To Whom It May Concern:

I am a in the last semester of my junior year at the University of West Florida out of Pensacola as an Elementary Education Major. I believe that I can understand both sides of the story about mascots. The reason is that I have attended schools in the panhandle of Florida that have had "controversial" mascots and because I have felt the humiliation of having my people mocked by the use of the school mascots. Most of the school mascots have been used for generations and were not meant to be hurtful. Some were even done out of respect for the people that the represent. The main problem that I see with mascots that represent groups of people (i.e. Native Americans or Pirates) is that they tend to stereotype and cartoonize them. My mother used to tell me that "America is all about freedom of expression, speech and press, but that the freedom ends when starts to harm other people."

I would like to relate my middle and high school experiences to you. I attended Walton Middle School - Home of the Warriors and Walton High School - Home of the Braves. It was a joy to attend the schools, the faculty, staff, and curriculum were great. School spirit was high and most everyone enjoyed attending class. My biggest problem was with pep rallies and other school spirit related events. They made me feel uncomfortable to the point that I did everything I could to get out of going to such events. One time I flat out refused to go! You see, I'm of native descent and during the "school spirit" related events our school mascot (a cartoon Indian) came out and basically made fun of my people. Most everyone in the school knew that I was of native descent and so they related me to the mascot and what he did. It really hurt to attend such functions.

I have never seen a native man, especially a warrior or brave who would use a hatchet to chop up a bulldog and then have his "maidens" put the bull dog in a coffin and dance him away. Or get in a boxing ring with another mascot (usually an animal) and beat it up.

Homecoming floats are the worst of all. Thats when the school passes on the stereotyping to the whole community. Examples: cowboys and indian, girls (indian maidens) with headbands and skirts split up to the thigh, bows and arrows, roasting the other team's mascot on a spit. Wow, trying to undo the damage caused by this is impossible!

In addition to attending classes at these schools I also did and do demonstrations at schools and day care. I was shocked the first time a 2nd or 3rd grader told me that I "couldn't be a 'real indian' because all the indians are dead." That statement just blew me away. It was hard to come up with a creative response without making the child feel bad so I just reached over and got a book titled "Portraits of American Indians." I asked them (an audience of about 50 children) if this is what they thought of when they heard the words Native American, American Indian, or Indian. The majority of the children answered yes! The pictures in the book where very old. I explained to them, using some recently taken photos of some of my friends, that not all "indians" looked like the ones in the big book and that most of the "indians" in this area look like "normal" people.

I don't think that it would be fair to requires all of the schools who have mascots that are "controversial" to change them, but not allowing any more to use such mascots would be GREAT! As for the schools that have "controversial" mascots.... the staff should be trained on how to not allow stereotyping with their mascot. When they portray the mascot (i.e. a Native American) they should do it respectfully and actually know what they are talking about. It would be nice to require all students to take a class on cultural sensitivity, but I know that with all the classes required for the students and the possible lack of training of the class facilitator it is probably impossible to do such a thing.

In conclusion, if I had to pick to either allow "controversial" school mascots or totally eliminate them I would chose to eliminate them. Going to school is hard enough without having to worry about how people are stereotyping you. The mascots of the school should be represented by an animal, a famous person from that town, or at least something that is not related to a certain ethnic or cultural group, religious orientation, or any symbols of those groups.

Thank you for your time,

V. M. R.

It was brought to our attention that there were some questions about the mascot issue and why it is upsetting. For many, the issue is cut and dried.

There is not (and should not be) any middle ground.

Races of people should never be mascots. It is degrading and dehumanizing; morally wrong. Children that grow up with their People as someone else's mascot have a dim view of themselves and their race. This is so obviously wrong. That the mascot has been a part of a school or national team's history doesn't make it right. Consider any other race as a mascot and you know the public outcry would be long and loud.

Derogatory names are a hold-over from the days when the mentality was "the best indian is a dead indian"; and in relation to justifying killing indian women and children, the saying was "nits make lice".

"Redskins" was used when there was a bounty on indian scalps and it made no difference that the scalp belonged to a man, woman, or child. I cannot see the "honor" in continuing to use names that were used at a time when our Peoples were being killed unnecessarily.

Situations have reached a point of unacceptability and the refusal to continue tolerating abusive treatment (such as with the mascot issue) has only just begun. Discontinuing a racially stereotypical mascot is the right thing to do. No one needs to hold a degree in psychology to understand the emotional detriment it causes to the People it allegedly represents. It is our fervent prayer that you follow what you know in your heart to be the right thing to do.

