The "First People" such as myself are born running, running for a better
way of life, an even chance...Indian people are virtual exiles in their
own country.
--Dennis Banks (Anishinabi)
"What is the point of all this protesting?..."
Taken from an HONOR primer
2647 North Stowell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Information on the boycott of the Atlanta Braves-Cleveland Indians World
Series
For those who don't understand the offense taken by Indian people about
derogatory team names, mascots and accompanying behavior--this is a basic
primer. It responds to those who are insensitive to the pain they are
causing.
Q. What's the point to all of this protesting? It's honoring the
Indians...
A. "Would you paint your face black, wear an Afro wig and prance around
the football field trying to imitate your perceptions of Black people? Of
course not! That would be insulting to Blacks so why is it okay to do it
to Indians?"
--Tim Giago (Lakota), Editor-in-chief, The Lakota Times
Q. Shouldnn't we protest the California Angels and the New Orleans Saints
because they are offensive to Christians?
A. "When you go to one of their games and they are selling toy crucifixes
as souvenirs and every time the team score, the fans wave those crucifixes
and a little mascot dressed like the pope runs around and sprinkles holy
water on all the drunks, then you should start protesting...And us Indians
will be right there beside you..."
--Clyde Bellecourt (Anishinabe), American Indian Movement (AIM)
Q. Aren't there more important issues for Indian people to be worried
about?
A. "People of faith need to stand up and take this seriously. The use of
demeaning caricatures of American Indian people as "mascots" or logos for
sports teams is morally wrong. It denies human beings the respect they
deserve as brothers and sisters created in the image of God. The church
strongly opposes any use of racial stereotypes, especially for commerical
profit. The time has come to put an end to this form of racism in our
society."
--The Rt. Rev. Steve Charlston (Choctaw), Episcopal Bishop of Alaska
Q. Why can an Indian reservation high school have an Indian logo and
nickname such as "the Warriors," and other teams can't?
A. "Ethnocentric insensitivity and diregard for opinions of Native people
is the continuing saga of American people. Only Native people should have
the rights to say how their images are projected to the outside public."
--Paul DeMain (Oneida-Ojibway), Editor, News From Indian Country
A. "The whole point is that NATIVE AMERICANS can and should make the
decision about how they are portrayed. If they choose to use an
appropriate symbol for their school, that is their perogative. It is not
a matter for non-Indians to decide."
--Sharon Metz, Director, HONOR
Q. This has been going on for years. Why didn't the Indians protest when
the symbols were adopted?
A. "The issue that these logos and mascots offend has always been there.
We have a chance to change it with respect to Indian people and to be
enlightened in the process we don't know our own racims in using these
logos and mascots."
--Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo (Winnebago), VCC
Q. I know some Indians who think the logos are ifne and some even sell
plastic tomahawks. Isn't it jsut a radical minority that is protesting?
A. "The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), as the voice of the
Peoples and Triabl Governments, recognizes the sovereignty and rights of
each tribe to determine their own destiny. NCAI and other national and
regional Indian and non-Indian organizations strongly oppose the
denigration of stereotyping of rich Indian cultures and heritage and does
not sanction the pandering and pecuniary gain by those perpetrating these
negative images. Our sacred songs, dances, ceremonies, languages and
religions are precious to us as a people."
--Gaiashkibos (Ojibwe)
President, Natl Congress of American Indians
Chairman, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board
Q. How does it harm Indian people?
A. "As a group of professional mental health providers, we are in
agreement that using images of American Indians as mascots...is damaging
to the self-identity, self-concept, and self-esteem of our people."
--American Indian Mental Health Association of Minnesota
A. "The issue of the Indian macot has affected the perceptions of both
Native Americans and non-natives toward the image of Native American
people, as well as leaving emotional and psychological scars i those
parents and students involved in the continous struggle of unlearning
Indian stereotypes."
--Cornel Pewewardy (Comanche-Kiowa)
Principal, American Indian Magnet School
St Paul, Minnesota
"I find it difficult to accept your statement that the name "Redskins" is
racist, derogatory, and demeaning to the American Indian."
--Jack Kent Cooke, Owner of the Washington Redskins
"redskin, n. (often disparaging and offensive), a North American Indian."
--The Random House Dictionary
"redskin: a No. American Indain - Usu. taken to be offensive"
--Webster's Third New International Dictionary
"redskin 1. A North American Indian (Not the preferred term.)"
--The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition
"redskin : American Indian -- usu taken to be offensive"
--NeXT's very own Digital Webster
Q. What can I do to support Indian people and efforts to change attitudes
and use of stereotypes?
A. 1. Consult with local tribal leaders in your area.
2. Write HONOR and request a list of appropriate actions.
3. Write local universities and school districts that use Indian
nicknames and
mascots.
4. Write to the owners and commissioners of national professional
teams.
BOYCOTT THE BRAVES-INDIAN WORLD SERIES!
Ted Turner, Owner
Atlanta Braves
521 Capitol Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30312
Cleveland Indians
Richard E. Jacobs, President
2401 Ontario St.
Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland, OH 44115
-- "The Zapatistas, the littlest ones, always forgotten, the flesh destined tomorrow to serve as polygon of exercise for the modern armament of an army which instead of defending national sovereignty and point their weapons against the traitors of the homeland, they point to their siblings in blood, soil and history." --Subcommandante Marcos, EZLNEric Dee WWW: http://envirolink.org/homepp/eric