Friday, March 5, 2010

Native American Mascots

Living Lake Country
by
David Byrnes

On March 2, 2010.  The reporter Amy Nixon wrote an article title, "The end of the Indians?"  I knew even before I had read the article, what was going to be said.  It seems every few years that someone decides that the Mascot issue is not politically correct when referring to the American Indian.  The article refers to a high school senior, Rain Koepke and Representative Jim Soletski of Green Bay, The honorable Soletski wants to put an end to the use of the American Indian being used in an unfair stero typing way.

I don't get it;  Mukwonago was a Native American villiage, settled thru the Potawatomi Indians.  The name, "Mukwonago" means "The place of the bear."  I do not see how anyone is taking away from the Native Americans by the use of a mascot.  Don't get me wrong, I realize that the Native Americans had it bad in history, but I am part Irish and I am not offended at Saint Patricks day and the use of wearing green like we are leprechauns and drunks with green beer.  I just think that it is silly.  

If I have offended anyone, I apologize and realize that these words might offend some.   This is written by David Byrans, and not the Pokagon Times, that is why the Pokagon Times lists the links "The answer link" and "Spearheaded by Forest County Potawatomi."  Pokagon Times does not like mascots but covers news from others for Potawatomis to understand the other sides argument.

Pokagon Times has covered, extensively the issues on mascots and covers Forest Counties efforts to stop mascots usage, so please do not get mad at me for just reporting stories that end up in my mail box. (regarding comments, to see comments, click on the title of the story)

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Article link
The answer link
Spearheaded by Forest County Potawatomi

 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

National Indian Education Association
Resolution # 09-05, adopted October 25, 2009

Elimination of Race-Based Indian Logos, Mascots, and Names

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and
WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indians, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native people; and
...
WHEREAS, there is a growing base of support calling for the elimination of Indian logos, mascots and names as evidenced by endorsements from professional organizations, for example the American Psychological Association; educational advocacy organizations, such as the National Education Association; human rights organizations, like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and sports regulatory agencies, i.e. the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and
WHEREAS, research conducted by Stephanie A. Fryberg finds:
• Exposure to race-based Indian stereotypes harms American Indian students,
• Attractive stereotypes cause as much harm as cartoon caricatures,
• American Indian students who approve the use of Indian logos, mascots and names experience more harm that do American Indian students who oppose the use of such imagery,
• Euro-Americans experience a boost to self-esteem when exposed to the same race-based Indian stereotypes; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fryberg’s research has been expanded upon and replicated in the social psychological arena and the research base has grown in other academic fields; and
WHEREAS, educational institutions should not be the vehicles of institutionalized racism.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association calls for the immediate elimination of race-based Indian logos, mascots, and names from educational institutions throughout the Nation;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association supports the creation and dissemination of resources and research, and commits its members to assist educational institutions in the elimination of these stereotypes.

Anonymous said...

How Many Agree With You?

Lists of Organizations FOR and AGAINST ‘Indian’ Nicknames/logos


COMPLETE List FOR ‘Indian’ Nicknames/logos

(Note that this list is empty because no comparable educational, psychological, civil rights, religious, professional or American Indian organization has passed a resolution endorsing the general concept of race-based ‘Indian’ nicknames in schools.)


PARTIAL List AGAINST ‘Indian’ Nicknames/logos
Advocates for American Indian Children (California)
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
American Counseling Association
American Indian Language and Culture Education Board
American Indian Mental Health Association (Minnesota)
American Indian Movement
American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center of San Bernardino County
American Indian Student Services at the Ohio State University
American Jewish Committee
American Sociological Association
American Psychological Association
Asian American Journalists Association
Associated Students Council of San Diego State University
Association on American Indian Affairs
BRIDGES - Building Roads Into Diverse Groups Empowering Students
Buncombe County Native American Intertribal Association (North Carolina)
Calvert Investment Group
Center for Artistic Revolution (CAR)
Center for the Study of Sports in Society
Cincinnati Zapitista Coalition
COLOR - Community One Love One Race
Committee to End Cultural Genocide (St. Cloud State University)
Concerned American Indian Parents (Minnesota)
Council for Indigenous North Americans (University of Southern Maine)
Eagle and Condor Indigenous Peoples' Alliance
Fontana Native American Indian Center, Inc.
Governor's Interstate Indian Council
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
Gun Lake Band of Potawatomi Indians
HONOR - Honor Our Neighbors Origins and Rights
Hutchinson Human Relations Commission
Illinois Native Bar Association
Illinois State University Student Government Association
Inter-Ethnic Children's Council (Los Angeles)
Inter-Faith Council on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (Composed of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muskogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Seminole Nations)
Juaneño Band of Mission Indians
Kansas Association for Native American Education
Latino Children's Action Council (Los Angeles)
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs
Mascot Abuse San Francisco Bay Area
Medicine Wheel Intertribal Association (Louisiana)
Menominee Tribe of Indians (Wisconsin)
Michigan Civil Rights Commission
Michigan Education Association
State of Michigan, State Board of Education
Minnesota Indian Education Association
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board
Minnesota State Board of Education
Modern Language Association
Morning Star Institute
NAACP

(CONTINUED BELOW FOR MORE)

Anonymous said...

(LIST CONTINUES)

National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
National Association of Social Workers
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Conference of Christians and Jews
National Conference for Community and Justice
National Congress of American Indians
National Education Association
National Indian Education Association
Native American Caucus of the California Democratic Party
Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio
Native American Journalists Association
Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs
New Hampshire State Board of Education
New York State Education Department
Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
North American Society for the Sociology of Sport
North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs
North Dakota Indian Education Association
North Dakota State University Student Senate
Office of Native American Ministry, Diocese of Grand Rapids
Ohio Center for Native American Affairs
Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative
Rainbow Coalition
San Bernardino/Riverside Counties Native American Community Council
Students Making All Races Tolerant (SMART)
Society of Indian Psychologists of the Americas
Society for the Study of Social Problems
Southern California Indian Center
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
St. Cloud State University - American Indian Center
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Tennessee Chapter of the National Coalition for the Preservation of Indigenous Cultures
Tennessee Native Veterans Society
Unified Coalition for American Indian Concerns, Virginia
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ
The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma
United Methodist Church
United States Commission on Civil Rights
Virginia American Indian Cultural Resource Center
Western North Carolina Citizens for an End to Institutionalized Bigotry
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ Wisconsin Council of Churches
Wisconsin Educational Association Council (WEAC)
Wisconsin Indian Education Association
WIEA "Indian" Mascot and Logo Taskforce (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin State Human Relations Association
Woodland Indian Community Center-Lansing
Youth ‘Indian’ Mascot and Logo Taskforce (Wisconsin)

(Source: American Indian Sports Team Mascots, http://aistm.org/fr.groups.htm plus additions.)
Note: there are additional organizations opposing ‘Indian’ nicknames not on the AISTM list.