SPOKANE ARTIST/ACTIVIST SLUM TAH (CHARLENE TETERS) BORN
Teters, born in Spokane, Washington, earned a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her protest of pseudo-Native American dance portrayals brought attention to the issue of racial stereotyping. In 1991, Charlene helped found the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media, serving as vice-president. In 1997, Teters was named “Person of the Week” by Peter Jennings of ABC World News Tonight for her efforts against stereotyping & provided the basis for the film In Whose Honor. Awards include: W.K. Kellogg Leadership Fellowship (2003-2004); Allan Houser Memorial Award, New Mexico Governors Award (2001); and Chalmers Memorial Award, American Civil Liberties Union (1991). In 2021, Teters retired as Academic Dean, Institute of American Indian Arts. She started there as Interim Dean in 2000. Teters also served as Hugh O. LaBounty Endowed Chair of Interdisciplinary Knowledge, California State Polytechnic University (2005-07).
Sources: Charlene Teters website. Retrieved 6/28/2019, www.charleneteters.com. “Academic Dean Charlene Teters Retires,” IAIA Happenings. Retrieved 9/20/2021, Academic Dean Charlene Teters Retires > Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Photo: U.S. Senate, 5/4/2011. Public Domain.
Indigenous America Calendar 