Respectfully submitted,

D. S.

Commission of Civil Rights,

If you lived in a nation where you're people were treated with disrespect and contempt and looked into a mirror and saw that contempt reflected to yourself and your children, how would you feel. If you saw your people reflected as exaggerated cartoon

Characters engaged in idiotic activities that were not representative of who you really were, how would you feel. If your children and grandchildren saw those reflections and started to believe that they were true, how would you feel. The use of Indian Mascots has become this false mirror that First Nation People are confronted with. This mirror constantly denigrates a proud People who are the First People of this land. These mascots are weapons of genocide, they are meant to destroy, to demean, to attack the self esteem, especially the youth. This is a method that oppressors have been using forever to keep a people down, to "put them in their place," which is often a concentration camp, physically or spiritually. I urge you to do everything in your power and beyond your power to end this destructive process.

With good thoughts

P. G.

Dear CCR,

As a Cherokee and a community member of a neighborhood with an Indian Mascot, I am highly motivated to discuss the issue of mascots with anyone who will listen.

I am deeply offended and disturbed that any community would see fit to have a school use an Indian stereotype (often a caricature at that) as a mascot. The use of a "redskin" as a derogatory term or a Chief (a religious symbol) is so racist and obvious that it defies my logic to comprehend any argument to defend it. Surely a high school team named the Jews or The Popes with a "clergy like" mascot would be offensive to most any community in area.

The era of racist and stereotype mascots must end for our children to be free of prejudice. For our childen to have an equal opportunity. For our childen to respect us and our community.

Sincerely

B. Z.

THE CN1839 PROJECT

Dear Mr. Jin: (Civil Rights Commission)

I am writing to express my objection to the use of Native Americans and Native American culture as mascots for sporting events.

This practice has been widely condemned as degrading, offensive and harmful to the self-image of Native Americans by Native American organizations, by Native American leaders and is supported by countless social science studies on the negative effects of stereotyping and prejudice upon victimized groups.

As a social scientist who has worked with Native American communities in Wisconsin, I add my voice to the growing numbers of Native Americans who condemn this behavior and demand an end to this discriminatory practice.

Thank you for your consideration.

A. G.

Univ.of Wisconsin

To the Commission of Civil Rights:

I believe it is wrong for mascots of teams to be Indians.

Children often come to believe they are the stereotypes they see depicted about themselves. When an Indian image is used as a mascot, it becomes a stylized (and often negative) image of Indians, depicting them as something other than the real, vibrant human individuals we know they are. And the children who see them, if they are young Indians, often come to internalize that image of themselves, making them less than the people they could have become. Also, people who wave tomahawks and make war whoops become more apt to see Indians as less than the whole and potentially wonderful individuals that they are. And, because these non-Indians see Indians as stereotypes, and not as individuals, they may miss out on opportunities to form friendships and business deals and mentorships with and under people who might have much to offer them.

S. B.

Dear Commissioner of Civil Rights,

I would like to take the time now to include my thoughts on the mascot issue.

I am 24 years old, and I can remember being upset by the use of Native American images as mascots even as a very small child. This issue has always been important for me, and I am glad you are taking such a strong effort against it.

The use of Native images in mascots is, to me, a strong symbolization of an even bigger problem faced by Natives. This problem is simply that the rest of the world thinks of Native Americans as an extinct population. They are not viewed or thought of in modern times. The majority of people I know are not remotely aware that "Indians" are still around today. Natives have become a forgotten people. And because of this, they are given very little consideration. When politicians and policy makers speak of "minorities", they are not including Native Americans. In most cases, minority refers to blacks and hispanics. Native causes are not given the media attention that black causes are. Natives have no Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. The majority of this country is simply IGNORANT to the fact that Natives exist and are a modern population of human beings.

I do not live on a reservation, and I never have. As a child, and sadly even as an adult, when speaking of the reservation my family is from, I have been asked if they live in teepees. This type of ignorance is shameful and plentiful.

The epitomy of this ignorance is when people DEFEND the use of Native American images as mascots.

WHY is it acceptable to offend Native American people?

WHY is this country oblivious to the fact that the use of these mascots HURTS people? WHY do we ALLOW this?

People need to realize that Native Americans exist, have feelings, and by all means DESERVE respect!!!

Other ethnic groups are not treated this way. WHY? Why does this country simply have no regard for Native Americans? WHAT did natives DO that they deserve this treatment?

One of the worst offenders is the football team the Washington REDSKINS. Does the American public even know that the term "redskin" is a derrogatory racial slur?? HOW can a football team, a NATIONAL football team, hold the name of a racial slur? WHY are people so sensitive to the use of the word "nigger", but "redskin" rolls of the tongue so easily? It is just as hurtful of a word!

It infuriates me that this continues in this country.

What is to blame? The education system.

