Order of Angell - "Michigamua" and Native American Issues

"Michigamua" and Native American Issues

In its former identity "Michigamua," derived from a fictional Anishnaabe tribe, the organization had been criticized for its past practices of wearing imitations of Native American regalia in public rituals during yearly initiations of new members. There was public controversy over their mocking use of items such as "peace pipes," drums, and totems, which are sacred to many Native American religions. Many called such displays cultural appropriation or remnants of the United States' colonial legacy, while others argued that it was a way of showing respect for the University of Michigan's Native American roots. In response to outcry from the Native community, the organization stopped using Native American rituals publicly in 1972, and stopped all pseudo-Native American practices in 1989. That year, the organization signed an agreement with representatives from the Native American Student Association agreeing to abandon all Native American cultural references in their rituals and initiations.

In 2000, a group of students called the Students of Color Coalition (SCC) occupied the tower and the organization's offices. During the SCC's 37-day occupation they discovered the interior of the tower painted to depict a Wigwam and historical items of Native American origin in a storage attic. While these items were bought legally throughout the society's history by its members, the items were deemed inappropriate by the SCC. Members of the organization asserted that these archival items had been unused and stored away for years in storage. Some believe that the Native American archival items were staged on the table of the room, while others believe the items were in possession of the group. Neither account has been confirmed. The members of the organization agreed to vacate the tower of the Michigan Union, and the Native American items were distributed to various Native tribes.