[KathyM]

I was involved with the protests and meetings surrounding the "retirement" of Chief Illiniwe, mascot for the Univ. of IL.

Below is a piece written by an author named Tim Giago.....

The mainstream media and common ignorance has convinced some Native Americans that being a mascot for American sporting teams is OK; that it is all right to be ridiculed, mimicked and degraded for the sake of satisfying white and black sports fans.

Mascots usually consist of lions, tigers and bears, oh my. They are bison, bulldogs, and horses either led out on the field on leashes or ridden by outrageously painted Indians or Trojans. Or they are Vikings, figments of history, with no connection to today’s reality. Or they are Fighting Irish with a fictitious leprechaun mascot dancing around the sidelines.

They are cowboys, steelers, packers, or boilermakers that some nincompoops mistake for an ethnic minority. If the fans of these teams choose to honor these symbols for their sports teams, so be it. But when they take real life American Indians and turn them into cartoon caricatures and then mimic them by painting their faces, donning feathers, and doing the tomahawk chop, they cross that thin line called racism.

The University of North Dakota is fighting to retain a mascot they call the Fighting Sioux. The people they are aping no longer call themselves Sioux, but instead call themselves by their traditional names. Sioux was a bastardization of French and Ojibwe which could be interpreted as “Little Snake.”

And even if UND alumni wanted to retain this apparently erroneous name, it is what they do in presenting that image I find reprehensible. One year when UND played its main rival, the North Dakota State Bison, a cartoon image made the rounds of an Indian warrior sexually mounting a buffalo with the appropriate language attached. Another time in the city of Bismarck just before a renewal of this instate rivalry, some fans of North Dakota State were calling their UND rivals “The F_ _ _ing Sioux.” They used the “F” word to not only insult the fans of UND, but collaterally insulted all Native Americans in the state.

If one happened to be in Champagne/Urbana, Illinois before a big sporting event, in order to laud their mascot, Chief Illiniwek, a white boy dressed up in Native attire, one could see images of bleary-eyed, drunken Indians painted on the windows of the downtown bars. On sale in the local markets and drugstores, one could purchase rolls of toilet paper with images of Indians imprinted on every sheet.

One year, before a big football game between the Minnesota Gophers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, stuffed Indian dummies could be seen with ropes around their necks hanging from buildings and trees on the Minnesota campus.

Now any Indian or white that finds the things I have written above as “honoring” American Indians holds a very different view of what the word “honor” holds for the majority of Native Americans.

I cannot end this piece without referring to the Sunday a few years ago when the fans of the Washington professional football team (I will not use the “R” word here), painted a pig red, placed a feathered bonnet on its head, and then chased it around the football field at halftime. If they had painted a pig black and placed an Afro wig on its head and chased it around the football field at halftime, how many African Americans would have considered that an “honor?”

Let it suffice to say the 90 percent of all Native Americans in this country consider their use as mascots for America’s fun and games an insult. In the U. S. Navy we used to have a saying that went, “There is that 10 percent that never gets the word.” And yes, you will find that 10 percent standing proudly while 90 percent of their brethren are being insulted.

The mainstream media has, for 200 years or more, published articles about Native Americans that they considered quaint or humorous. Or they have published articles without ever checking the facts. There have been too many to list here, but a good example is the one last week that gushed about the Lakota Sioux (a misnomer) withdrawing from the United States of America. The MSM never bothered to check the authenticity of this article by talking to the legally elected presidents of any tribe in South Dakota. They never considered that treaties are made between nations and not individuals.

But that is just one example of how the media has never understood why most Indians detest their use as mascots. Only Oprah Winfrey used her television show to invite Native Americans to discuss their feelings about this topic, but that was 15 years ago.

Ten percent does not make up a majority, so please stop catering to that 10 percent.

[(JD)]

Yes, this has been quite a controversy for a very long time. I choose not to take sides. However, I personally believe that everything that God created has a spirit. If nothing with a spirit could be used as a mascot, then it would change the entire venue I think. I understand how the original peoples of this country feel insulted by being symbolized in mascots. (Do you also know that I offended some by using the term Native American?)

In the USA it is great honor to be a mascot. Not only is there great contesting and competitions for naming them, but the warring continues for who gets to wear and act through the garb of the symbols for their teams, schools!

