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WHEREAS,
the Intertribal Council of the Five Civized Tribes is an organization
that unites the tribal governments of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee,
Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole Nations, representing over 400,000
Indian people throughout the United States, and
WHEREAS,
the Intertribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes Education Committee
is dedicated to promoting quality education for Americas students
that includes cultural awareness and a sense of diversity among
Americas student population; and
WHEREAS,
the Five Civilized Tribes believe the use of derogatory American
Indian images such as mascots by public school perpetuate a stereotypical
image of American Indians that it is likely to have a negative impact
on the self-esteem of American Indian children; and
WHEREAS,
negative images and stereotypes about American Indians as mascots
contributes to a hostile learning environment that affirms the negative
images and stereotypes that persist in America about American Indians;
and
WHEREAS,
American Indians as mascots is a negative means of appropriating
and denigrating our cultural identity that involves the display
and depiction of ceremonial symbols and practices that may have
religious significance to American Indians; and,
WHEREAS,
to continue the negative use of American Indians tribal names and
images is an offensive and disgusting practice that would be considered
intolerable were other ethnic groups or minorities depicted in a
similar manner, and,
WHEREAS,
on April 13, 2001, the United States Commission on Civil Rights
issued a Statement on the Use of Native American Images and nicknames
as Sports Symbols that called for an end to the use of American
Indian images and team names by non-Indian school; that stereotyping
of any racial, ethnic, religious, or other groups when promoted
by public education institutions, teach all students that stereotyping
of minority groups is acceptable, a dangerous lesson in a divers
society; that schools have a responsibility to educate their students;
they should not use their influence to perpetuate misrepresentations
of any culture or people; and,
NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Intertribal Council of the Five
Civilized Tribes joins the Untied States Commission on Civil Rights
call to eliminate the stereotypical use of American Indian names
and images as mascots in sports or other events and to provide meaningful
education about real American Indian people, current American Indian
Issues, and, the rich variety of American Indian cultures in the
US.
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