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Board of Education urged to reject Native mascots

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BY JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 - 05:53:09 pm CDT

Winnebago tribe member Frank LaMere called it like he saw it.  Use of Native mascots, nicknames and logos to Native children  is comparable to a bully that never goes away.

LaMere told state Board of Education members Thursday that they understand the wants and needs of children more than anyone else — and this issue of using Native mascots is hurtful to children.

“It’s hurtful not only to our children but to your children,” he said.

Story Photo
LaMere

LaMere was joined by at least five Winnebago High School  students, along with administrators and a school board member.

“It’s hard to fight that bully that everybody buys into, that collective bully brought about and perpetuated by the use of mascots and imagery,” he said.

LaMere acknowledged that some people might ask him if he doesn’t have more important issues to deal with. But when others make light of the symbols that unite Native people — symbols of pride and tradition — there is no bigger issue.

He said he could see no good purpose for Nebraskans to continue using the nicknames and asked for the board’s help.

“We’ve got to start that dialogue to come together as Nebraskans to deal with the issue that flares up from time to time in communities like Ponca, Nebraska, and communities like Wynot, where our young men and young women, our athletes, are disrespected by those who sit in the crowd, because it’s OK, in good clean fun to mock the Winnebago and their way of life and those things that are so important to them.”

He asked the board to begin to understand it in the hope of finding a way to deal with the use of the nicknames by schools.

“I don’t want this board, I say this respectfully, I don’t want you out of hand to say that ‘I can’t do it because my hands are tied,’” he said. “ ‘Cause there’s a lot of things you can’t do for your children because your hands are tied, but you do them, because they are so necessary.”

Board member Jim Scheer said state Education Commissioner Doug Christensen would look into what authority the board has to determine if it could come up with something that is symbolic or something that “has some teeth.”

Christensen said the department would take the issue seriously and come back to the board with a report and a proposal with a timeline. 

Board member Joe Higgins said the board should never underestimate the power of the bully pulpit.

LaMere said after the meeting he was grateful for the reception they got.

“I think they are caring and respectful,” he said. “It occurs to me they know their role as those who work in the public trust.”

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.


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Carrie wrote on April 6, 2006 3:25 pm:
" With all due respect, if you ban Native mascots, then what about other ethnic mascots? Vikings anyone?? Should I truly be offended because my ancestors happened to be Nordic? I think this is going just a bit too far. Maybe all schools should just be without mascots? Is it getting that far? It's sad when we become so overly sensitive in this day and age. "
Phil wrote on April 6, 2006 3:32 pm:
" I suspect, as has been the case elsewhere in the country, that Mr. LaMere does not speak for all Native Americans. Perhaps in cases that are clearly denegrating we could all agree, but in most cases, the references are adopted in reference to the strength of the Indian Warrior and not as a means to belittle the Indian people. "
Tic wrote on April 6, 2006 4:58 pm:
" Ogallala named after the Ogala Sioux. The mascot Indians is a natural and respectful extension of the town's name. "
Lisa wrote on April 6, 2006 10:25 pm:
" I have always been puzzled how a mascot of a school can cause disrespect. Don't we won't our children to have pride in their school, fellow students and themselves? Our school are Warriors. Something that I feel is a strong character for our students to model. Warriors have fought the battles for centuries. Do we really not want students to feel the pride of the Warrior. Aren't our schools the place of learning about what and who our mascots really are? The school mascot is to unite a school, team and community. Keep the mascots in the lime light so that we all learn who and what they were. "
Sina wrote on April 7, 2006 2:48 am:
" The unfortunate thing about native mascots is that whether or not the intent is good, it is the fans that make this an issue. The use of religious symbols, stereotypes, and inappropriate fan behavior are major factors plaguing mascot use. As for other ethnic mascots, the issue is up to that group. If people of Nordic ancestory, to use your example, do not feel offended by the mascots, then they can act accordingly. It does not change the fact that so often Native people feel extremely offended by the behavior of fans and the mascots themselves when dealing with this issue. "
Disagreeing wrote on April 7, 2006 7:40 am:
" The argument of "Native mascots show respect for Native peoples" is getting to be a tiresome one. Mascots based on Native tribes only manage to turn Native Americans into cartoon characters and perpetuate stereotypes. Most children already do not have much contact with Native Americans; do we want our only view of them to be played out through a stereotype? And Carrie, on the also tired argument of, "Shouldn't we ban Vikings, too?" That is comparing oranges with apples. Europeans did not commit genocide against Vikings. