Posted on September 5, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized |
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Other state legislators have made attempts at legislating away Indian mascots, with not much success. In the past,
I can think of numerous flaws with proposed anti-Indian mascot legislation, but my intent is not to find fault with anti-Indian mascot legislation. My overall opinion is that legislation or litigation should not be the method of choice for retiring Indian mascots. However, after several class discussions, some students think legislation would be the only way to get schools to get rid of Indian mascots. My preference is education. Most schools teach very little about Indian tribes and people.
Another option that was discussed was legislation requiring schools to teach Indian history. I think that this option has merit. However, there would be some difficulty in crafting legislation to accomplish the desired objective. It would be much easier and preferred if schools took the initiative to address this issue on their own. However, that does not appear to be imminent.
What do you think?
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“THE COWBOYS ALWAYS WIN”
-Thomas Builds-The-Fire
I am sure most Indians will remember the scene from the movie Smoke Signals when Thomas uttered those words to Victor upon getting evicted from their seats on the bus by two white guys. We laugh because as tribal members, we have experienced and witnessed that scene in our own lives. We know that it is still true today; the cowboys still take shots at us today. Like Victor and Thomas, we look for our spots to fight back, but most times we grudgingly pick up our things and find another seat. I’m tired of the cowboys still taking shots at us.
Recently a couple of highly respected and high achieving Indian men have been the targets of modern day cowboys. Larry Echohawk, Pawnee, and Tim Giago, Oglala, have recently been targeted by a couple of cowboys. Larry Echohawk was targeted by one cowboy as being unworthy of guiding Indian affairs because of his previous work as ATTORNEY GENERAL for the State of
As for Mr. Giago, a highly respected and nationally syndicated journalist, another cowboy felt the need to call him out and described Mr. Giago as a “have” who is fighting to “keep the have-nots in their place.”
Certainly, Mr. Echohawk and Mr. Giago do not need my pathetic and pitiful voice to defend them against the words of both of these cowboys. Their work and accomplishments speak for themselves. My intent is not to offer a “defense” for either of these extremely accomplished men. My complaint and I guess my question is one of process. Who are these cowboys and why do we let them win?
I am sure that these two cowboys have been gracious to some group of Indians and have done good things for Indians. However, why do they feel that they earned the right to gain national attention to call out such accomplished men as Larry Echohawk and Tim Giago? What have they done to merit such authority and influence over Indian people and affairs? Why do nationally read Indian websites and publications give them voice to do this?
We let them “win” by letting them think that their opinion should matter to us. I certainly have complaints about certain Obama nominees and could issue a press release stating my outrage and objections. I would be lucky to receive a one paragraph blurb in my local newspaper editorial page. However, we allow cowboys that I have never heard of take their shots at these two nationally respected men and give them the time and space to do it! Don’t let the cowboys win next time.
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I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P.
Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People
RESOLUTION REQUESTING PRESIDENT OBAMA TO TELL SCHOOLS AND OTHER SPORTING TEAMS TO STOP USING INDIAN MASCOTS
WHEREAS, I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. was established by Indian high school students participating in the Circle of Learning project sponsored by the Omaha Public School District, Office of Indian Education’s Native Indian Centered Education (N.I.C.E.) and in cooperation with Little Priest Tribal College and The Honor Indians Institute; and
WHEREAS, I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. was established to encourage students to learn more about tribes and tribal people and to stop perpetuating ignorance and negative stereotypes about our people by using Indian images as team mascots; and
WHEREAS, Numerous schools here in Nebraska and throughout the United States and professional sports teams use Indian images as team mascots, such as Redskins, Redmen, Red Raiders, Savages, Indians, Chiefs, Chieftains, Braves, Warriors, etc., claiming that such names and images are meant to honor Indians; and
WHEREAS, Numerous Tribal, Civil Rights and other professional organizations have condemned the use of Indian mascots as racist, offensive and harmful to Indian students, and that they perpetuate ignorance and negative stereotypes about Indian people; and
WHEREAS, Groups such as The National Congress of American Indians, Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, The United States Commission on Civil Rights, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), United Nations, Committee On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination and the American Psychological Association have called for the elimination of Indian mascots by schools and professional sporting teams; and
WHEREAS, The majority of schools here in Nebraska and throughout the United States and professional sporting teams have not listened to tribal leaders, people and educators and have continued to use Indian images as their team mascots; and
WHEREAS, We as students who are affected by the racism, offensiveness and ignorance perpetuated by Indian mascots add our voices to those speaking against Indian mascots and ask schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots; and
WHEREAS, We also call upon the newly elected President BARACK OBAMA, who received overwhelming support from the Indian community by promising change in Indian country, to join with us in calling for schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People (I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P.) denounce Indian images used as mascots as racist, offensive, degrading and that they perpetuate ignorance and negative stereotypes about our people; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. adds our voices in calling for schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascot; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. encourages students to join our Circle of Learning and learn more about Indian tribes and peoples; and
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. respectfully requests that President BARACK OBAMA join with us and add his voice in denouncing the use of racially offensive Indian mascots and by telling schools and sports teams, starting with the WASHINGTON REDSKINS, located in our National Capitol and his new home, to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots.
DATED this 7th day of January, 2009,
BY:
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Andre Fast Horse, President
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HONORED INDIAN: ANDRE FAST HORSE
Andre Fast Horse: President of Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People (
Andre is Oglala Sioux from
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NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL
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HONORED INDIAN: MARSHALL BASS
Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Marshall Bass.
He currently works in Haskell’s G.I.S. Laboratory where he is heading a project that is modeling wind power potential for almost all reservations across the
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