When I was in grade school, I was taught of the wonderful and heroic Columbus, and the savage Indians. My teacher was not even remotely aware that one of her students was deeply upset by this. She was probably as clueless as the rest of the people in this country. These ridiculous beliefs are simply propagated every time a child is taught this history lesson, the story of Thanksgiving, or sees a Native image used as a mascot for such teams as "braves", "warriors", "chiefs" and "redskins".

I am yet to hear a defense of Native American mascots that is not inundated with misinformation and ignorance. No EDUCATED human being alive today, can justify publically humiliating and bashing an entire population on so many levels. There is no justification for it.

It must be stopped. NOW.

We owe it to our children not to propagate the ignorance.

Thank you.

anonymous.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to you in hopes that you will take into consideration and stop the use of Native Americans being used as Mascots in schools, and in the sports industry. I am Native American and to me and in my opinion is very degrading to me. Not only to me but others. What is more important here is that the children that are put under humiliation from this. No child should ever have to go through something like this, no one for that matter.

We are of proud people, who have feelings, parents, children like any other and do not take others from another religion and use them of this way. It is very wrong in my opinion. I ask you to please stop this.

It is very degrading, humiliating and like a slap in the face to me. Thank you for your time in reading

this.

Sincerely,

R. S.

At the risk of being redundant, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the degrading and essentially racist issue of teams using mascots which - by name or by caricature - mock the First People of this country, the survivors of a campaign of genocide which is still raging to this day- in such places as Big Mountain, Arizona. Some people have tried to defend the practice of using demeaning mascots by saying that they are 'honoring' the Noble Savage Red Man. (My paraphrase) My question is very simple. If this is honoring an ethnic group, then why do we not have teams named the Harlem Shufflin' Negroes, or the New York Jewboys? Why are there no California Chinatown Chinks? Or Maryland Honkies? Why are there no caricatures of little thick-lipped African bushmen? Could it be the obvious fact that no one wishes to be mocked and degraded by others? Could it be that it is now politically incorrect to ridicule Blacks, Jews, and Hispanics - but it is still OK to mock the savage redskin because there are not enough surviving Native Americans to make a major voting block? Whatever shabby rationale is used as a facade, we know that racism is alive and well in this country as long as we see those who stole the land from the First Peoples, continuing to bring shame and dishonor upon themselves by continuing their racist mascot game.

Let us hope that one day we will see people of all colors showing conscience, honor and decency in their lives- by word and by deed.

thank you-

J.

Concerning using American Native names for mascots:

You might say - an Indian is just an Indian. What about copyright? Ford has its rights reserved. It's a matter of copyright or the right to do a thing.

Sports events have not petitioned the original owners (The original Native names of Indian nations) and so they have no legal rights to use their names.

If you signed a check with the name Bill Clinton you would be in big trouble! You don't use someone else's name without paying the consequences. Stop using the titles of the Native American peoples or at least petition the tribes to ask first for their permission before you use their names. Fair is only fair, haven't the American Natives been made a spectacle long enough?

We are God's people just like you are, human and deserving of human rights.

Name your cars after Presidents or other famous people, not Indians. You wouldn't want someone using your name, when signing a check, making you responsible for their debts. Don't take advantage of Indian peoples who are free born, born free in our land called America. We may not know how to stop this madness, but one day we'll find a way - and when we do, we'll remember those who took our precious names and made them a joke and spectacle for all.

L. T. G.

Purple Bird Ministries

Just wanted to send a short letter . I believe that there is much education needed out there or this issue will continue to plague us. I don't understand why certain people still insist on using derogetory mascots when others have made it clear that this sort of thing is hurting them in some way. It's as if they only care when they themselves feel hurt, otherwise they don't. What kind of message is this for our children? I thought it was our duty to teach our children to be responsible adults. This clearly isn't accomplishing that, and until those of us who are already adults make changes, then we will continue to see our children grow into uncaring adults.

Some people try to justify their actions by saying that mascots aren't derogetory; that it's an honor. Well, I say to them, please educate yourself before making such statements. Cultural awareness classes are desperately needed or ethnocentric practices will continue. I also highly recommend visiting a web site and listening to a powerful song (lyrics are also available at this site). I could try to explain the story this song tells, but it just wouldn't be the same. The words will shock the listener because in all likelihood they never knew of such things happening. And they will also learn one or more reasons why it is wrong to call a sports team a name such as the Washington Redskins. Please visit this site at: http://www.signal66.com/main.html then click on music.

Sincerely,

M. S.

SENAA International

I am a former member of the North Dakota State Advisory Committee to the Civil Rights Commisssion and am writing on behalf of the Native Americans that do not wish to have their cultural or personal images used as symbols of any team. This has been a very hot issue in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I am sending a web page address for an organization at the university that makes it perfectly clear how some people here feel about Native Americans.

