For New Professionals & Graduate Students: Rethinking Native American College Mascots “Lets put our minds together and see what life we can make for our.

For New Professionals & For New Professionals & Graduate Students: Graduate Students:

Rethinking Native American Rethinking Native American College MascotsCollege Mascots

““Lets put our minds together and see what life we Lets put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.can make for our children.””

-Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota-Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota

Presented & Developed By:Presented & Developed By:

Tracy Peterson, Cornell UniversityTracy Peterson, Cornell University

Jonathon Hyde, University of Jonathon Hyde, University of Southern CaliforniaSouthern California

Session GoalsSession Goals•To engage the audience and create To engage the audience and create

meaningful dialogue about the use of Native meaningful dialogue about the use of Native imagery/mascots and their impact on imagery/mascots and their impact on

individualsindividuals

•To create an understanding of the To create an understanding of the pervasiveness of Native imagery in our societypervasiveness of Native imagery in our society

•To compare and contrast Native imagery with To compare and contrast Native imagery with other forms of oppressive imageryother forms of oppressive imagery

Before we beginBefore we begin•Use of Terms: Indian vs. American Indian vs. Use of Terms: Indian vs. American Indian vs.

Native American vs. First Nations vs. Native American vs. First Nations vs. Indigenous Peoples vs. Tribal NationsIndigenous Peoples vs. Tribal Nations

•This presentation utilizes racist and disturbing This presentation utilizes racist and disturbing imagery and words for educational purposesimagery and words for educational purposes

•Overt vs. Covert forms of oppressionOvert vs. Covert forms of oppression

Conventional HonorConventional Honor

What is a Mascot?What is a Mascot?

Merriam-Webster DictionaryMerriam-Webster Dictionary::a person, animal, or object adopted by a group as a person, animal, or object adopted by a group as a symbolic figure especially to bring them good a symbolic figure especially to bring them good luck luck

Oxford DictionaryOxford Dictionary::a person, animal, or object that is identified with a a person, animal, or object that is identified with a person, group, teamperson, group, team

CaveatCaveatThere are REEL Indians andThere are REEL Indians and

there are REAL Indians.there are REAL Indians.

Illini, Seminoles, Braves, Illini, Seminoles, Braves, Chiefs, Indians, Redmen,Chiefs, Indians, Redmen,

Red Raiders, Savages, Red Raiders, Savages, Warriors, Fighting Sioux, Warriors, Fighting Sioux,

Apaches, Cherokees, Apaches, Cherokees, MoundbuildersMoundbuilders

The term refers to the bloody membrane that one saw when looking The term refers to the bloody membrane that one saw when looking at the severed scalp of an American Indian person brought in for at the severed scalp of an American Indian person brought in for bounty by trappers/ colonists during the westward expansion of the bounty by trappers/ colonists during the westward expansion of the United States. This bloody membrane, which was United States. This bloody membrane, which was ““redred”” in color, was in color, was associated with other associated with other ““animalanimal”” pelts brought in for bounty, thus pelts brought in for bounty, thus creating the term creating the term ““redskinredskin””. .

““So, you see when we see or hear that term...we don't see a football So, you see when we see or hear that term...we don't see a football team...we don't see a game being played...we don't see any "honor"...we team...we don't see a game being played...we don't see any "honor"...we see the bloody pieces of scalps that were hacked off of our men, women see the bloody pieces of scalps that were hacked off of our men, women

and even our children...we hear the screams as our people were and even our children...we hear the screams as our people were killed...and "skinned" just like animalskilled...and "skinned" just like animals””

-Tina Holder, Mesa, AZ-Tina Holder, Mesa, AZ

Why Redskin?Why Redskin?

Where did Indian mascots Where did Indian mascots come from?come from?

Boarding schools were an attempt to prove that American Indians, Boarding schools were an attempt to prove that American Indians, conditioned within a controlled and regulated environment could give responses conditioned within a controlled and regulated environment could give responses and behave like white people.and behave like white people.

