When I was about six-years old, my dark-skinned great-aunt, Rose told me that her mother (my great-grandmother) was a Micmac Indian, or as she said, “Indian Princess”. She spoke to me in words that were supposedly Micmac which I have long forgotten, and I immediately became smitten with anything “Indian”. It was 1961, and nobody I knew thought anything about sports logos or the stereotypical images of Native people portrayed by the media. And even though my great grandmother was “Indian”, I was raised white and benefited by that privilege. After all, that great-grandmother whom I never knew married a blonde and blue-eyed Frenchman and followed him from her home in New Brunswick, to work in the mills of Lawrence Massachusetts. So, I do not presume to speak for people from any Tribal Nation. Instead, I speak only as one who cares deeply about Civil Rights and justice for all.
I tell you this story because I was struck by some of the comments on the WINY Facebook page by KHS alumni who claim Native American heritage. They say they never really thought about the mascot, and some looked upon it as “an honor”. That’s how I would have seen it in the 60’s, 70’s and maybe even into the 80’s when I was brainwashed by a 19th century noble savage narrative while trying to lay claim to my Micmac heritage. But the fact is – unless you have been immersed in tribal culture, adopted by a tribal nation, lived on a Reservation, or participated in cultural practices from the time of your birth, you have no claim to heritage. And heritage carries a lot of baggage, because unless you are dark-skinned and have experienced racial bias, racial slurs and stereotyping first-hand, you can’t really assert that the use of “Indian” mascots are harmless and a “sign of honor”.
It baffles me that in the 21st century, people continue to mock, mimic and joke about Native people. You mention Native Americans in a classroom and young children break out in war hoops; adults continue to make jokes about Indians and casinos; and sports teams think nothing of donning war paint and feathers in their shameless acculturation and caricature of historical Native American traditions, dance, music and regalia.
Most people in 2019 realize that it’s not appropriate to dress up in blackface or perform in a minstrel show or participate in other racist rituals. Then why is it, we cannot admit that dressing up like an Indian at a sports event is a racist stereotype? Even if there were no Native American children in your schools or your community, you are still communicating to all children that Native Americans are a relic from the past; an artifact that has no connection to the present and irrelevance to the future. Words and imagery matter. I urge you to consider continuing the ban on Native American mascots not for “political correctness” but for JUSTICE and civil rights for all.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has campaigned for the banning of Indian mascots since 1968. They state that
Born in an era when racism and bigotry were accepted by the dominant culture, “Indian” sports brands have grown to become multi-million dollar franchises.
The intolerance and harm promoted by these “Indian” sports mascots, logos, or symbols, have very real consequences for Native people.
Specifically, rather than honoring Native peoples, these caricatures and stereotypes are harmful, perpetuate negative stereotypes of America’s first peoples, and contribute to a disregard for the personhood of Native peoples.
According to Nipmuc Tribal Council member, Kenneth Gould in a statement he made to WINY in July, “The bottom line is that mascots depicting Native Americans in general are degrading in any way shape or form.”
Agree! Agree! Agree! Well put, Donna!