The address is: www.und/edu/org/span/bridges/index2.html. The mascot used by the university is not only disrespectful but it gives racism an excuse. I also sent you some emails containing forums that appear in the local Fargo, North Dakota newspaper. Let me know if there is any other information I can provide.

P. P.

To whom this may concern,

As an American Indian Women, Mother, Daughter and Community person. I would like to express my concerns not only about the Mascot issue but the general feeling of the American public on the Native community. I'm of mixed ethnic heritage, my tribal background is Cayuga/Cherokee. My father was of Irish and German decent. I work with in the American Indian Community as a Cultural Consultant for the Title 9 American Indian Education program. My husband and I were one of the founding members of the American Indian Education Commission with the Los Angeles school district.

The only reason I dwell into my background is to establish why I object to schools, sports team, etc., to use my heritage that leads to stereotyping and misinterpretation.

I could never understand how Indians were "Savages" for defending their wives, children and homes while the founding fathers were" Heroes" for doing the same thing.

What makes anyone think that I would be proud to be a women who is either following her man around silently or being presented as a Princesses. I'm never, never referred to as a "S".

In the Six Nations Indian Women always had equality, they were regarded for their fair minded, business sense and tolerance of man. I want my daughters and future generations to be proud of where they came from and what path they will lead. The non-Indian community has portrayed Indians in the image they would want Indians to be, not in the Image Indians wish for.

Mascots, Anthropologist, New Age spirituality has done nothing for the Native Community but spread more Racism. The non-Indian community thinks we should all look alike, talk Indian and have names like Running Creek and of course still be thankful that the Europeans arrived on these shores. I think not.

Sincerely,

S. F.

To whom it may concern:

And I hope it concerns all of us. It is nigh time that we in the USA understand that the use of the names and images (often distorted) of indigenous tribes for sports teams, cars, and the like. it not a respectful act. It trivializes our cultures and heritages and does nothing to enhance and honor the people of these cultures.

I fully support the efforts to educate the public about this issue and other efforts to bring to a close this sorry misuse of identities.

V. B. D.

Vice-President

Alliance of Native Americans of Southern California

To whom it may concern,

I am outraged that I must write a letter to express my strong resentment of "Indian Mascots." To take the position that there may not be a significant number of "Indians" that resent the use of "Indian Mascots" is in itself

RACIST! I am shamed to have to submit to this exercise but am fearful of what might result if I fail to do so.

A personal experience that I found extremely degrading, happened at a school where I was employed as a teacher. The mascot was an "Indian" and frequently pep assemblies required my attendance and participation. White young people with lip stick on their face and chicken feathers on their head would whoop, holler, wave a "spirit stick" and mimic rituals that were to give the team good luck at the big game. How does one who looks assimilated and cashes a pay check with an "Indian" head on it protest such blatant racial insults. I am forced to feel shame and say nothing about it.

Now somebody who has an opportunity to do something about it is not sure that "Real People" really care about "Indian" mascots.

R. C. M.

Cherokee

Dear Sirs or Madams,

This letter is in regards to the continued abuse of the American Indian People being exploited as mascots for sports teams ,cars, trucks, beers, and all other items involved. Our children grow up feeling as a lesser and we continually request that the mascotisim be dealt with but no one seems to care.

I think we should consider native Americans as off limits as far as mascots go. We in Mississippi could not even use the name Rebels because it was said to be racist. I think we should consider all races off limits.

R. R.

I am disgusted by the fact that these senseless stereotypes are still being played out in the public arena.

I thought we had tried to rid of ourselves, at least on the surface, of the mindless epithets that tend to plague human nature. What happened to the idea of social and racial equality? BLACK POWER - - what about RED POWER?????????

Native Americans' rights need to be placed in the square of the public eye, just as the African Americans' were in the 1960's. Notice -- you dont see racial slurs related to Black peoples in sports -- no Carolina Cottonpickers or Nashvile N_________!!

Only Indians culture is stereotyped and sold (Redskins, Indians etc) like a peice of meat. Send the message -- STOP THE ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M.

Please place all Indian mascots, names, etc., outside college and professional sports, etc. This is a most denigrating use of words, symbols, etc., that true athletes couldn't be any less interested in perpetuating. Also, please start using other terms more appropriate to some of the current circumstances, if desired.

