Ronald Satz, a full life

One of the foremost scholars of Native American History, Ronald Satz, died this week after a long illness. He was long associated with my present employer, the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire both in the History Department and in university administration. His last post was provost until the illness forced his retirement last fall.

I wish I could say I knew him well, but his administrative duties and my part-time status limited our contacts. The one time I turned to him for aid was when I was designing a History of Wisconsin course. He was quite gracious in lending me some materials that he had collected on the spearfishing controversy of the 1970s and 80s. Everything I have heard about him from my friends and colleagues has emphasized that graciousness and generousness that he demonstrated time and again with both students and colleagues.

The University has posted an obituary on its home page. Rather than try to write one myself, I’m going to print here an email from a former student, J.P. Leary. I think it gives a sense of the range of his work. I am particularly happy that his remarks emphasize something that had long impressed me: his dedication in making the new work on Native American history available to K-12 teachers in a form that they could take immediately into the classroom. But that was only one accomplishment among many.

J.P. Leary’s remarks:
Dr. Ronald N. Satz passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis following a courageous battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Prior to his retirement in October 2005, Dr. Satz served as Provost and Vice Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1999. During his 22 years of service to UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Satz served the university as Dean of Graduate Studies and University Research (1983-1994), Dean of the School of Human Sciences and Services (1994-1995), Dean of the College of Professional Studies (1995-1999), and Director of the Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration (1988-1995).

Satz was already a celebrated scholar of American Indian history who specialized in matters of federal Indian policy, treaties, and treaty rights, having authored"Federal Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era," among other works, prior to coming to Eau Claire. Satz became active in contemporary American Indian issues shortly after arriving on campus when Veda Stone recruited him to sit on the Ad Hoc Commission on Racism in Wisconsin, a body convened by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to hold hearings on"the incidence, prevalence, and impact of alleged racism, prejudice, and discrimination" following the federal court's affirmation of treaty rights reserved under the Treaties of 1837 and 1842.

Satz's work connected scholarship to contemporary issues and lived experience. In 1991, Satz published the first edition of his"Chippewa Treaty Rights: The Reserved Rights of Wisconsin's Chippewa Indians in Historical Perspective" (revised, 1994), a book which received the State Historical Society of Wisconsin's Award of Merit for Distinguished Service to History. In 1998, this book was also entered into the record as part of the Mille Lacs v. Carlson treaty rights case in the United States Supreme Court. He had a distinguished service record that is exemplified by the Excellence in Service Award that he received from the UW-Eau Claire Foundation in 1995. Satz served several American Indian tribes and organizations, including the American Indian Language and Culture Education Board (AILCEB), Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF). He also served on the editorial boards of several prominent journals, including American Indian Quarterly.

Satz's expertise in federal Indian policy, treaties, and treaty rights led to his involvement with the American Indian Studies Program at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. He co-authored, with Rick St. Germaine and Tony Gulig,"Classroom Activities on Chippewa Treaty Rights" a curriculum guide published by DPI in 1991. In recognition of his work on the guide, and his record of service to elementary, secondary, post-secondary, and continuing education, Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Herbert J. Grover recognized Ronald N. Satz in December 1993 for his" commitment to the advancement of American Indian studies in Wisconsin's public schools" and for"promoting an understanding among K-12 students and staff of the history, culture and tribal sovereignty of Indian tribes and bands in Wisconsin." Satz also led the project development team led that developed"Classroom Activities on Wisconsin Indian Treaties and Tribal Sovereignty," published in 1996 by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. In 1996, the Wisconsin Library Association honored"Classroom Activities on Wisconsin Indian Treaties and Tribal Sovereignty" with its Distinguished Document Award. In 1997, Satz co-founded, with J P Leary, the American Indian Studies Summer Institute, a week-long professional development opportunity for educators.

Among the honors and awards Satz earned during his career was the Ojibwe name Wasbishka Ogitchida ("The White Warrior [for treaty rights] and Earth Protector") that he received in a traditional naming ceremony from Lac Courte Oreilles Elder John"Little Bird" Anderson in 1998. This name was given in recognition of his scholarly research on treaty rights and his expert testimony in treaty rights cases before the federal courts.

Dr. Ronald N. Satz's life and work represent the highest ideals we hold as educators. His scholarly historical analysis, his critical engagement with contemporary issues, his teaching that well exceeded the walls of the university classroom, and his kindness, patience, and intellect, will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His family and his students are his legacy and he has prepared them well to carry on.

J P Leary, Consultant
American Indian Studies Program
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction