Charles on the Mascot Issue

2/2/01
From the Woodstock Times

How's That For A Noble Indian

Now that Charles Yow, attorney for the Massachusetts chapter of the American Indian Movement, has entered the Onteora mascot controversy, the dynamics of the situation are once again changing. Every time I see the image of the high school mascot I find it morphing in my imagination. The old caricature changes to a new action figure, Charles Yow bursting through the walls of the school. Instead of a tomahawk, he wields a laptop with law library citations on the screen. Instead of a breechcloth, he wears a suit ... and he's prepared to file one, too. You kept telling us you wanted a proud, noble Native American with a fighting spirit. I hope you won't complain that he showed up. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. ... Carol Maltby Olivebridge

2/11/01

I do not believe there is such a creature as an honorable mascot, and there is no such thing as a native based mascot that is, or can be, in any degree morally or ethically acceptable. ...Charles Yow

The mascot issue has been an issue that has had many admirable proponents for its removal. There are many people such as Suzan Harjo and Charlene Teters, and of course, Richie Plass, who have been recognized as important activists who have brought the issue to national attention. However, Charles has been under appreciated for his accomplishments which played a critical part in the mascot issue. He was responsible for the national attention that Onteora, NY received, and while I cannot say for certain that it had, up to that time, received more attention than any other school, Charles work with the state of New York, based on his work in Onteora, resulted in the New York resolution against the Indian team names and mascots by the New York State Department of Education. That resolution was at least partly responsibly if not directly responsible for the resolution issued by the US Commission on Civil Rights. At that time, I was in contact with the USCCR Commissioner Elsie Meeks office on a regular basis, and at one point I remember that they asked me if I knew how to get in touch with Charles Yow. I told them that he was out of the country at the time and they were dismayed as they were very interested in his work in Onteora. I told them that I had much of his work and writings on that case, and they were very excited to receive it.

Much of the legal facts on which he based his case against Onteora can be found on this web site in the paper titled, Issues and the Law.

In the links at right you will find articles that show the tremendous impact Charles had on the movement to remove the Indian team name and mascots.