For any bad habit to be changed, a good habit has to replace it. Perhaps if we could find suitable symbols for mascots and promoted them, this controversy could end?

[50guy]

I'm Native American and I detest non-Natives telling me how I should feel about things being named after Natives.

Frankly, it dosen't bother me one bit.

Of course I'm not a liberal or politically correct.

We used to be called American-Indian until the PC people decided it was not correct language. As usual we had a new name foisted upon us.

[SweetCrusader]

KathyM, I agree with your post.

[KathyM]

50guy

I have no native blood. I protested the Chief Illiniwek mascot because of the behavior it promotes among non-native students and fans. It plays into the ignorance and arrogance of little kids playing "Cowboys and Indians," depicting natives as "savage" and/or somehow beneath human beings - as an "enemy."

I attended the meetings and listened to natives speak of how it played out in classrooms of young native students around here who attend schools with native names. One father said his son was so ashamed of his native roots, he tried to convince his fellow students he was Hispanic in order to avoid all the ridicule. Even the teacher made jokes about his culture. He had no other friends in school, so he turned inward and grew to despise his family.

A native friend of mine attended the U of I. She's a strong woman, but she was constantly asked to speak on behalf of her people - inside and outside of the classroom. She was a STUDENT there - she should have the freedom to focus on her studies, not educate the public about all native nations, their culture, their history and their spirituality. She tried her best to focus solely on her studies, but she started to get attacked for being uppity and mean for not disclosing all the secrets to her culture. After the ruling was made by the NCAA, she had death threats on her head. Over a stupid MASCOT. Is this really "equal opportunity" for students?

I watched the U of I board members as the Indians told their personal stories. ALL of them had blank looks on their faces, as if they had no hearts at all and no comprehension of what the Indians were saying. It took a court order for them to finally "retire" that "chief." It told the Indians present that the amusement of non-natives is more important than their own children - than their own lives.

I watched the U of I non-native students hurl insults at the protesting natives and make Hollywood style war whoops around them. It's hard for me to believe any non-native parent would be proud of their child for mocking people from another culture. It's not a good lesson to teach our children, especially in this day and age.

I'm not into political correctness either, but I do value respecting others as human beings.

Good on you Kathy!! I'm a member of the Sto:lo Nation in the southwest of BC Canada. I stand up for all that is good and honourable and I stand against all that is racist and inhuman. This mascot issue is but the tip of the iceberg but is one of those horrors that never goes away so long as people see it as harmless. It is a sad reflection on the devistation to our communities and the onlygoing effects of a colonialist mentality. We are still told to assimilate. We are not respected as nations of people with treaty rights that are still ignored without consequence. Our people are still oppressed and still treated as second class citizens in the employment lines and college entrance lines. Deny it and you are living in a bubble somewhere.

I'm so proud of you Katthy for speaking out. I have to stop myself here because I get pretty wired when I start talking about stuff like this. I work with a few groups who are very active fighting this kind of racism. We name it for what it is. We spend time in our own communities and other native communities raising awareness because sadly apathy causes people to become ammune to these kinds of perpetuated racism. We do workshops on stereotyping and the issue of mascots is high on the list of persisting models.

As for what is politically correct in terms of native, indian, aboriginal, indigenous.... the only truly politically corrent tag is the person's Nation. Here in Canada we are referred to in our constitution as Aboriginal. This is meant to be inclusive of First Nations, Metis and Innuit. Activists in our community insist on using the term First Peoples or Indigenous. The political consequence of the use of the term Aboriginal allows some to impose 'immigrant status' upon our ancestors. We prefer to hold to a history that has us born to this land from forever. Within our own communities is common to hear us refer to each other as Indians but when a non-native used the term its less acceptable. First Nations refer to people still living on reserve or at least a band member. Metis are those of mixed ancestry with French settlers, usually with Cree, Ojibaway and some Mohawk nations. Innuit are those from the north sometimes referred to as Eskimo. There are many nations of native people within Canada each with their own unique lanugage and cultural traditions.

The fact that we struggle to settle on a 'universal label' for Native Americans is because we are not all one nation of people. We were not conquered by a nation of people... never conquered but negotiated treaties to share.... yet we are not acknowledges for our true national affiliations but relegated to hypenated attachments. Not right but it is what it is until people can see more clearly the harm they do by condoning, underestimating or ignoring the ongoing effects of racism, oppression and apartide government policies.

Stopping my rant now.... sorry for the vent but gee wiz people.... open your eyes. Kathy has seen the injustice and is taking action. Well done Kathy. May more follow you on your journey. The battle isn't over till the last mascot is put to rest. It may never be over. Here in BC the Olympic committee come up with 3 mascots for the 2010 game that are a total disrespect for our cultures. We even have strong native representation of the committees and still they messed it up. Not sure when this kind of stuff will end but I do know it won't end if people don't start to notice its negative effects on the people being falsely represented and society as a whole as it continues to suffer from the racism all around us.

Well said... and so very true. Thank you again for sharing the truth and standing up for what is good and honourable. You give hope to others who feel silenced.

[nowheretorun]

just wanna chime in.. i oppose the de-humanization of anyone.. de-animalization also for that matter, or de-forestations and some other "de" stuff.. especially, possibly because of, someone calling this "entertainment?" ...

ive got a lot more rant in me too, but i'll hold it back until i can express it in a more productive way..

i'm with you chocolate... gee wiz...

sky said:

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
In the USA it is great honor to be a mascot.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

this doesnt speak for me...

[50guy]

Oh, please folks, get a grip. I know racism because I grew up subject to it and it wasn't because of a mascot. It was because of the hue of my skin. Have you ever been called s**c, or, n****r in your life because you lived in a white neighborhood or, couldn't go to school because the whites and blacks didn't know what race you were? Mascots are nothing, zero. People judge you on the way you look, the color of your skin, etc. and protesting or getting rid of a symbol is not going to get rid of the problem. We have an deep underlying racism from some people in this country.

I will not let those few people stop me from doing the things I want to do. I will live as a free person, AMERICAN, no hyponated words for me. I served proudly in the USMC for nearly 7 years and I need nobody to take up a cause for me or to speak for me.

Further info on my tribe can be found at www.lumbee.org

[nowheretorun]

but Kathy is talking about students who recieve intolerable treatment..

[50guy]

Ok, when was this and where was the media?

I don't think the media would let this get by. Not in the times we live in today. Won't happen.

[KathyM]

50guy

You can call yourself anything you like. I have a problem with non-natives using these names, just as I have a problem with non-blacks using the N word. When blacks use it with each other, it's a form of empowerment - diffuses the pain of the word. When non-blacks use the term, it's merely a reminder of the years of abuse they've received over the years. Does nothing to heal the wounds we've inflicted on each other - just keeps on scratching at them.

Yes, I know racism VERY well. I've been called names, had my life threatened, and extended family in Arkansas disowned me for marrying a black man. I have a biracial son from my first marriage. I had to raise my son in a predominantly white and racist neighborhood, and he had to endure horrible racism here. Like the native students, it interfered with his schoolwork because he was constantly ridiculed by students and teachers alike because of his race.

If his school had a Little Black Sambo as a mascot or called themselves "Fighting Ni**ers," the ridicule and discrimination he received would have been that much worse. Sports was a way for him to get away from all the pressures from school and life - I'm thankful his team was named after an animal.

[nowheretorun]

i agree there is a lot of ugliness around us 50guy... some of it we can do something about now, and some we'll have to deal with later..

we could argue whether or not this is worth arguing about, or, we could hear the voices of those crying out and rise to help them... debating if they need help is pretty standard politico...

i assume Kathy would like a chance to respond, but in answer to your question re media, besides the original post, i did a quick google and found this link with a news article...

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414451

[KathyM]

50guy

Here's a clip of something you didn't get to see in the news.

http://www.retirethechief.org/BOT0307/Tenoso320x240.mov

[AAAAA]

50's guy I LOVE YOU

I came in right after the thread was started and I decided not to reply because my response was not PC. I'm tired of PC, let's just use the Golden Rule shall we.

My husband is also of American Indian descent, actually kind of a Heinz 57 if you will he can also claim German, Irish, and African heritage. But he, like yourself is AMERICAN. And it is the way we've raised our children too. They have friends not Native American friends or African American friends, they're just friends.

The history and prejudice is beyond words. But an arguement can be made for just about everthing out there. Everything is offensive to someone! I for one am tired of walking on egg-shells! My time machine is broken, I would love to be able to go back and correct those wrongs, but as I am unable to I will not be held accountable for things I have not done.

I will treat you with kindness, courtesy, and respect regardless of race, relgion, gender, or sexual orientation UNTIL you give me reason to do otherwise. If you happen to be from Asia and you're an ***, it does not make me a racist to call you an ***. They come in all colors of the rainbow.

[50guy]

Thank you AAAAA,

I don't need to defend anything I say. My family is very mixed racially. Puerto Rican, Mexican and Black are in my family.

None of us are PC and we treat everyone as we want to be treated. When we are together we all love each other and there are no underlying prejudices.

We are tired of people telling us how we should feel because of past injustices that never affected us.
Can we just get past the "look what was done to me" I'm a victim attitude.

[KathyM]

I apologize for triggering strong and painful emotions.

I suffer from strong and painful emotions too, and I'm not sure where to post without causing pain to others. I have many friends who are currently suffering tremendous burdens and fighting for their lives, and I'm doing my best to support them.

Some of my friends are currently being asked to explain to the Univ. of North Dakota yet again why it's offensive to them. They've been trying to explain it to them for years now. They are being asked to take time away from family members who need them and relive their nightmares.

It's difficult to support my friends when I'm overloaded with emotional pain myself. I can't walk away from it because it's a part of my everyday life, and I don't turn my back on friends - especially friends in need.

I need to vent on occasion when it gets to be too much for me. I appreciate your responses and input. Again, I apologize for causing any ill feelings here.

[nowheretorun]

KathyM... no one deserves to be treated inhumanely... dont apologise for being strong and defending your loved ones...

50guy, i misunderstood your post, i thought you had requested MORE media, not asking where nthe media was at the time ...

i wish we had the media to act like that 5th arm of the government like it used to, but i dont trust that so much anymore.. part of the reason i personally feel i have to become more involved and do whatever small part i can, even if its marching and holding a sign... the powers that be have demonstrated to me an unwillingness to step up of their own free will...

these times we live in.... dont want to get started...

thank you for your Service 50guy...

hang in there KathyM... its probably good every now and then to take a rest from iy, but i understand wanting to fight for your beliefs... i understand wanting to correct what you see as an injustice...

Wow... we really got some energy going here. phew!! Let's not get too far away from the topic of mascots depicting native cultural images and symbols and how this practise negatively impacts native people, in particular to Kathy's post.... their negative impact on some native university students.

Nobody here would support deliberate acts of injustice but not everyone here will agree that the mascot issue is significant enough to be considered an injustice.

I suspect we all can appreciate how it feels to stand up for something we do believe strongly about. What that passion, compassion, hope, faith feels like. What it takes out of one to give that much of themself to something they believe in. Or to stand next to someone for their beliefs. To show the empathy and unity that builds bridges and nations. It's what we are all called to do as citizen's of our countries. As members of families, as employees of corporations. As servants of faith. Speak out and stand beside one another when it matters to the least among us.

Kathy... not everyone is going to see the issues like you do... that's why it has taken the students repeating their stories again and again. What's to be noticed and respected is their patience and persistance. Their faithfulness to their heritage and their ancestors and their beliefs to go back again and again to tell their stories. All the more valuable your standing next to them. You can share your strength.

That means you have to take good care of yourself so that you can spare some of your strength to give to them. You need to know your limits and keep your perspective. Don't let your heart be broken as it has been before. Just know you are in the right place at the right time doing what you believe in your heart to be the right thing. The pace of change, the outcomes of any actions are secondary. Its the unity and the harmony of that unity that will echoe into the next issue and the next issue and the next.

It's always awesome to see people follow and act on their passions and convictions. To care enough about something, anything to be involved. To not be apathetic but to speak out and participate in making our schools, our neighbourhoods, our towns and our countries better places for everyone.

I admire what you are doing Kathy. You do sound tired and sad though. Matters of the heart do that to us. Just remember these kinds of changes always take time. Time for people to understand the implications. Time for people to see why it matters to anyone and why in the end it needs to matter to everyone. Meanwhile people like you and the students patiently and persistently repeat the message until change happens. The work of change agents is tedious, heartbreaking and endless.

Take good care Kathy. Please keep us updated as things unfold. My thoughts and positive energies will be with you all. May they not need to sacrifice so much to get the education they deserve.

