This is an interesting twist on the change of "redskins", as we near
Wichita, Kansas have been working on retiring the "redskins" nickname at
Wichita North High School, Wichita, Kansas and have a pretty good
agrgument going because the school board's policy forbids using religious
symbols (the eagle feathers in the headress) for any but a temporary
purpose and this must be in association with a religious holiday. Eagle
feathers being federally recognized Indian religious symbols are easy to
understand but most people have trouble understanding that everything
about the culture is religious (spiritual is my prefered word but that
doesn't translate into legal terms) including nickname refrences to "The
People", ie. "redskins", braves, indians etc...
I don't know if you are working on this situation or there are
others up there who are but I will be glad to help with influencing and
informing any who want it.
I think there is a real good case of violation of first amendment
establishment of religion by goverment when an eductional institution (of
higer learning?) establishes Native American religious symbols (eagle
feathers or other Indian culture religious symbols) as part of their
identity. Imagine using a cross for an identity. Establishment of religion
without a doubt.
If they deny it is "establisment" of a religion then you come back
at them with burdening the free exercise of religion (first amendment,
fourteenth amendment) by continually teaching and promoting ignorance of
and the abuse of recognized Native American religion and religioius
symbols. The proof on this is how many thousands of persons in how many
decades living in and around that campus cannot identify, recognize or
understand the religous significance or meaning of eagle feathers? What
effect does a community's complete lack of knowledge or ackceptance of
religious meanings have on any child, person, or family struggling to
practice Native American religious beliefs?
Frankly the university is playing in a farce and it's not hard to
expose them. They are legally between a rock and a hard place. Some one
has to start the rock slide to get some action.
Matthew Richter