V. L. M.

I. V.

I had a real eye opening experience this weekend regarding violence toward NDN peoples. My monster-in-law and brothers-in law came to visit from Ohio this weekend. My brothers-in law told me some pretty scary shit about their newly acquired stepfather. Seems that several years ago the man lived in southern Texas. He was the CEO for a large company. He and his affluent high society buddies would regularly rent a pick up and go wait by the boarder and just for shits and giggles, shoot Mexicans who were attempting to cross. He never got in trouble, never questioned, nothing. He and his friends also used to put on their boots, go into town, and again, just for fun, play kick the Indian. From what I understand they would only focus on children and elders. I am still in shock over this. Sick sick sick.

S.

About retaining the mascot in Tomales, CA:

It saddens me to find out that this school has decided to keep the name Braves. After reading your article, I have some thoughts Id like to share with you.

There was a comment by someone who said that they didn't like the involvement form people outside of their community. How sad that statement is on its face value. When those students graduate and leave their community to expand their lives, be it the military, college, work, who do they think they are going to be living with? Mom, Dad and Aunt Harriet? Get real!! I will be the first person to tell you that not all Indians agree on the mascot/logo issue. But not all white people agree on the White House/President issue either...have you already forgotten Florida? People make up communities, that's what makes every community unique. But when it comes to making money off of a culture and a way of life still practiced by people still living today, that's not right. How dare anyone have the gall to call themselves, "Braves" and not have any clue of the disrespect and damage you have done to a living person....ME!!

If I were to send you a picture of me, would you instantly call me a, "Brave?" Truth be told, you'd probably call me other things, but that's ok.

Know why? Because that's the opinion you have given me about how you perceive someone you haven't even met, but you choose to use a drawing of what you think I look like as your mascot. Shame on you!

Then you have the audacity to say, "When we're in the huddle and call our next play, we yell one, two three Braves!" I'm going to a pow wow next week.

How about right before the first inter-tribal I call all the dancers together in a huddle and we yell, "One, two three...Hot Tomalles...lets show our strength and sell some cookies so we can make money to show all the white people we have no feelings against them and then we can forever be friends and continue to let them use the names of our forefathers as cartoons so they can sell more and bigger cookies then us!!" Now tell me the truth, doesn't that long hideous statement make you feel just a little uncomfortable? Well, take that statement, multiply it by ten thousand, then multiply that number by 500 years and then maybe you'll begin to understand why we continue to fight you on this issue. We are living people. We have children of our own and communities of our own, but wrong is wrong. And the decision was wrong. But, that was your choice and now you have to live with it.

Lastly, I really hope the next time someone in that community has a young child come up to them and ask, "Why is it okay for me to use the word Redskin but it's not okay to say nigger?" that you have the right answer. I hope that when your children grow up and leave your community, they have the proper skills to enable them to live in a diverse society. Mostly, though, I only hope that someday you will all realize the great injustice you have shown me. For you see, I am also a citizen of the United States, but for me and my people that wasn't so until the year 1926. Now look at us...its the year 2001 and you still think you know what it means to be, "Brave." Well, you know what? I know what it means to be white. And you know why? Because our government terminated our tribe in 1961 and we were no longer Indians.

But our leaders worked many years and we were restored back to reservation status in 1973, so I became an Indian again. How ironic...during the years of termination I don't think I once put on a robe, carried a chalice and tried to bless a crowd. You see, that was because it was only on paper that I was not an Indian, but my heart never changed. To this day the white man continues to rule people and hearts on the things written on paper. So now you have made a decision, written it on a piece of paper and that's that.

Well, I've just done the same thing.

If you don't like what I've written, show me how "Brave" you really are....drop the name!!!

R. P.

United States Commission on Civil Rights

624 ninth street N.W. (Room 700)

Washington DC 20425

Dear Civil Rights Commission Members,

Hello, I do hope you are doing well. I am writing in regards to the (mis)use of Native Americans as mascots and team logos. We, Native Americans, have long suffered the degradation and outright racism of this humiliating and oppressive practice. It is vital that we confront this issue.

The resulting consequences of such commodification and objectification is rampant. Whether, it is the persistent dehumanizing via "tomahawk chops" and fake headdresses, or caricature representations or even mascots effigies being hanged and burned the harm is drastic and ever- present. Simply and plainly there is no honor in these avenues. The only perceived benefit and thus the resistance is commercial profit. No profit justifies the consequences of the ridicule and vileness. No profit diminishes our basic civil rights. Numerous teams have agreed to make such changes voluntarily.

And in a time, when new stadiums are being built and more and more teams are entering the foray of play, there is no reason why this change can not occur.

Our children suffer directly by being teased and mocked. Our children suffer from the conflict of these cartoon versions of our ancestry and heritage versus the pride and respect our communities try to bestow to them. We all suffer and are victims of the continued racists ideologies that shape our daily existence. Culture and language is ridiculed. Violence is excused through the "its only a joke" paradigm. Sexual assault is deemed acceptable because our very being is erased. These institutional structures have for too long supported and reinforced discrimination.

