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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2002

Oprah Winfrey, arguably one of the nation's most influential figures known for inspiring millions of Americans to read and attend therapy, tackled what she called the "powerful stories" of Native Americans on her television show yesterday.

"Imagine being forced from your home, losing your independence, and feeling like you have been left with no voice," Winfrey said in her introduction to a segment on the history of Indian Country. "Well, that is what happened to millions of Native Americans."

Featuring taped interviews with Rick West, the director of the National Museum of the American Indian, and Ron McNeil, president of the Sitting Bill College in South Dakota, Winfrey wove a story of genocide, assimilation and termination into her repertoire, a marked departure from the usual fare of Dr. Phil marriage tips and the latest Halle Berry movie. Along with an in-person appearance by West and clips from the acclaimed PBS documentary "Homeland," the billionaire hostess said it was time for the country to acknowledge "what has happened."

"It's really our own American holocaust," said West.

"It is," responded Winfrey.

The Native-themed segment was a first for the show and its estimated 22 million weekly domestic viewers and millions more worldwide. Having addressed Islam in a post-September 11 episode, yesterday's show was Winfrey's attempt to educate the masses about a topic that doesn't get such high-profile visibility.

From the pained and saddened looks on those in the audience at Harpo Studios in suburban Chicago, Illinois, Winfrey appeared to be succeeding. They were shown footage of squalid conditions and told of atrocities -- from forced schooling to population decimation -- that have occurred during the past few hundred years.

It was a perfect way to tug at the heartstrings, and pocketbooks, of the show's viewers. Filmed as a component of Winfrey's Angel Network, which depends on donations from the audience and the generosity of philanthropists, the aim was to inspire people to act.

On that end, Winfrey awarded a Washington man the "Use Your Life" award for his work to build homes on reservations. Robert Young, founder of the Red Feather Development Group was also given $20,000 in equipment from Stanley Tools to further his efforts.

Four Crow teen girls -- Lucretia, Brenett, Omney and Kim, were honored for their work to build a study hall on their Montana reservation. The girls, dubbed the Rez Protectors, already won a prestigious $25,000 National Science Foundation grant for their innovative building methods and Winfrey's network donated $25,000 more for computers and other equipment.

"Being Crow, it's very special to me, and watching these girls has revitalized my enthusiasm about doing something for my people," said an unidentified tribal administrator in taped clip.

Winfrey said she was inspired by the photo-book "Indian Country" by Gwendolen Cates to focus on Native Americans. At the conclusion of the program, she said simliar shows were in the works.

Relevant Links:
The Angel Network, February 11 episode - http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/
tows_2002/tows_past_20020211.jhtml
Oprah Winfrey - http://www.oprah.com
Red Feather Development Group - http://www.redfeather.org
National Museum of the American Indian - http://www.si.edu/nmai
Homeland - http://www.pbs.org/homeland