April 30,2010

Hau Eli,

I read your email with great interest. My recommendation is that you seek out the Ethics committee for consultation. Typically, there is a chairperson and that person may be able to an emergency meeting.

Your outlining the mental anguish this is causing you, especially if it relates to military trauma, will be a compelling argument. Also, this is timely as an article was just in the NY Times newspaper about the exploitation of the Havasupai by that university researcher who used tribal blood samples for other purposes not consented to by the tribal members involved. They ultimately won a large settlement but as you may know, ASU spent millions in trying to defend themselves, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

While your case is not a research informed consent case and the published book may exist within the public domain, the ethics involved is what will assist you. Especially, since this legacy of colleges and universities ongoing exploitation of American Indians is coming further into the public light.

Please remember that universities have formally stated value statements within their strategic plans. These can be located on their website. They also don't like negative press so if you can do a national news story with Indian Country Today, it will further highlight this socio-cultural injustice and unethical behavior.

I will have good thoughts and prayers as you journey forward.

Mitakuye oyasin,
Ho hecetu yelo,
Bruce