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What’s Wrong With Indian
Mascots, Anyway?
All across the country, names
and images of Native Americans are being removed from sports teams.
At first, most people experience the initial reaction of, "Oh no,
not another group crying for political correctness."
While we are all tired of being
told how to think, it is also important to note the reasons for
these changes. Once understood, it becomes very clear that it is
only a wonder it took this long to change them. Many State School
Boards (see CCR and State Board Resolutions on panel at left) have
taken a strong stand against the mascot and team names. We are providing
for you here the most obvious reasons why these team names should
be changed, and we ask that you maintain an open heart when reading
through them. We understand that in many cases, people have strong
emotional attachments to these names but it is equally important
to understand why historically these names were chosen, and why
now, they must be changed.
- If we must show respect
to all other groups, why should we be permitted to dismiss political
correctness when it applies to Native people? Why are Native people
the only race of people that are permitted to be used as
mascots? Interchange the name of any race with the Indians
and it immediately becomes clear that we can not have teams called
The Negroes, The Asians or The Jews.
- It is interesting to note
that most mascot names were chosen, and ceremonies using the feathers,
drums, and clothing were developed, from the 1920s to the 1950s.
During this period of time and up until 1978 it was illegal
for Native people to practice their religion. Native people could
be, and often were, imprisoned for using these same items in ceremonies.
Ironically, while nonnative people were using sacred objects in
mimicking the Indians at sports events, Native people had to stand
by and watch their culture mocked while they themselves could
not participate in the same activities in a religious way.
This was not an honor then, and it is not an honor today. Do we
not respect the religious rights of the original people in this
land because we don't understand their religions? Our lack of
understanding does not minimize its importance to Native people.
By using objects considered sacred by Native people for sports
events, in this land based on religious freedom we continue to
deny Native people respect for their religion.
- Because virtually the only
image that nonnative children view of Native people are of the
mascots, most children assume that Native people are dead or were
warlike people. This stereotype diminishes the Native culture
and is hurtful to many Native people.
- Our myths and legends
that the Native people were bloodthirsty killers are perpetuated
by the mascot. These myths are what psychologists deem "dehumanization",
which is necessary in any war to justify the killing of people.
Team names such as Red Raiders, Red Men, and Redskins maintain
these disrespectful names. In other wars, we can remember the
names used for Germans, "krauts," Japanese were "Nips", etc. But
when wars are over we drop those names and show respect once again
for people who are not our enemies. We have never dropped those
names and perpetuate a war like attitude towards Native people
by the continuance of those names.
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Oppression
often happens in places that have mascots:
In Massachusetts, a team
burns an Indian in effigy the night before a game.
In Minnesota, after a pep
rally where the teachers and students dress up as cowboys
and Indians, the cowboys yell ,"Get back to the reservation."
After the rally, students beat up Indians.
In Kansas, a man who sought
to remove the mascot was sent emails from students that threatened
his home and the rape of his wife.
In Hutchinson, KS, a newspaper
headline stated Orioles Gun Down Indians. Any place that runs
headlines like this subliminally teaches our children that
the massacre of Indians was a permissible event.
Having Native names also encourages
opposing teams to yell Kill the Indian, Scalp the Sioux, etc. ...This
hurts Native children terribly.
At UND, students
opposed to the mascots have sought to change schools because their
private property as well as school projects have been destroyed.
T-shirts sport Indians having sex with buffalos saying, "Sioux
buck the Bison". Read more about UND and see the t-shirt at:
http://www.und.edu/org/span/bridges/
In Wisconsin and Michigan,
the oppression was so bad, parents had to remove their children
from schools for being called Redskin and Red Boy, the names
of the mascots. This is not unusual.
Because of the disrespectful
ways in which Native people are portrayed at school ceremonies,
many Native children are embarrassed to attend games. The woo-woo
sounds, the face paint, the misuse of sacred feathers all cause
embarrassment to Native people and are a direct violation
of civil rights laws which state that all children must be able
to comfortably participate in all activities in their schools.
The word Redskin derived
from the practice of skinning Indians for easy transport when
collecting bounty. The skin was removed from the top of the
back and ran all the way down the legs. These skins were used
for products such as reins, boots, belts, pouches, etc. Andrew
Jackson, who was one of the worst enemies of the Native people,
and by far the most brutal president towards Native people, collected
the noses of every Indian he killed and encouraged the practice
of skinning. Native people are not red. Mostly they range from
tan to brown. Redskin comes from bloody skin.
The most common mascot names
are: Eagles, Tigers, Cougars, Bulldogs, Warriors, Lions, Panthers,
Indians, Wildcats, and Bears. While Bulldogs are not seen as prey,
they are seen as determined and feisty animals. All the rest of
the names on that list, 9 out of 10, have been hunted. Native
people were hunted and bounty was paid for them. No other race
appears as a mascot name, because no other race was hunted.
People hang animal heads in their dens and Indian heads in their
gymnasiums.
The majority assumes that it
should be able to retain a symbol they have "owned" for decades,
but as with all civil rights issues, the majority must defend the
rights of minorities. If we lived by majority rule in civil rights
issues, might we still have slavery today? And shouldn’t we
all take a stand against oppressive actions, even if they are not
occurring in our areas?
Over 81% of respondents
to a poll in Indian Country Today, 500 Native organizations, hundreds
of tribes and petitions with signatures in the tens of thousands
have called for the retirement of these mascots. If you really
want to honor Native people, listen to the voices around the country
that are asking to be heard. No matter what the name, if someone
says they don't like it, then only a bully would continue to use
it.
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