By the early 20By the early 20thth century, white schools began picking up the mascot identity century, white schools began picking up the mascot identity from these schools. Many white schools had animal mascots and the concept from these schools. Many white schools had animal mascots and the concept of the Indian as mascot fit simply and directly into this practice. Indian boarding of the Indian as mascot fit simply and directly into this practice. Indian boarding schools were populated with what white people considered a wild animal race.schools were populated with what white people considered a wild animal race.

1969 - Dartmouth College changes its mascot from "Indians" to "Big Green.1969 - Dartmouth College changes its mascot from "Indians" to "Big Green.““1970 - University of Oklahoma retires its "Little Red" mascot.1970 - University of Oklahoma retires its "Little Red" mascot.1971 - Marquette University (WI) abandons its "Willie Wampum" mascot.1971 - Marquette University (WI) abandons its "Willie Wampum" mascot.1972 - Stanford University drops its "Indian" sports team name and logos.1972 - Stanford University drops its "Indian" sports team name and logos.1979 - Syracuse University retires its "Saltine Warrior" mascot.1979 - Syracuse University retires its "Saltine Warrior" mascot.1979 - St. Bonaventure retires its "Brown Indians" and "Brown Squaws" sports team mascots.1979 - St. Bonaventure retires its "Brown Indians" and "Brown Squaws" sports team mascots.1988 - Siena College (Loudonville, New York) changes its mascot from "Indians" to "Saints."1988 - Siena College (Loudonville, New York) changes its mascot from "Indians" to "Saints."1994 - Marquette University changes its mascot from "Warriors" to "Golden Eagles."1994 - Marquette University changes its mascot from "Warriors" to "Golden Eagles."1995 - St. John's University changes its mascot from "Redmen" to "Redstorm."1995 - St. John's University changes its mascot from "Redmen" to "Redstorm."1996 - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga changes its mascot from "Moccasins" to "Mocs" in1996 - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga changes its mascot from "Moccasins" to "Mocs" in reference to Tennessee's state bird, the Mockingbird.reference to Tennessee's state bird, the Mockingbird.1996 - Miami University (Oxford, OH) drops its "Redskins" nickname.1996 - Miami University (Oxford, OH) drops its "Redskins" nickname.1998 - Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa) changes its mascot from "Maroon Chiefs" to1998 - Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa) changes its mascot from "Maroon Chiefs" to ““MustangsMustangs””..1999 - Oklahoma City University changes its mascot from "Chiefs" to "Stars.1999 - Oklahoma City University changes its mascot from "Chiefs" to "Stars. ““1999 - Seattle University changes its mascot from "Chieftains" to "Redhawks.1999 - Seattle University changes its mascot from "Chieftains" to "Redhawks. ““1999 - Illinois Valley Community College (Oglesby, Illinois) retires its "Apaches" nickname.1999 - Illinois Valley Community College (Oglesby, Illinois) retires its "Apaches" nickname.1999 - The Quinnipiac University Board of Trustees votes to discontinue use of 1999 - The Quinnipiac University Board of Trustees votes to discontinue use of ““The BravesThe Braves”” nickname.nickname.

Colleges & universities that have Colleges & universities that have dropped their dropped their ““IndianIndian”” identity identity

Steps ForwardSteps Forward

1999 - In an action that removes all doubt about the seriousness of concerns surrounding the 1999 - In an action that removes all doubt about the seriousness of concerns surrounding the use of "Indian" sports team tokens, The United States Commission on Civil Rights issues a use of "Indian" sports team tokens, The United States Commission on Civil Rights issues a position statement calling for educational institutions to avoid use of such ethnic nicknames position statement calling for educational institutions to avoid use of such ethnic nicknames and mascots.and mascots.

