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Dr.
Joely Proudfit
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I want to elevate the authentic
presentation of American Indians in the mass media.
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-- Dr. Joely Proudfit
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Dr. Joely Proudfit minces no words in describing her mission
advocating for American Indians.
My American Indian culture and identity is central to
my being, work and research, said Proudfit, Chair and Professor
in the American Indian Studies Department and Director of the California
Indian Culture & Sovereignty Center at Cal State San Marcos.
Proudfit is a descendant of the Pechanga band of Luiseño
Indians and was drawn to CSUSM because it is the traditional homeland
of the Payómkowishum. She is among the nations leading
champions of Native American education and was appointed by former
President Barack Obama to the National Advisory Council on Indian
Education.
We must bring American Indians out of the history books
and stereotypical media portrayals and into the contemporary context,
she said. I want to elevate the authentic presentation of
American Indians in the mass media.
Proudfit is the co-president and co-founder of The Native Networkers,
which consults with the entertainment industries in fostering authentic
representation of Native Americans. She and her partner, film director
Chris Eyre, recently worked with director Scott Cooper and actor
Christian Bale on the upcoming film Hostiles.
Proudfit is especially proud of CSUSMs role.
We are home to numerous one-of-a-kind events, programs
and publications such as Californias American Indian &
Indigenous Film Festival, the State of American Indian & Alaska
Native Education in California Report, and the annual Tribal Education
Summit, to name just a few things that separate CSUSM from the rest,
she said.
We are the leaders in the area because President Karen
Haynes has chosen to implement a tribal initiative driven by the
tribal peoples and nations of the region.
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