The head of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs had a stern message Tuesday for Haskell Indian Nations University students who’d rather party than study.

“There’s the door,” he said, pointing to the west end of Haskell Memorial Stadium. “I’m asking you to leave. Now.”

Addressing about 300 students and faculty at the university’s fall semester convocation, David Anderson said he was sick and tired of American Indians not taking control of their own lives.

It’s no coincidence, he said, that coverage of this week’s Republican National Convention includes black Americans, Hispanics and “all kinds of white people,” but, as yet, no Indians.

“We don’t vote,” said Anderson, doing little to hide his disgust.

A member of the Chippewa and Choctaw tribes and founder of the “Famous Dave’s” family restaurant chain, Anderson was put in charge of the Bureau of Indian Affairs by President Bush in 2003. Earlier this year, Anderson was keynote speaker at Haskell’s commencement service.

A motivational speaker, Anderson revealed that he had not done well in school — “I was a C, D, F student” — and that he had a long history of alcohol abuse.

“I’ve been sober nine and a half years now,” he said, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Too many times, Anderson said, Indians expect the federal government to solve their problems, preferring dependence rather than independence. And too many leaders and educators, he said, misunderstand the need to preserve traditions such as quilt making, basket weaving and tanning buckskin.

Haskell Indian Nations University students, including Natasha Henson, sophomore from Coweta, Okla., foreground center, cheer during a motivational speech by David Anderson, head of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Anderson spoke to the students Tuesday at Haskell's fall convocation.

The need, he said, is driven not by “folk art” but by ancestors’ ability to survive, to provide for their families, to adapt to a changing environment.

“Quit being victims of change,” he said, shouting into microphone. “Stand up and be proud of who we are.”

Anderson’s comments were well-received.

“I heard him at commencement,” said Leroy Silva, a Haskell student. “He motivated me then, and now he’s motivated me again.”

Student Senate President Denny Gayton said he interpreted Anderson’s remarks as a call for Indians to unite as a people rather than as individual tribes.

David Anderson, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, makes a point in his speech during the fall convocation at Haskell Memorial Stadium.

“You saw that in the 1960s with groups like AIM (American Indian Movement), but the goals over time got defined by non-Indian people and Indian people distanced themselves from the movement,” Gayton said. “He’s saying we need to get back to that on our own terms. I agree with him.”

Haskell reported an enrollment of 910 students Tuesday, compared with 866 at this time last year, said registrar Manny King.

6News video: ‘Famous Dave’ returns to motivate Haskell students