why native american mascots should not be banned

According to the National Congress of American Indians, a Native rights organization that represents tribes across the country, 19 states in recent years have considered policy changes to ban or limit Indigenous mascots in public schools. The state Board of Education has adopted two resolutions in 1993 and again in 2012 discouraging the use of Native American mascots. Native American themed mascots such as Braves and Warriors should not be used due to the misrepresentation they give of Indians. Dog whistle mascots: Native American mascots as normative expressions of prejudice The Redskin mascot almost disappeared in June of 2013 when the superintendent of the Teton School District unilaterally declared it would be replaced with something not considered offensive to. He says the mascot is only racist if its being used as a slur. The studies also explored the role of two related beliefs, namely racial colorblindness the idea that race has no bearing on decisions or events and worldview threat, an individuals perception that the way society functions is under attack. Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: NCAI President Commemorates Anniversary of Retirement of Washington Football Team's Mascot; More Schools Retire Their Native "Themed" Mascots(07.19.21) This conversation has long plagued major sports teams, including the Washington Football Team, which dropped its original nickname in 2020, and the Cleveland Indians, which will start the 2022 season as the Cleveland Guardians. These teams reinforce stereotypes about American Indians that aren't true. Native American Mascots Should Be Banned - 339 Words | Cram What about states that have already banned all Native imagery from their high schools, like Wisconsin and Oregon? Some people feel unwelcome because of certain mascots. Teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Blackhawks, North Dakota Fighting Sioux, and many more teams have mascots or names that mock the Native Americans. It would be completely different. This in turn restricts the number of ways American Indians can see themselves.". The increase in racism, however temporary, should not be seen as a reason to retain Native American mascots, Jimenez said. One of the most contentious issues that comes up in these discussions is whether white people's opinions -- or any non-Natives' opinions -- should even matter. Our position is that if it's not derogatory and it's being used appropriately, with an opportunity to share or cross-share our culture, then it's fine. Read the full text of the official APA American Indian Mascot Resolution, Office of Public Communications October 2021 Its sponsor, Democratic state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, a member of the Tlingit tribe, said more than 30 schools in the state had Indigenous mascots when she introduced the bill. In 2021, NCAI further expanded the initiative to include work at the state level, developing a State Activity Tracker and engaging directly with state legislatures pursuing mascot bans through legislation. The World Series champion Atlanta Braves were again under scrutiny for the team name and their fans performing the "tomahawk chop" during games. Many American Indians report that they find today's typical portrayal of American Indian culture disrespectful and offensive to their spiritual beliefs. In spite of these potential drawbacks, a few benefits come with use of these names, motivating sports organizations to choose them in the first place. Use of Native American Mascots Should be Banned | 123 Help Me Every year I go in and address every freshman athletic student about our culture and what it means to be a Chippewa, and about the proud, competitive nature of our people. Its a Movement Thats Inching Forward. I would argue the last half of that headline is more indicative of the fight to ban Native American Mascots, which has been going on for at least 40 years, than the first. Massachusetts is one of nine states that considered mascot bills this year; four statesColorado, Connecticut, Nevada and Washingtonapproved them. Indigenous Team Names in Sports Have to Go. Lancaster High School students skipped classes and, walked along the perimeter of the school to protest the districts dropping of the schools nickname and mascot Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Lancaster, N.Y. 3487, "Respect for Native Americans in Professional Sports Act of 2015", Opposing the Washington NFL Teams Return to the District of Columbia until the Franchise Changes Its Offensive Name, In Support of Efforts to Exert Economic Pressures against the Washington, DC National Football League Team, Urging the U.S. Secretary of Education to Take Substantive Action Regarding Schools with Native Sports Stereotypes, NCAI Commends Decision by Major League Baseballs Cleveland Franchise to Change Its Indians Name, Statement on Kansas City Chiefs Announcement of Game Day Rituals, NCAI Statement on the Washington Football Teams Retirement of Racist Mascot, NCAI offers its deepest condolences to the family of Senator James Abourezk, a tireless advocate for justice and https://t.co/7DapoluRCu. Maine lawmakers voted in 2019 to ban Indigenous mascots in public schools and state colleges, making it the first state to pass such a sweeping restriction through legislative action. But some Republicans have mounted strong opposition to proposed mascot bans, calling them government censorship or, in one case, political