From the internet:


Red Hawks to nest in Hiawatha Schools to retire Redskins mascot in May.
y MATT MOLINE and GREG BEBEMEYER Special to The Capital-Journal HIAWATHA -- A trio of hawks will rule the roost next fall in Hiawatha's public schools. Board members of Unified School District 415 voted unanimously Monday evening to adopt Red Hawks as the mascot for athletic teams at Hiawatha High School.

Activist calls for boycott of Big Squaw Mountain ski resort
By David Sharp, Associated Press, 10/4/2000 22:28 PORTLAND, Maine (AP) An American Indian activist called Wednesday for a boycott of Big Squaw Mountain because the ski resort's owner decline to change the name despite protests that the word ''squaw'' is offensive.

Native counsel sought on squaw controversy
The Associated Press CHADRON - The Dawes County Commissioners have asked the Chadron Native American Center to help rename four geographic sites whose historical names are offensive to Natives.

Indian women come calling -- for respect
Group asks Idaho lawmakers to rethink their position on `squaw' in place names Betsy Z. Russell - Staff writer BOISE _ Native American women from around the state converged on the state Capitol on Friday, calling for respect and decrying the use of the word "squaw" in Idaho place names.

3 teens hunted Natives with paintball guns, police say
VIDEO: Youths in car taped themselves during drive-by attacks; no charges filed yet. (Video clips included) "We're going to Anchorage," one of the trio says on the tape as they are leaving Eagle River. "We're going to nail some Eskimos -- also known as muktuks."

'Where does this hate come from?' PAINT BALL: Attack horrifies community; more people offer clues.
By Don Hunter And Peter Porco Anchorage Daily News (Published February 27, 2001) Videotaped images of three teenagers targeting Alaska Natives in paint ball attacks shocked and saddened community leaders and citizens alike this weekend. But not everyone was surprised. In more than a dozen interviews Monday, people who had seen the video or read about it reacted with the same words: "Horrible." "Sickening." "Deplorable."

 

Wisconsin Indian Education Association "Indian" Mascot & Logo Taskforce
The Wisconsin Indian Education Association, "Indian" Mascot and Logo Taskforce seeks innovative legal, educational and political means to eliminate the use of "Indian" mascots, logos and nicknames from all Wisconsin state supported educational facilities.

MASCOTS - Racism in Schools by State
Many of these schools and school board members claim to be "honoring" Native Americans by their use of a mascot like "Braves", or "Chiefs", or "Indians", or "Warriors", and even the more obvious racial slur "Redskins". I ask of each of these schools and school board members - If the people being "honored" feel only degradation, pain, racism, and disgust, then where is the "honor"?????!!!! One particular school in California who refer to themselves as "Apache", were told by the Apache students of a school on the Apache reservation that they felt it was an insult for this to continue. The Califorina school decided that No matter what the Apache people feel and expressed to them, the "Apache" mascot will continue. This is "HONOR"?

-REDSKIN- A HATE WORD DEFINED
The Seven Creeds Society will explain to you as one human to another, why the Native American finds the word REDSKIN & the "INDIAN MASCOT" to be extremely HATEFUL. Journey with us through the following photo essay:

Squaw: A name of the past?
Indian people have long tried to change offensive place names throughout the US, including ones like Squaw Peak in Arizona (see photo). Different states are paying more attention to the issue including Maine, Montana, and now, Suzanne Stillwaggon wants to change the name of a creek in Corvallis, Oregon. The local Board of Commissioners will discuss a name change...

Squaw Place Names
One year ago today, Indianz.Com reported on the growing movement to rename "squaw" place names considered offensive to Indian women. Since then, Maine enacted a law to rename all public "squaw" place names and Nebraska is finalizing its changes. South Dakota and Wisconsin are considering changing "squaw" place names as well.

Commission Statement on the Use of Native American Images and Nicknames as Sports Symbols
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools. The Commission deeply respects the right of all Americans to freedom of expression under the First Amendment and in no way would attempt to prescribe how people can express themselves. However, the Commission believes that the use of Native American images and nicknames in schools is insensitive and should be avoided. In addition, some Native American and civil rights advocates maintain that these mascots may violate anti-discrimination laws.

American Indian Representations
American Indian Representation is a very complex issue that has had far reaching effects. Where often non-indians may assume a depiction is honoring Indians, it may end up not being the case. Where some may think an image offensive to American Indians, the image may have been made by Indians. This neither, means the image will be held in high regard by all Indians. For example, the image above was the art work for the cover of the "Tribal Force" comic book. This comic is the one sole example of a comic wholely generated by Indians, with an American Indian content. Because of this, the way the comic was conceived, produced, interpreted and understood was and is different than if these images and the narrative of this comic were created by non-Indians. The websites below deal with some aspect of these issues surrounding Indian representation. Also the class schedule and syllabus for the Representations of American Indians course I teach at U.W. is accessable from the links right below.

"I" IS NOT FOR INDIAN: THE PORTRAYAL OF NATIVE AMERICANS IN BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Over the years, the most frequently asked questions by librarians concerning books on Native Americans have centered around the ideas of "How can I personally tell good books on Indians from bad?" and "Where can I find reliable reviews?". Neither of these are as simplistic as they sound. Reviews abound in the usual sources for books dealing with Native peoples, but most are written from a literary angle, or from a children's/YA literature perspective. There are plenty of "good" books - i.e. well-written, exciting, from respected authors, much-loved by their readers, with well-developed characters - that are terrible when examined with the criteria of whether the Native American(s) depicted in them are accurately or even humanly portrayed. For the most part, this criticism is directed at fictional works, where the greatest stereotypes and wildest imaginings about Indians still hold sway. Nonfiction has been improving greatly in recent years, but there is often still a tendency to oversimplify to the point of distortion, especially in titles for the youngest readers.

UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA DE PROVERBIO An Electronic Journal of International Proverb Studies
"THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN IS A DEAD INDIAN" HISTORY AND MEANING OF A PROVERBIAL STEREOTYPE
While much is known about proverbial stereotypes among different nationalities and regions, and while numerous studies have been undertaken to study verbal slurs against Jews and African Americans especially in the United States,[3] there is a definite dearth of interest in the proverbial invectives that have been hurled against the Native Americans ever since Christopher Columbus and later explorers, settlers, and immigrants set foot on the American continent.

1998 National Aboriginal Day Essay/Poetry/Artwork contest
"Stereotyping is the false belief that members of a particular group are all the same. Thinking of people as being all the same based on their race makes it easy for others to justify their false beliefs towards that group," (Gray, L.) Stereotyping is a form of racism. It creates a false image of a group or race based on what one person from that group might say or do.

The Stereotype Indian and Native American Spirituality
There is a phenomenon in White culture which affects any interaction between White people and Native Americans. White culture has created an image and called it "Indian." But this image is a stereotype, and not really informative or accurate about real Native Americans, who are of many diverse cultures. All of us could give details about this stereotype "Indian." An important aspect of this stereotype "Indian" is that it has two sides, like the two sides of a coin.

News from the Native Perspective
This is a list of links to Native American related publications and broadcasts.

Cartoons Relating to Native American Indian Sports Team Mascots
The Cartoon archive on the "American Indian" Sports Team Mascots website.

Press Release on Crazy Horse Malt Liquor
Message from the Estate of T'sunka Witko ESTATE OF T'SUNKE WITKO P.O Box 698 Rosebud, South Dakota 57570 Seth H. Big Crow, Sr., Administrator Robert P.W. Gough, Attorney for the Estate (605)747-5426 (605)856-2879 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HEADLINE: "Prompt Trial On Merits" Ordered in Crazy Worse Malt Liquor Case.

Stereotyping of Native Americans
Native Americans have long been the subject of educators, particularly at Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the study of Native Americans has been stereotypical and has contributed to children not understanding about diverse cultures. This section provides teachers with ways that Native Americans are stereotyped. It also gives ideas on how to teach more effectively about native Americans.

Native Americans: Stereotype vs. Reality
Who are Native Americans? What stereotypes distort non-Native peoples= perceptions of Native people? Some of these books describe the reality; others analyze the stereotypes. Your library (school, college, or public) may have some of these books. A reference librarian in a public or college library may be able to obtain these books for you through the interlibrary loan program. Many of these books are in print, and can be purchased from the publishers or through bookstores.

Stereotypes/Racism
Stereotypes/Racism American Indian Sports Team Mascots Crazy Horse Stereotype Protest Eaten Up By Stereotypes Gringos vs. Latinos Indian Logo Themes: Why They Are Racist! Mexico Honors Indians of the Past? North High Redskins Mascot Stereotype Home Page Why Educators Can't Ignore Indian Mascots

End Racial Bigotry NOW!: Costumes and Mascots, Sep 99:
DO YOU FEEL HONORED?? © 1999 Star Design Costumes, Inc. Native American White Dove Pocahontas II Full Headress Chief Sitting Bull MASCOT COSTUMES TO "HONOR" US DO YOU FEEL HONORED YET???American Indian Sterotypes on Television and in Film 1939-1989

Indian Princesses and Cowgirls: Stereotypes from the Frontier
Pocahontas. Calamity Jane. Annie Oakley. When we think of women in the "wild west," these are the images that come to mind. The Indian princess is a serene, noble savage. The cowgirl is a smart-talking, gun-slinging dynamo. These stereotypes are so deeply ingrained in our popular culture that we scarcely give them a second thought. A collection of popular culture images of Indian and western women from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries-currently showing at the Presentation House Gallery-unveils and challenges these representational stereotypes.

Indian Stereotypes
The world of contemporary American and European infants and young children is saturated with inappropriate images of Native Americans.

Main Index for American Indian Sports Team Mascots:
"We simply chose an Indian as the emblem. We could have just as easily chosen any uncivilized animal." Eighth Grade student writing about his school's mascot, 1997 "...[M]ascot came into English as a borrowing of the French word mascotte, meaning Ômascot, charm.Õ The English word is first recorded in 1881 shortly after the French word, itself first recorded in 1867, was popularized by the opera La Mascotte, performed in December 1880. The French word in turn came from the Modern Proven*al word mascoto, Ôpiece of witchcraft, charm, amulet,Õ a feminine diminutive of masco, Ôwitch.Õ This word can probably be traced back to Late Latin masca, Ôwitch, specter.Õ ...." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright 1992

Say No to Racism:
Say NO to Racism! Racial discrimination and what you can do to combat it Fran*ais What is racism? What is meant by discrimination? stereotype? prejudice? Does the Human Rights Act prohibit racial discrimination? What are the effects of racial discrimination? Do I have a responsibility to speak out against racism? What can I do to combat racial discrimination? How can I contact the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission?

The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society:
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society is an independent Aboriginal communications organization committed to facilitating the exchange of information reflecting Aboriginal culture to a growing and diverse audience. AMMSA is dedicated to providing objective, mature and balanced coverage of news, information and entertainment relevant to Aboriginal issues and peoples while maintaining profound respect for the values, principles and traditions of Aboriginal people.

PEACE PARTY, Multicultural comic book featuring Native Americans:
A multicultural comic book featuring Native Americans "To paraphrase John Lennon, 'Give PEACE PARTY a chance'"ÑSteve Bates, Bookery Fantasy Two young heroes fight everything from prejudice and pollution to supervillains and the supernatural

SPLCENTER.ORG:
March 21: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination On March 21, 1960, 20,000 demonstrators gathered in Sharpeville, South Africa, to rally against pass laws -- regulations that required Blacks to carry identification when entering areas outside of the state-designated Black townships. As part of its nonviolent campaign against apartheid, the Pan-Africanist Congress had asked protesters to hand over their reference books (passes) and offer themselves up for arrest.

Ishgooda: Homepage, Index:
ISHGOODA HOME PAGE ........ "Traditional people of Indian nations have interpreted the two roads that face the light-skinned race as the road to technology and the road to spirituality. We feel that the road to technology.... has led modern society to a damaged and seared earth. Could it be that the road to technology represents a rush to destruction, and that the road to spirituality represents the slower path that the traditional native people have traveled and are now seeking again? The earth is not scorched on this trail. The grass is still growing there." William Commanda, Mamiwinini, Canada, 1991

MY NATIVE WISDON--STEREOTYPE IMAGES:
THE AMERICAN INDIAN STEREOTYPE . . . August 8, 1997 My people, Native American Indians, have among the non-Indian American people, almost as many stereotypes as we have tribes: the stoic, the drunk, the savage, the noble red man, the meek "squaw", the proud princess, the pathetic Indian; all of these types drawn against the image of a nickel Indian profile or dreamworld valiant Pocahontas. We suffer from being asked stereotypical questions also: Are you a real Indian? How do you say something in Indian? Why can't you Indians get together and unite? Can you do the Indian dance?

1999 Retrospective:
1999 Mascot Issue Progress Report


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