke on the midday show of MPR Minnesota Public Radio on November 4, 2003.

When: Monday, November 10, 2003 at 10:30a.m.
Where: Minnesota Department of Education/CFL Building
1500 West Highway 36, Roseville, Minnesota

These remarks must not go unchallenged by the people of Minnesota. Numerous historical facts and documents will be presented at this press conference to prove Ms. Yecke's comments as blatant lies and uneducated remarks. Ms. Yecke must be educated about the truth of American history and it's policies of spiritual, political, cultural and physical genocide of the Indigenous people of the United States and Canada and indeed the entire Western Hemisphere. Many denominations or organized religions have already made public apologies for their collusion in these genocidal policies, including the Pope on his visit to Canada a few years ago.

The American Indian Council on Education (AICE) will be calling on all our friends from all communities to join us at this rally and press conference. We will demand that Governor Pawlenty censor his Education Commissioner and request a verbal and written apology to the American Indian people of Minnesota and that she resign from her position.

We will be requesting that the new Social Studies Standards currently being considered to be suspended until American Indian people and other communities of color are included in this process. Our children and the children of the State of Minnesota deserve to know the truth about the original people of this country and their beautiful cultures and traditions that are still vibrant today!

For more information, please call Clyde Bellecourt at the Peacemaker Center, cell: 612-724-3129, phone: 612-251-5836. The American Indian Council on Education, phone: 612-879-1751 or Mike Forcia, cell phone: 612-423-5637.