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Charlene Teters Charlene Teters is a member of the Spokane nation in Washington State. She is an installation artist, writer, editor and advocate. Charlene has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois and degrees from the College of Santa Fe and the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is a Professor at the Institute of American Indian Art, has served as the Senior Editor of Native Artists Magazine and is a founding Board Member of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media. Through her multimedia art installations, writings and lectures Charlene addresses the issues facing Native Americans and challenges the inappropriate use of American Indian symbols, especially by sports teams. Charlene led the campaign at The University of Illinois against the use of the school mascot in the image of a "Chief." Her history of public challenges is the subject of a nationally aired award-winning documentary "In Whose Honor?" by Jay Rosenstein. Indeed, popular culture is a powerful source of information, selling a global perception of American thinking. Among those thoughts are images of Native Americans in which Native Americans have become "things and backdrops". However, just as symbols can be used to kill a culture, so too can symbols be used to sustain a culture. Serving as a lightning rod for change provoked by racial and social injustices endured by American Indians, Charlene's work has led to progress in the United States, Canada, and now her words and thoughts are being repeated in Central America. For Charlene it is important that the young people understand the contributions of Native Americans. To know the history of Native Americans and their freedom fighters is a true source of inspiration. |