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Native mascot issue can be educational

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Monday, Feb 20, 2006 - 12:08:58 am CST

So far the Winnebago Tribe has not been able to find a state agency with the authority and gumption to enforce Nebraska schools to drop ethnic mascots and team names.

If they ever do, there already is a wonderful example of how the change can be implemented. Millard South, one of the state’s largest schools, showed how to make the switch when it dropped its Native chief mascot in 1999.

The school went through a process that stretched over several months and offered an educational opportunity for both students and adults.

Initially there was considerable support within the school for keeping the mascot. But exposure to all sides of the issue, including presentations from Native representatives, led many to change their minds.

Leading the process was a 32-member school committee that included faculty, students, administrators and community members. Ultimately the decision to drop the mascot was made by Principal Dick Wollman.

Hundreds of schools across the country already have dropped Native team names. Starting this year the National Collegiate Athletic Association has prohibited schools from displaying racially or ethnically “hostile” or “abusive” names or logos in postseason play.

The issue heated up in Nebraska last year when sanctions were imposed by the Nebraska School Activities Association because of spectator behavior at a boys basketball game between Winnebago and Ponca, which had a 100 percent white population that year.

Fred Williams, Winnebago Public Schools Superintendent, said that fans from opposing teams call Winnebago students derogatory names and use gestures related to the Native team names.

This year the Winnebago Tribe asked the NSAA’s board of control to force schools to drop ethnic mascots and team names. The organization’s board of control decided that it didn’t have sufficient authority to compel schools to make the change.

Williams said the tribe now may decide to pose its request to the state Board of Education or the Legislature.

Use of Native mascots and team names are offensive, patronizing and stigmatizing.

As Judi Morgan gaiashkibos of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs once said, “It’s time to take Native Americans into the next millennium as contemporary human beings.”

If the two dozen or so Nebraska schools using Native mascots or team names went through the same educational process used at Millard South, their students and communities would be better for the experience. It would be even better if they did it on their own without having to be forced.


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Katrina Donahue wrote on February 20, 2006 10:28 am:
" I come from a school with a native mascot. Pawnee City is a town known for it's native roots. Many of the students and residents have some Native American heritage. To me, using the native mascot is celebratory. We, as well as other schools, are using this mascot in honor of those who were here before us. We mean no harm by it. The school does not even have a cartoon Indian representing it. It's all done in honor of the first actual settlers of this region. If we had to change our mascot, we'd have to change our town. I know that this is not the only school. Yes, it's demeaning how some schools and towns use the native mascots in a slanderous type of way, but leave the schools alone who are honoring our heritage. "

 kimball wrote on February 20, 2006 10:59 am:
" Okay, when are school played a white football team, they were having there homecoming, so on there floats they had things like "burn their tee-pees" "

 Richard wrote on February 20, 2006 11:47 am:
" I guess I just don't get it. What is offensive about calling a team something like: Chiefs, Indians, Braves,etc? Calling a team the "Redskins" I can see how that could be offensive but what would you expect from Washington, D.C.? In my High School days our team used the nickname the Eagles. One of our biggest football rivals used the name the "Indians". I had friends from the Indians team and they were just as proud to be called Indians as my team was to be called Eagles. Although the games got pretty brutal out on the field the name calling off the field was limited to just a few drunks who usually got a police escort from the premises if they got too rowdy. However that was in a time when people didn't go around looking for insults. "

 Jason wrote on February 21, 2006 4:09 pm:
" Just make them change it, who cares. I went to a high school with Indians as our mascot and it wouldn't bother me a bit. How about the Fightin' Whities? "

 Julie wrote on February 21, 2006 4:22 pm:
" If another native team had done the same display at their homecoming and used "burn their tee-pees" would you find it offensive? When taken out of context words hurt, our society seems to take words and turn them around so they can been seen as prejudicial and not what they are....words. Listen to a phrase by someone of your own race and the same phrase said by someone outside your race and you will see what I mean...taken out of context or having "a hidden meaning" will hurt you every time. Face it we are all human and we all have common DNA...Look for prejudice and you will find it, look for a common bond and you will find it too. "

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