The time is now. The seven generations need us.

Sincerely,

D. E. M.

Dear Sir,

I am writing because I have heard that you are considering taking on the Native American mascot issue. This pleases me because I am a member of the Loyal Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and this issue is of great concern to me. I don't want you to take this as a statement from the Loyal Shawnee Tribe ... these are my words and mine alone because I have no authority to speak for anyone other than myself.

At first glance, the mascot issue doesn't seem like much, does it? I'll admit that I didn't think so either at first. After all what harm could come from calling a team the "redskins" or "Indians", right? But if you think about it, I'm sure you can see what bothers me about it. Try looking at it from another perspective. What if they wanted to "honor" the black race by naming a team the Washington "Bucks" and their mascot was an Al Jolsen type character. I don't think you'll find a black person anywhere that would feel any "honor" in seeing themselves portrayed in such a bad light. It's insulting, it's belittling, and no one in their right mind would think that was flattering.......and yet there are a lot of people out there that seem to think that Native Indians shouldn't feel insulted at their race being portrayed in exactly that same manner. Instead, we are told that we should be glad to be "honored" in such a way. That's another insult. An insult to our intelligence!

I hope that you will join us in this fight. We could use the help.

Sincerely,

L. S.

To whom it may concern;

I think it is a shame and disgrace the way the Indian people are used in sports and other places. And it should be stopped.

How can all the abuse and degrading stop to these people if our government does not stop things like this from happening.

All human beings should be treated with dignity and respect and not put on display to be ridiculed and treated less than human.

I would appreciate anything you can do to stop this treatment and put a stop to the way the sports industry, schools and other places exploit us people of Indian blood.

Thank you,

M. M.

I've been following with interest the debate over the use of American Indian images as mascots for school sporting activities. My assessment of the defense of a respectful use of American Indian images as mascots is this:

I would imagine that as far as most students would be concerned, the real American Indian died about the time of Wounded Knee. Only most students don't know about Wounded Knee. They just think that the Indians had something to do with out west and got beat out by "progress". Without realizing it or not, these students comprehend the American Indians who today fight against their use of these mascots as being virtual ghosts. And what say have ghosts? Ironically, as these students (perhaps mimicking parental attitudes at the dinner table) demand they respectfully use these brave and warrior-like images that will lend them fighting strength on the sports field, they're also thinking, "What say have ghosts of a people who 'lost'?

We beat you then and we'll beat you now". .. But as far as they're concerned, the U.S. government beat out the American Indian and thus won for them the right of the use of that image of a dead foe.

Education should naturally include instruction on the variety of cultures that exists, respect for them, and an understanding that one's own culture is but a small part of the world. A child who graduates from an institution which insists upon using American Indian mascot images is a child who, having observed the debate over their use and failure as to policy change, will emerge believing that simply by belonging to a particular culture he or she is in the right and that the views of, for example, American Indians are subordinate and thusly without basis in their arguments. This is a concern of mine as it's likely that more than a few of that school's students will not remain in their home town or even their home state. It's in their best interests that children be prepared for a world not encompassed by the fence around their yard or school turf. Even if the child never had social contact beyond their neighborhood, that environment is a microcosm of the world at large, and those with differing views will be perceived with the same lack of regard. This is not the kind of child I would eventually like to have in a government position, as a lawyer, treating me in the hospital, or as a client.

If children and young adults may be perplexed and offended at the moment as to the giving up of a touted "traditional" mascot, as they mature and their horizons broaden they will have the opportunity to instead look back with pride on the change of policy, and incomprehension will become satisfaction that the change of policy occurred while they were in school.

Sincerely,

J. K.

Hello

I want to include my words to the Civil Rights Commission. I am greatly distressed at the blatant racism that exists when an Indian mascot is used by a school or group. It presents a picture of continuing indifference to recognizing Indian culture, religion and rights. The school Indian mascot becomes part of the curriculum since it permeates the school every day. It objectifies and in a manner kills the existence of a modern Indian culture. It harms the children being taught by letting them know they have the power to do what they will with another people. It disenfranchises all Indian culture and demeans religious beliefs. It misuses paint, drum, and feathers which are religious objects. It all becomes a tool for good luck. It is a disgrace.

I am a non native grandmother who raised two sons. I failed to teach them about the disgrace of Indian mascots. I will no longer do that for my grandchildren.

Thank you for listening.

