To the editor:

As I was looking at the new Lawrence 150th anniversary book, I came upon a part of the book that disturbed me. This was on page 15. It was this book’s take on the history of Haskell Institute.

Many inaccuracies occurred on this page. If no small children were taken off to Haskell as the book asserts, explain the burial of children as young as eight months of age in the Haskell Cemetery. Explain the use of the stereotypical word “brave.”

Lastly, it was stated that Baker University acquired the wetlands area in 1966 and that this occurred after Haskell officials told the Department of Interior and Baker that they didn’t want the land. This is only part of the truth.

Until 1968, non-native officials made decisions without asking their Indian constituents’ opinions. This changed after Indian Preference was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1968. By 1975, Haskell officials were asking for the land back as part of Indian self-determination.

This land was “given” away by Euro-American officials acting in the “best interests(?)” of native Americans. Haskell has always wanted this land back. It would appear that the insertion of this misleading information concerning Baker’s acquiring of the wetland and no mention of U.S. Code Law 25, Chapter 7, Section 293 A, that Baker violated, is part of the idea to omit Haskell’s historical contribution to the city of Lawrence.

Mike Ford,

Lawrence