In testimony this week with the Nebraska Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, local tribal leaders said it was time for schools across the state to anticipate the use of Native American names, symbols, and images on their mascots.
The conversations came shortly after the Cleveland Indians announced that the team would begin withdrawing its name and Native American mascots, both of whom had been criticized for popularizing racist depictions of indigenous peoples. And in July the Washington Football Team made his new name official after dropping his previous name, a racist bow for Indians.
According to the Nebraska School Activities Association, 22 schools across Nebraska are using indigenous mascots: 11 teams called “Warriors”, seven as “Indians”, one as “Chiefs”, one as “Braves” and two as “Chieftains”.
Winnebago chairwoman Tori Kitcheyan testified about the “invisibility” of indigenous peoples in American life and how many communities only come into contact with native images through racist sports mascots.
Citing a Study conducted by the non-profit Reclaiming Native TruthKitcheyan said more than half of Americans do not know Native Americans and a lack of visibility in everyday American life has ramifications for the well-being of tribal members. “Invisibility leads to a void that is filled with derogatory names and images and opens the door to misunderstanding, racism and discrimination against my people,” said Kitcheyan.
She related an incident in 2015 after the Winnebago Indian High Boys basketball team qualified for the state championship. After the team beat Wahoo 66-55 in the last game, a commenter from Wahoosportsonline.com noted that the team would celebrate “on the street” with “firewater” that evening. “Firewater” has in the past referred to high-proof alcohol “which Indians receive from the military in order to cloud their judgment and induce them to sign contracts”.
“One inconsiderate and stupid comment stopped everything and dwarfed our celebration,” said Kitcheyan. “Obviously, this type of behavior causes hurt, anger, confusion and affects our children’s self-esteem and identity at such a moment when such a celebration is taking place … it is not forgotten.”
Alexandria Flanders, a member of the Winnebago tribe, also from Oglala Lakota and the Sac and Fox nation, recalled painful memories from childhood school sports when participants called out racist cries on an opposing team called “The Indians” .
“I remember the carts with the banners on the sides that said,” Scalp of the Indians “and” Kneel to Your Conqueror, “” she said. “At the time, I didn’t understand the implications and meaning of a mascot, but rather a living, breathing human being portrayed as a mascot. A child could not think too deeply into a historical trauma if it had not learned to do so. “
Flanders later returned to her old school on the Winnebago Reservation and is now President of the Intertribal Student Council of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
During their time at Winnebago Public Schools, sports teams used a Native American mascot and were called American Indians. But since graduating, she noticed that the school “deviated from the stereotypical images”.
(Courtesy photo of Winnebago Public Schools)
“They take pride in the fact that they are in school on the reservation and that mostly indigenous students attend school,” she said. “And that’s why the logo for the school is no longer an Indian head, but a ‘W’ for Winnebago with a spring attached.”
In both sessions, participants brought up the idea that legislation would prohibit native mascots, which Flanders and Kitcheyan supported. Ponda Tribe Chairman Larry Wright and Omaha Tribe Chairman Everett Baxter also said they see a ban as a positive step forward.
At a second testimony on Wednesday, some speakers, including Senator Anna Wishart, voiced their uncertainty about how a state-level ban would work.
“In Nebraska, we are a local control state, especially when it comes to education policy. And philosophically, I generally don’t vote for many statewide mandates. I believe that decisions are best made at the local level, ”she said. “There are always exceptions, of course, but if our state were to consider a nationwide mandate, that would be very unusual.”
Jay Bellar, executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association, provided support for the ongoing discussion.
“At the time, the leaders of the Communities in Schools did this to honor the people who lived in these areas. They believed that the choice of the Native American mascot was a tribute to their local history,” he said. “But now it has come to light, the very people in these churches [do not] I feel honored, but instead these mascots can be degrading and / or racist. “
But he stopped saying that the NSAA was pursuing any bans.
“We don’t have anything in our statutes that says we dictate what conference a school will be held at and what colors they will have, what mascots they will have, that is strictly done by them,” he said.
Any change in guidelines would require the assistance of the NSAA board of directors. Jose Soto, The Vice President for Access / Justice / Diversity at Southeast Community College urged the organization to continue this shift.
“I’ve been in this conversation for about three, three and a half decades. It’s a wonderful conversation, but those conversations never resulted in any action, ”he said. “So what I’m looking for are not platitudes and statements of understanding, what I would like to see is action.”
Bellar also admitted that forcing mascot changes could result in districts bearing the cost of renovating their gyms and fields, making new goods, and exchanging uniforms. Senator Wishart summed up the idea of easing these financial issues for schools by legislating government funds to support transitions.
This idea also met with mixed reactions, including suggestions that while incentives might work better than sanctioning schools that keep their native mascots, some may not act without sanctions.
Edouardo Zendejas, a professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, supports legislative action but says tackling ignorance about Native American culture will also require changing the statewide curriculum regarding Native American history.
Since teaching began in 1994, Nebraska students have been taught “very little” about Native American history, including the widespread Native Genocide across the country now known as the United States. Failure in education, he says, ultimately impacts politics and broader discussions about respecting indigenous communities.
“I would tell these administrators, educational leaders, and lawmakers today that if you don’t want Indian mascots to cease to exist, then at least include a truthful and accurate Native American history in our curricula,” Zendejas said.
“You get” Christopher Columbus discovered America, “… the” Pilgrim Indian Thanksgiving myth, “he said,” and maybe the students get the Cherokee Trail of Tears. “
Matthew Blomstedt, Nebraska Education Commissioner, agreed with research that the use of indigenous mascots negatively affects the mental health of indigenous students, and agreed with Zendejas. He sees a “fundamental moral imperative” in solving the problem. Part of this includes improving education and representation regarding Native American history in schools, including on the field.
“Ultimately, we want a better understanding of communities and respect for cultures. So if you are concerned about whether this is the right decision based on local control, I think that would be a bad result, ”he said.
He later remarked that it would be “a mistake” to continue to assume that the problem would be solved locally.
“I think the better outcome would be that we get to have the deep, meaningful conversations about why this is the right decision and that we can achieve this and people would understand.”
The Nebraska Advisory Committee of the US Civil Rights Commission will hold another testimony on Jan. 7.
Comments are closed.