Posted on November 18, 2008 - Filed Under Indian Mascots |
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
TimpviewHigh School, home of the Thunderbirds, is located along bench of the WasatchMountains in Provo, UT.What used to be a nice, quiet school has now caused an uproar among the local Native community.
A few months ago the school revealed the new outfit for the mascot.According to some students, the previous outfit was old and outdated, and may have resembled a chicken.The principal, Dr. Bayles, decided it was time for a change.Dr. Bayles formed a team of teachers to help create this new mascot, none of which were Native.The inspiration for his new mascot came from a kachina doll that was in his office.In an article written in the school districts newsletter, Dr. Bayles states that since the Thunderbird is of Native American origin, he wanted to honor that Heritage!
Well Dr. Bayles, is it honoring when the Kachina you call a Mascot is parading around doing those “stereotypical” Native acts?Or is it honoring when some of your Native students are uncomfortable being at the football game because of the actions of your mascot?
Your mascot is a BIRD, not a Native American Kachina!
This is one of the few, if not only Native mascot in the area.Many of the local Native American organizations have started to voice concerns.The Title VII, Indian Education, Program for the ProvoCitySchool District has decided to first bring their concerns of the Native Community to the attention of Dr. Bayles.We will be meeting with Dr. Bayles with letters from the local Natives.If you would like to voice your concerns, please comment on this post, or if you would like to write a letter, please email them to honorindians@gmail.com.
-Meredith Schramm
UPDATE!
It didn’t take much, but with everyone’s support, Timpview is stopping the use of their new mascot outfit immediately!We were able to pass along the letters and comments written by everyone.Dr. Bayles did not realize he was offending anyone and is deeply sorry.He has already started making plans to create a new one.The new one will be an actual Thunderbird, and he has asked the Native American advisor at UtahValleyUniversity to oversee the project.
Honor Indians would like to Honor Dr. George Bayles for acting so swiftly to the concerns of the Native people, and for working with them to make sure things are better!
Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Comments
4 Responses to “TIMPVIEW DECIDES TO “HONOR INDIANS””
Lori Beaumont on
November 18th, 2008 1:28 pm
If Principal Bayles wanted to honor the Native American Heritage he should do so with the Native American Students and assemble the rest of the students to honor the Native American Heritage through education but definitely not with a mascot which dishonors the Native American Heritage. He should read about the heritage of the kachina dolls; if he did he will realize that those dolls are sacred to the tribe who make them.
Ani Begay on
November 18th, 2008 5:04 pm
I would like to be put on the list of people opposing the new mascot. When I saw this, my jaws dropped. That is extremely disrespectful, dressing someone up as a ceremonial figure for a MASCOT?!!! It would be as if we were dressing someone up as Jesus Christ, or the Pope…to get the crowds cheering at a football game. It is just disrespectful. I think they should have not only done a little research beforehand, but also TALK with the Native community. I think you are doing a great job in going and talking with them. I think they should think about HONORING Natives instead of exploiting the culture for their entertainment.
Tammy Beetso on
November 18th, 2008 5:52 pm
I think that having a mascot after a Kachina is very disrespectful to the Native American culture! The Kachina is a symbol of religious beliefs and is used in several ceremonies, which are seen as very scared to the Native American culture. Each Kachina has a separate meaning and is scared in each way. Every piece has a symbol and More people in the Native America community will find is more offensive than “honoring” their people. Seeing a Native American symbol parading around will give the students who don’t have the privilege of living in a diverse society the idea that this is what the Native American believe of their culture. It creates a stereotype that the school should be trying to prevent, this is what causes ignorance in the American society. The public school system is suppose to be teaching impressionable students about how to treat other fairly and to respect one another, how does this work when the schools mascot is teaching them it is okay to use one societies religious symbol for fun and play? Not only does it affect the students at Timpview but it affects all the students from other school who visit or play Timpview in sporting events. The new mascot is unethical and is simply insulting.
catrina h. on
November 19th, 2008 4:42 pm
I would like to add myself to the list of opposing this so called mascot. It is disrespectful! The kachina doll is sacred, and not meant to be used as a recreational symbol. The people that came up with it aren’t native, so it comes natural for them to come up with stupid and pointless stuff like this, without knowing the facts before hand. All i have to say is if you want to “honor” native american culture, then get real natives to do it.
If Principal Bayles wanted to honor the Native American Heritage he should do so with the Native American Students and assemble the rest of the students to honor the Native American Heritage through education but definitely not with a mascot which dishonors the Native American Heritage. He should read about the heritage of the kachina dolls; if he did he will realize that those dolls are sacred to the tribe who make them.
I would like to be put on the list of people opposing the new mascot. When I saw this, my jaws dropped. That is extremely disrespectful, dressing someone up as a ceremonial figure for a MASCOT?!!! It would be as if we were dressing someone up as Jesus Christ, or the Pope…to get the crowds cheering at a football game. It is just disrespectful. I think they should have not only done a little research beforehand, but also TALK with the Native community. I think you are doing a great job in going and talking with them. I think they should think about HONORING Natives instead of exploiting the culture for their entertainment.
I think that having a mascot after a Kachina is very disrespectful to the Native American culture! The Kachina is a symbol of religious beliefs and is used in several ceremonies, which are seen as very scared to the Native American culture. Each Kachina has a separate meaning and is scared in each way. Every piece has a symbol and More people in the Native America community will find is more offensive than “honoring” their people. Seeing a Native American symbol parading around will give the students who don’t have the privilege of living in a diverse society the idea that this is what the Native American believe of their culture. It creates a stereotype that the school should be trying to prevent, this is what causes ignorance in the American society. The public school system is suppose to be teaching impressionable students about how to treat other fairly and to respect one another, how does this work when the schools mascot is teaching them it is okay to use one societies religious symbol for fun and play? Not only does it affect the students at Timpview but it affects all the students from other school who visit or play Timpview in sporting events. The new mascot is unethical and is simply insulting.
I would like to add myself to the list of opposing this so called mascot. It is disrespectful! The kachina doll is sacred, and not meant to be used as a recreational symbol. The people that came up with it aren’t native, so it comes natural for them to come up with stupid and pointless stuff like this, without knowing the facts before hand. All i have to say is if you want to “honor” native american culture, then get real natives to do it.