1999 - A landmark victory concludes a legal battle begun in 1992 as a three-judge panel of the 1999 - A landmark victory concludes a legal battle begun in 1992 as a three-judge panel of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rules that the term "Redskin" is a term disparaging to Native U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rules that the term "Redskin" is a term disparaging to Native Americans and tends to bring them "into contempt or disrepute."  The decision has the potential Americans and tends to bring them "into contempt or disrepute."  The decision has the potential to strip the Washington NFL team of trademark protections.to strip the Washington NFL team of trademark protections.

1998 - National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Minority Opportunities and Interests 1998 - National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee concluded, "Indian mascots that promote Indian caricatures and mimic ceremonial Committee concluded, "Indian mascots that promote Indian caricatures and mimic ceremonial rites do not comply with the NCAA's commitment to ethnic student welfare."rites do not comply with the NCAA's commitment to ethnic student welfare."

2005 – NCAA bans the use of Native American 2005 – NCAA bans the use of Native American mascots by sports teams during postseason mascots by sports teams during postseason tournamentstournaments

Remaining NCAA Mascot Teams Remaining NCAA Mascot Teams Alcorn State University (Braves) Alcorn State University (Braves)

Central Michigan University (Chippewas) Central Michigan University (Chippewas) Catawba College (Indians) Catawba College (Indians)

Florida State University (Seminoles) Florida State University (Seminoles) Midwestern State University (Indians) Midwestern State University (Indians)

University of Utah (Utes) University of Utah (Utes) Indiana University-Pennsylvania (Indians) Indiana University-Pennsylvania (Indians)

Carthage College (Redmen) Carthage College (Redmen) Bradley University (Braves) Bradley University (Braves)

Arkansas State University (Indians) Arkansas State University (Indians) Chowan College (Braves) Chowan College (Braves)

University of Illinois-Champaign (Illini) University of Illinois-Champaign (Illini) University of Louisiana-Monroe (Indians) University of Louisiana-Monroe (Indians)

McMurry University (Indians) McMurry University (Indians) Mississippi College (Choctaws) Mississippi College (Choctaws)

Newberry College (Indians) Newberry College (Indians) University of North Dakota (Fighting Sioux) University of North Dakota (Fighting Sioux)

Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Savages)Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Savages)

An Interactive Exercise

I have watched a cartoon that featured a native caricature.

I have watched a sporting event on television that featured an American Indian mascot.

I have attended a sporting event in person that featured an American Indian mascot.

I attended a college or university that had an American Indian mascot.

I drive or own a Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Comanche, Pontiac Aztec, Mazda Navajo, Winnebago RV or an Indian Motorcycle.

I have purchased brands of food that appropriate Native American imagery.

I have dressed up as an American Indian during Halloween, a party, or for some other event.

As a child I read or sang the song “Ten little Indians.”

In my research I have reduced Native Americans to an asterisk.

I have used the term, “indian giver”, “chief”, “papoose”, “squaw”, “redskin”, “injun”, “prairie nigger”, “low man on the totem pole”, “sit indian Style” “indian burn” or failed to educate a person who used the term.

I did not have an issue with the appropriated imagery used I did not have an issue with the appropriated imagery used by OutKast during the 2004 Grammy Awards.by OutKast during the 2004 Grammy Awards.

I watched DisneyI watched Disney’’s s PocahontasPocahontas and did not question any and did not question any of the imagery presented.of the imagery presented.

I have colored with the I have colored with the ““Indian RedIndian Red”” Crayola Crayon. Crayola Crayon.

Note: This color initially was India Red, over time, it became known as Note: This color initially was India Red, over time, it became known as Indian Red, because of the popularity of American Indians in coloring books.Indian Red, because of the popularity of American Indians in coloring books.

I have conducted business with a company that I have conducted business with a company that appropriates native imagery.appropriates native imagery.

I have patronized an establishment that displayed a Cigar I have patronized an establishment that displayed a Cigar Store Indian on its premises.Store Indian on its premises.

I have purchased a I have purchased a ““Wiggling Native Hula GirlWiggling Native Hula Girl”” for my for my vehicle or ridden in someonevehicle or ridden in someone’’s vehicle who had one and s vehicle who had one and not said anything about it.not said anything about it.

