UTM's fourth annual Conference on Civil Rights expanded this year to include the civil rights struggle of Native Americans, holding a panel discussion Tuesday night in Watkins Auditorium.

The distinguished panel included six Native American historians and activists. The topic for the discussion was "Stereotypes and Native Americans," but also included a question and answer section on other important matters facing Native Americans, including the lack of education provided about Native American history and the protection of burial sites.

The first topic touched on, in going with the title of the discussion, was stereotypes applied to Native Americans in Hollywood or otherwise. Corky Allen, a member of the Euchee tribe in Oklahoma, said that because of more Native Americans now getting into film, stories were becoming more accurate than in earlier Hollywood works.

"Someday, one of our filmmakers will produce a historical work that touches people like Alex Haley's "Roots." Our story will come," Allen said.

An important factor affecting Native Americans in Tennessee is the lack of education provided on Native American history. Evangeline Lynch, an educator of 30 years who spent 21 years in the Obion County School District, says that textbooks don't include enough Indian history.

"One of the changes I would like to see made in our education system is to see more Indian history in our textbooks. There's just not enough in them now," said Lynch, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Another important part of Native American rights covered by the panel was the protection of burial sites. Organizations, such as the Inter-tribal Sacred Land Trust founded by Miller, are working to protect Native American burial grounds here in Tennessee and across the nation. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act helps them to save some burial grounds, but there are many other laws that must be dealt with in trying to protect these sites.

The topics covered here are just a few of the ones pertinent to the civil rights of Native Americans. One can only hoping that furthering the growth of the Conference on Civil Rights here at UTM, more programs will be added to further the cause of Native American civil rights.