A. B. D.

As a citizen of the United States of America, I am writing to you to voice my concerns about the Racism being condoned & even brushed aside, as almost every other matter that involves the FIRST PEOPLE and TRUE CITIZENS of this country...If it is deemed appropriate to use Chief....redskins and any other inflammatory name, then I feel that It should also likewise be ok for me to start a sports team...only I am going to name them, The Jews, or perhaps the White Crackers, maybe even Greasy Italians, and it shouldn't cause any problems or offend anyone, should it? I mean after all its ok to degrade my people, my ancestors, my family.

Bad enough its ok to have their remains stored away in college basements all over the country, people selling Native artifacts on eBay and auctioning off our Spirituality, digging up OUR graveyards, so why should I not expect every politician to follow the centuries of hate and blatant racism against Indigenous Americans? I would expect no less from the so called Great & Mighty Government of the United States to uphold a long standing reputation of hatred & bigotry. After all, that is the basics that this country was founded upon. Kill the Savages, steal their land, and if they refuse, then take it from them & force them onto desolate land called RESERVATIONS (Indian Territory) And even at that, my ancestors couldn't even call that home, because once oil was discovered, and there was need for more land and further Westward expansion.....they had the free-for-all LAND THEFT......The Goverment has broken every single treaty it has ever made with an "Indian Nation".

If this is the new era, a time for changes to be made, then this pattern of bigotry and blatant racism needs to be stopped. It's time that real progress be made in the right direction. You see, The original people of this land called the United States, have no place else to go to that they can call home, it has all been taken away. This is the least that can and in all fairness, SHOULD be done.

With Respect and Honor,

D. C.

A Citizen of the United States of America by birth and Ancestry

Greetings:

There should not even be a "mascot question."

I hear our people told having a team named "Indians" or "Braves" or "Redskins" honors our warriors. This is utter nonsense. There is no honor when one human being serves as mascot for another. We don't have the numbers or this "mascot issue" would disappear just like "Jim Crow" statues of black stablehands disappeared from the yards of anglos.

Dehumanizing an entire race of people for your self-indulgence and entertainment also lowers your worth as a human being.

You do not have my anger. You have my pity.

G. N. O. S.

Dear Ms. Meeks:

My husband is Lenape Indian and he and I work closely with the Native American community locally and beyond.

One of the issues we believe in deals with the problem of using Native people as mascots. Examples of this include the Washington "R*dsk*ns," the Atlanta "Braves," the Cleveland "Indians," Holy Cross High School in the Diocese of Covington, and countless other school and universities.

I hope that you and the Commission for Civil Rights will take a strong stand against the use of Native people and symbols as mascots.

Stereotypes have no place in schools, public or private, nor do stereotypes deserve a place of glorification when they are promoted by professional sports teams. "Indian" mascots teach students and other people how to stereotype a group of people on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, and cultural ethnicity. They teach students and others to maintain these stereotypes and to promote them by carrying them into other school districts at interscholastic sports competitions.

This is not just a local or school issue; it is nationwide. It extends far beyond one school, one region of the country. This is about social justice for Native people throughout this country.

We trust that the Commission for Civil Rights carries with it a strong sense of its responsibility to lead morally and ethically and with a sense of social justice by not allowing the perpetuation of generalizations, stereotypes, and racial insensitivity toward any racial/ethnic group, including Native people.

Native people find the names and mascots offensive. They create a hostile environment for Native children and adults in the community and beyond. "Indian" mascots and logos deny Native people full and welcome participation in the present and the future by artifactualizing them, making them of value only in the past, only as people who no longer exist.

Many people confuse a symbol with the values they want it to represent. Indians are real people, not symbols, not mascots, not logos. People want the symbol of Indian to represent a strong sense of spirituality, bravery, fortitude, and tenacity. But when Native people tell others that these are not the values it represents, how can we insist that it does?

"Indian" is a name imposed upon the 500-plus Nations of this continent and their citizens as a race by outsiders, foreigners, people who came only to conquer, take the land and any other material goods they deemed valuable, and change the people living here to suit their image of what and who they should be and how they should live and what religion they should practice. Continued use of this name after Native people have asked for a change strongly indicates the continuation of this conquistador-colonial-plantation-owner-mentality. Use of "Indian" and related words as names for sports does not represent spirituality, bravery, fortitude, nor the ability to overcome obstacles; it represents only that non-Indians are in control of how Native people are represented, thought about, understood, and interacted withthat non-Indians own the images and the very name of Indians.

Also, unfortunately, many people do not understand that the term "redskin" stems from a policy of extermination and genocide; bounty hunters were paid by the "red-skins" they brought in. Also, could anyone walk up to a Native person and say, "Hello, redskin!" Could he or she walk up to a Native person and say, "Hey, Im a Redskin, too!" Non-Native people that do use that term when addressing Native people usually precede it with an expletive. Those Native people who have been called that name truly understand, appreciate, and share the feeling that it invokes--feelings that do not include honor and reverence.