[AAAAA]

Kathy,

Post away hon! I do not mean to demean your opinion in anyway shape or form. If this is something that is a thorn in your side fight away. In my opinion, I just think we need to fight the source of the problem, and pick our battles.

Your original post brought to mind a situation that happened some years ago. The majority of the citizens in my husband's hometown are Native Americans. The citizens of the town lived in relative harmony. You've got the occasional bigot of course, but the majority of them lived side by without issue.

The tribe built a casino and resort. This benefitted the town providing jobs and tourist revenue. Some years later, they as they became more successful, programs were developed for the members of the tribe and their children to embrace their heritage. (Details are fuzzy about the how's and why's this was about 15 years ago) In any event, there was a group of people not from the area that came in to teach them their native languages and such.

Hubby's cousin's son, Nathan, was in Kindergarden and had braids. He and another boy named Josh, got into a scuffle and Josh pulled on Nathan's braid. This created a HUGE drama, instead of just punishing both boys for fighting, Nathan was as much at fault as Josh, this group that came in pointed out that pulling on a Native American's braid is a HUGE insult. EVERYONE was in a uproar. At one point, the group suggested pulling all of the Native American students (the majority) out of the school and build their own school.

Was the source of this problem racially motivated? No, Josh and Nathan were/are the best of friends, they just got into a fight as kids will do. Did Josh pull Nathan's braid as a sign of contempt for his race? OF COURSE NOT!!!

There was a situation of us vs. them now. This had not existed before.

As for the topic at hand, initially when you talked about the mascots, that were Native Americans, hanging out the windows with ropes around their neck, I was horrified. But then, I thought hmmm, this is not like putting a burning cross in a African American's yard, it's a mascot. What if the mascot was a turtle, would that make a difference? No, someone would be offended by that. AND I'M NOT SAYING A TURTLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A HUMAN!!!!

[50guy]

I could say so much more on this subject but, it is not worth my time. Some folks spend their entire lives looking for something to offend them. That time would be better spent on other endevors. If you want to go through life being offended then that is your right. Just don't expect everyone to feel the same.

[KathyM]

Thank you. It is the tribal leaders who are being asked to meet with the University yet again to explain why it's not an honor to be mocked, not the students. It's mothers and dads, grandmas and grandpas, whose families need them.

You can't compare a living race/culture of human being to a turtle. I've never seen anyone complain about our Chicago Bears, or the fans dressing up like bears in the bleachers. It's all in good fun, and as far as I know - no real bears are offended or harmed due to drunken Bears fans. Don't you think Jews would be offended if Germany started up a team called the "Fighting Jews?" How would our Muslim community react if we started up a team called the "Radical Muslims?"

This may seem like a non-issue to people, but it's a form of psychological oppression that is not necessary in this country. Why is it necessary to mock a group of people who live in this country at sporting events? Aren't sporting events a way to get AWAY from the pressures of life?

I speak out on this "petty non-issue" to help my tribal friends who are dealing with more and more uranium and other carcinogens being dumped into their water supply and land. At the same time they are facing skyrocketing cancer rates, diabetes, suicides, and overall complete despair. In response, they are being told their healthcare is being reduced by 50%. Convicted criminals receive better healthcare in this country. They view this as yet another underhanded form of attempted genocide. We can spend billions of dollars for waging war and/or providing for other countries, yet we neglect our own obligations and sovereign nations within our own borders.

50Guy - If you could help a friend by relieving a small fraction of his/her burden, would you? Why do you feel it's wrong for me to do so? Why should they just "get over" what is happening to them?

[CedarS]

Thank you Kathy so much for your work.

[CedarS]

chocolatelover I really appreciate your heart felt words here. You are very eloquent and have keen insight. I'm reading your encouragement of Kathy for myself also, reminds me to take good care of myself.

[sabby]

This thread is obviously very important to many folks and you all have your own personal beliefs regarding this issue. While all sides have their points, in keeping with the guidelines of this site regarding political posts, I am locking this thread at this time.

Thank you all for your thoughts and please know that we do appreciate that the direction of this thread has for the most part been supportive to everyone's views. Let us all keep in mind that political posts should be limited because of how passionately we feel about the issues and how highly charged our opinions can be. Since PC is a "support" site first and foremost, lets keep going in the direction for which it is intended.

Thank you all for your understanding!


sabby