What are the psychological considerations for What are the psychological considerations for student development?student development?

Attitudes toward the use of Attitudes toward the use of ““IndianIndian”” related mascots are related mascots are indoctrinated at an early age when the individual is highly indoctrinated at an early age when the individual is highly susceptible to influence and social pressure.susceptible to influence and social pressure.

Through stereotyping and dehumanization, objectification is Through stereotyping and dehumanization, objectification is facilitated. Instead of being thought of as unique individuals, facilitated. Instead of being thought of as unique individuals, Native Peoples are transformed into depersonalized Native Peoples are transformed into depersonalized ““thingsthings””. . At work here are the same principles found in pornography At work here are the same principles found in pornography which also turn real, living people into objects of a different which also turn real, living people into objects of a different sort.sort.

““IndianIndian”” mascots mascots ““freezefreeze”” Indigenous Peoples in a Indigenous Peoples in a romanticized historical period which ended over a century romanticized historical period which ended over a century ago, and often attach violence to the group.ago, and often attach violence to the group.

What are the psychological considerations for What are the psychological considerations for student development?student development?

The generic quality of the misnomer, The generic quality of the misnomer, ““IndiansIndians””, denies , denies Indigenous Peoples the sense of pride and place derived Indigenous Peoples the sense of pride and place derived from an understanding and recognition of onefrom an understanding and recognition of one’’s unique s unique cultural heritage. cultural heritage.

Because of the pervasiveness and longevity involved in the Because of the pervasiveness and longevity involved in the use of American Indian related mascots by schools, such use of American Indian related mascots by schools, such uses have become institutionalized. Having been uses have become institutionalized. Having been institutionalized, it becomes very difficult to recognize the institutionalized, it becomes very difficult to recognize the discriminatory and racist practices for what they are.discriminatory and racist practices for what they are.

In YOUR view: Can an institution have a person or race as a In YOUR view: Can an institution have a person or race as a mascot and effectively teach students about diversity or live it mascot and effectively teach students about diversity or live it in their mission?in their mission?

What are the psychological considerations for What are the psychological considerations for student development?student development?

JonathonJonathon’’s development as a white student attending a s development as a white student attending a university with a Native American Mascot.university with a Native American Mascot.

TracyTracy’’s experience at the University of Iowa s experience at the University of Iowa

Other experiences from the audience?Other experiences from the audience?

How are these images How are these images related to images depicted of related to images depicted of

native peoples?native peoples?

““The task of resisting our own oppression does not The task of resisting our own oppression does not relieve us of the responsibility of acknowledging our relieve us of the responsibility of acknowledging our complicity in the oppression of others.complicity in the oppression of others.”” - Beverly Tatum- Beverly Tatum

How are these images How are these images related to images depicted of related to images depicted of

native peoples?native peoples?

““The task of resisting our own oppression does not The task of resisting our own oppression does not relieve us of the responsibility of acknowledging our relieve us of the responsibility of acknowledging our complicity in the oppression of others.complicity in the oppression of others.”” - Beverly Tatum- Beverly Tatum

Strategies for Social ChangeStrategies for Social Change

• Use of this presentationUse of this presentation

• Alumni as agents of social changeAlumni as agents of social change

• Mobilize students, staff, faculty, and community membersMobilize students, staff, faculty, and community members

• Boycott and protest the use of mascotsBoycott and protest the use of mascots

• Voice your opposition to your institutionVoice your opposition to your institution’’s administration s administration

• Write editorials to your campus and local newspapersWrite editorials to your campus and local newspapers

• Support others who share the similar concernsSupport others who share the similar concerns

We would like to thank our friends, colleagues, We would like to thank our friends, colleagues, and allies who have given us the ability and and allies who have given us the ability and guidance to be here and share with you our guidance to be here and share with you our

understanding of this important issue.understanding of this important issue.

Open DiscussionOpen Discussion

[email protected]@cornell.edu

[email protected]@usc.edu