Other names add to the dehumanization: "braves," "squaws," "papooses." Why are Native men not called men? Why are Native women not called women? Why are Native children not called children? For the same reasons that African-American men, women, and children were called such names as "Negress" and "pickaniny."

I know that people in the United States would now never consider using the name "Negro," "Asian," "Jews," and so forth for our teams nor use caricatures of African-American, Asian, or Jewish peoples for logos nor for walking mascots at games.

There is no difference between using any of these names and caricatures and using Native American names and caricatures. It violates racial and ethnic sensitivity and civil and social rights.

The gross caricatures often used as logos must be removed. They harken back to minstrel shows that demeaned African-American people and the cartoons and caricatures used by the Nazis to dehumanize Jewish people and justify Nazi treatment of them. Any group of people, any organization, should not wish to associate itself with these practices and should take a strong position against them.

I am asking you and the Commission on Civil Rights to take an instrumental role in facilitating these changes by adopting a strong policy against such racially-based names, logos, and mascots and by acting upon calls for assistance from those who are attempting to teach others about the offensive nature of the use of "indian" names, logos, and mascots.

Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

A. H.

Eddie Derr, Superintendent

Jourdantown Independent School District

200 Zanderson

Jourdanton, TX 78026-3099

Dear Mr. Derr:

I am a Cherokee woman, who resides in the state of Maine. I am writing in regards to the usage of the American Indian people as school team sports mascots and also in regards to the usage of the word "squaw" and "redskin." These issues are being addressed all over the country, from high schools to federally known sports teams. I believe in most cases, it is a case of not knowing how offensive it is to be portrayed as a whooping, tomahawk carrying - "savage."

I realize that most believe that perhaps these portrayals are honoring our People - for sports' teams are known or wish to be viewed as tough, unbeatable, etc. But it is wrong and racist and discriminatory. We must rely first and foremost upon our educational system to change this long-standing sterotype of the American Indian and Indigenous peoples. In changing the biased viewpoints of young minds, this brings great hope to a future where this nation's first people will not be viewed in such a manner, but will be viewed as we are - people and this nation's native inhabitants. I am heartened to see that there are members of your administration that are people of color. And thus, I hope to see a change in your school's policy of using such mascots that are now in place.

In my state, there have been great strides made in many areas. There have been school team mascot changes, although there are two or three school districts who still refuse to change their mascots - and I believe, it's more a matter of money than anything else. I know it might be costly in some respects to have to change school uniforms, and such - but it is much more costly in the long run, to perpetuate racism and misunderstanding with a new generation of our youth. In Maine, the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot, Maliseet and Micmac nations, with other Indian people in this area, worked to have the word "squaw" removed from all public lands and place names. The word squaw in itself spoken in the native tongue of many nations is not a bad word. But over time, in the English language this word has revolved to a very derogatory word toward American Indian women. It is the worse thing you can call a native woman. I don't think I need to be more descriptive than that.

Maine's largest newspaper instituted a policy in which the word squaw along with any sports team including national - such as the Washington Redskins, will not be printed in the newspaper, the only exception being if there are public hearings regarding the usage of these derogatory terms. Redskin - is a terrible thing for our people. It is a term that means a bounty was paid for each "redskin" brought it by white settlers and Europeans - a bounty placed upon the heads of every American Indian man, woman and child. The skin was torn from the people, such as you would dress and skin a deer and often fashioned into horse reins, and other such things. This is the sad and horrid history of what was done to our people; therefore it is then easy or should be, for others to understand why we find this term so offensive when used, and particularly by educational systems which are suppose to enlighten young minds, not prejudice them.

With all due respect, I am certainly not a resident of your city, but I ask that when your Board meets to discuss this issue, that you will please consider the urgency and necessity to eliminate the usage of us, as a people, for mascots and other such things. We are people. We do not go around with tomahawks and whooping it up - those are the things of western movies. We live like you do - we have our families, our children, our traditions, our beliefs. If you wish to portray the native peoples as "warriors" then teach the children this: out of all minorities combined in the United States, the Native American peoples have served this country both in war time and peace time, more than any other nationality combined. With honor, distinction and bravery. Had it not been for the Navajo Code Talkers - World War II might have been very different. Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian raised the flag, a hero - but long forgotten by too many as an Indian man who served the United States with honor. My Father, Cherokee - a Pearl Harbor Veteran - present when Hickham Field was bombed on December 7, 1941. Teach the children we are NOT savages.

Thank you.

With respect,

J. S. A. C.

Evening Rain