correctness run amok.. NCAI recognizes that this can be a difficult and sensitive issue, and we acknowledge the significance of athletics for the public, as well as the attachment (both emotionally and financially) of professional teams and university athletic programs to their names and logos. These teams reinforce stereotypes about American Indians that aren't true. I have to chuckle when I hear that. All rights reserved. Some mascot defenders argue the nicknames are a way of honoring Indigenous people. From tribes role as Americas first governments, to modern day actors, athletes, and political leaders, Native people contribute to American greatness every single day. Analyzes how sports mascots represent each team in the united states. From tribes' role as America's first governments, to modern day actors, athletes, and political leaders, Native people contribute to American greatness every single day. As a cheerleader, she was expected to lead a chant of Stomp the Wamps, but she couldnt bring herself to say the words. 4. Stereotypical Native themed sports mascots are symbols of disrespect that degrade, mock, and harm Native people, in particular Native youth, the group said in a statement to Stateline. New plaques provide context to public art and acknowledge changing values. Native American mascots are dehumanizing and need to be banned At a minimum, what the group provides is cover for anyone who wants to keep a nickname, and wants to point to Native Americans who are supportive of just that. Colorados new mascot law also punishes schools that refuse to change. We have a very rich, diverse culture, which is showcased in a world-class, award-winning cultural museum on our reservation. Shes now leading her tribes efforts to support a statewide bill that would ban the use of Indigenous mascots in public schools. That's what makes these kids feel marginalized -- the way their culture and their people were treated. And when they go out there and compete, they're Chippewas, they're fighting like a Chippewa, fighting to win. In Driggs, Idaho, a small resort town near Grand Teton National Park, the battle over removing East Idaho High Schools Redskins nickname is quite pitched its now in its sixth year. However, in the case where mascots refer to a particular Native nation or nations, NCAI respects the right of individual tribal nations to work with universities and athletic programs to decide how to protect and celebrate their respective tribal heritage. This is mocking the Native American people and not honoring them at all. State legislation is the only way this was going to change, said Connecticut state Rep. Cathy Osten, a Democrat who sponsored the states newly enacted mascot law. The recent surge in state action follows the much-publicized decision by the National Football Leagues Washington Football Team last year to stop using the nickname Redskins, a racial slur. What's your feeling about them? Copyright 1996-2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts. Why native american mascots should be banned essay - excellent idea First Nation people do not feel any why native american mascots should be banned essay at this association. Fear of losing that revenue, a significant funding source in some towns, spurred four schools to change their mascots, and a few others are considering it. The APA is calling upon all psychologists to speak out against racism, and take proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of intolerant or racist acts and recommends the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams and organizations. Results showed that Ohio residents set the highest bail in the Cleveland case substantially higher than the other scenarios, and when compared to participants from other locations. Study finds only harmful effects from Native themedmascots NCAI's position is clear, longstanding, and deeply rooted in our 78 years as a leading voice for Indian Country we advocate for and protect the civil rights,social justice, and racial equity of all Native people in all parts of American society. Naming a team an Native American Indian name like that is like calling a team the "Warsaw Jews" or the "Auschwitz Jews". In 2020, NCAI formally expanded the initiative to include work at the K-12 level, which included the development of the, To request NCAIs help at the K-12 or state levels, please email, Proud to Be - The Campaign to End Harmful Indian Mascots, Generation Indigenous Tribal Leaders Challenge, Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: More School Districts Retire their Native "Themed" Mascots, NCAI Shares Statement on Atlanta "Braves" Mascot and Fan Rituals, NCAI Reiterates Longstanding Opposition to Atlanta Braves' Mascot and "Tomahawk Chop" Fan Ritual as Team Plays in World Series, Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: NCAI Launches State Activity Tracker, NCAI Commends Announcement by Major League Baseball's Cleveland Franchise of Its New Name "Guardians", Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: NCAI Presents Overview of National School Mascot Tracking Database; More Native "Themed" Mascots are Retired, Replaced, Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: Colorado and Nevada Pass Bills Banning Native "Themed" Mascots, Logos, and Team Names, Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: The State of Washington Bans Native "Themed" Mascots, Logos, and Team Names, NCAI Statement on the Washington Football Team's Retirement of Racist Mascot, Ending the Era of Harmful Indian Mascots, NCAI offers its deepest condolences to the family of Senator James Abourezk, a tireless advocate for justice and https://t.co/7DapoluRCu. al., Petitioners, V. Pro-Football, Inc. , Respondent. If approved by the full Legislature and signed by Gov. The mascots can also impair race relations in the United States, claims Stephanie Fryberg, a cultural and social psychology scholar, based on studies she's completed. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Indian mascots can lead to stereotyping of Native Americans. At the end of the day, there is no excuse for cultural stereotypes that degrade, slander, mock or belittle Native people. The Redskin mascotalmost disappeared in June of 2013when the superintendent of the Teton School District unilaterally declared it would be replaced with something not considered offensive to American Indians. Some believe that it shouldn't be banned because it's a symbol of honor, and. They called me Princess Runs-Her-Mouth, posted death and rape threats and said disgusting things about me and my children, said Dana, the Penobscot leader. We have many brothers and sisters in various minority groups who know what it means to be marginalized, so of course we welcome their voices. Bias against Native Americans spikes when mascots are removed For Native Americans, the fight against mascots is much bigger than "Native people have been pushing sports teams to stop using Native 'themed' mascots for decades. Many teams say that their use of Native American imagery is meant to be an honor, especially when they use team names like "Warriors," which is meant to symbolize American Indians' fighting spirit. For example, on May 13,WFTS-TV News in Floridas Tampa Bay region noted that in the Hillsborough County Schools (which includes the city of Tampa), five elementary schools and one middle school decided to drop their Native-themed nicknames. If you liked this column, you'll probably like his daily Uni Watch web site, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Daily update original reporting on state policy, plus the day's five top reads from around the web. I think everyone, collectively, can have a voice in this. The use of these Native American mascots have created a lot of controversy among people. See disclaimer. Maine Just Banned Native American Mascots, declared a headline in the May 22 New York Times. Anti-Defamation & Mascots. Choosing a Native American mascot is a way to encourage cultural diversity, though no professional teams have chosen Indian mascots since 1963, according to the National Congress of American Indians. The National Congress of American Indians, comprised of hundreds of tribal nations, said its members have been passing resolutions to oppose Indigenous mascots since 1968. But if you look at generational trauma and the way Native peoples were treated 300 years ago, it wasn't until 1924 that we were formally recognized as human beings, and we didn't get the chance to vote until after women did. To eradicate the hurtful presence of stereotypical imaging of American Indians, the APA encourages continued research on the psychological effects that these mascots, symbols, images and personalities have on American Indian communities and others. On May 17, 2019, Maine became the first to ban state-wide the use of Native American mascots at public schools and all colleges and universities. An email sent Thursday to the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs for comment on the lawsuit was not immediately returned. Some also have framed the matter as a local sovereignty issue and expressed concerns about the costs of changing uniforms and signs on playing fields. The Fight to Ban Native American Mascots Is Very Local, And - Forbes We explain that it's not about war paint and fake feathers. He said all traces of the mascot would be removed and tasked the high school with coming up with something new. Complicating the picture is the seeming omnipresence of a group called the Native American Guardians Association , which has criss-crossed the country arguing that it, as a group of Native Americans, want to keep respectful use of Native mascots in the name of keeping their history alive. Both state and federal laws are called for to remedy this oppressive use of Native American . National Congress of American Indians: Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports and the Era of Harmful "Indian" Sports Mascots, Basic and Applied Social Psychology: Of Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: The Psychological Consequences of American Indian Mascots, Talking Chop: The Origin of the Braves' Name. So when you say it's fine to use non-derogatory imagery as long as it's being used appropriately, you're saying that part of that "appropriate use" is educational content about Native Americans? Using Indian mascots causes Native Americans to feel that sports teams are making a mockery of their way of life and marginalizing the way they were treated by white settlers. That was one of the arguments in Wisconsin when the states legislature and then-Gov. I dont want my daughter to go to school in a district with a Native American mascot, she said. Indigenous rights activists say even nicknames, such as Warriors, that arent outright slurs still foment stereotypes of Native Americans as primitive or bloodthirsty, and often are accompanied by offensive imagery. I was ashamed to be Native American because of the stereotypes I would see, and oftentimes that was from a mascot, she said. A group of students filed a lawsuit earlier this month seeking to block the law. So when the Michigan Department of Civil Rights recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, claiming that Native American mascots and nicknames are inherently harmful to Native children, you don't agree with that? The first, conducted in 2018, recruited a little more than half of its nearly 400 participants from Ohio and Maryland where, at the time, two mascot-related developments had occurred. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. If they're using a menacing-looking Indian and trying to intimidate the other team because they might get scalped, that's inappropriate. Its part of our heritage here, said parent and Adams alumna Sheri Story. Probably. I don't believe that a menacing-looking brave on the backboard of a basketball hoop is going to marginalize that child as much as that generational trauma. Some schools and sports teams chose a Native American mascot name with the intent to honor this population of people, as well as to educate the public about the importance of these populations. Adding to this push, our findings suggest that more needs to be done, Jimenez said. So far, mascot bills have passed only in states with Democratic majorities, though some legislation has drawn significant bipartisan support. Negative Indian stereotypes especially those perpetuated by sports mascots affect the reputation and self-image of every single Native person and foster ongoing discrimination against tribal citizens. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. In March, the Skowhegan school board voted to retire the districts Indians nickname, which was the end of a long, long process with lots of community discussion and angst, as well as out-of-town interest group involvement just like anywhere else that has ended up dropping a Native American mascot. I write about youth sports under the title: Your Kid's Not Going Pro. If they would have been called the Cleveland Ni**ers, that name would have been changed a long time ago. The Confederate, heritage-not-hate comparison really isnt that much of a stretch, isnt it? Either they're completely opposed to all uses of Native American imagery, or they have no problem with any of it. In 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body of college athletics, formally condemned the use of disparaging mascots and banned the use of Indian names, logos, and mascots during its championship tournaments. The future of the names of these teams do not look very bright. Native kids go to these schools with the offensive mascots, and they're watching to see what these schools do. Undermines the ability of American Indian Nations to portray accurate and respectful images of their culture, spirituality and traditions. Among the many topics Project Implicit covers are ideas about and bias against Native Americans. According to the lawsuit, John and Jane Doe, who are of Cherokee and Chippewa descent, attend Yuma High School in northeast Colorado, which is home to the "Yuma Indians." Oregon outlawed Indigenous mascots in public schools in 2012 with a State Board of Education resolution, while California legislators voted in 2015 to ban the use of Redskins in public schools. Bottom Line: It IS racist! . A fiscal note attached to the bill notes that costs to school districts would vary based on the number of items that would need to be replaced, including sports and club uniforms, flags, banners and other materials. His bill passed with wide majorities, including some GOP support, but Republican opponents in both chambers argued that mascots should be a local issue. Mahtowin Munro, co-leader of the United American Indians of New England, said Indigenous leaders have been pushing for new mascots for decades, but many schools have refused to budge. It's 2020. When you see people stealing and misusing it, it feels very hostile and painful.. I remember seeing lots of racist reactions to the Cleveland Indians decision to discontinue their mascot Chief Wahoo, said Tyler Jimenez, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington and leader on both studies, which were published Dec. 10 in Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. American Indian Mascots - American Psychological Association Republican Rep. Brad Klippert pointed to a school in his district called the Kamiakin Braves, saying the name came from a place of pride and reverence for an influential chief of the Yakama Tribe, not disrespect. Ostens measure prevents communities with Indigenous mascots from receiving state aid generated by tribal casinos. Some predominantly Indigenous communities and tribal schools also use Native mascots. That's basically what we do with CMU. What would your feelings be about their use of Native imagery? It's 2020. Indigenous Team Names in Sports Have to Go. - The New York That's why it's important to have a statewide bill.. All we ask is that you follow a few rules: Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. It erases the identity of contemporary Indigenous tribes, she said. According to Stephanie Fryberg, PhD, University of Arizona, this appears to have a negative impact on the self-esteem of American Indian children, "American Indian mascots are harmful not only because they are often negative, but because they remind American Indians of the limited ways in which others see them.

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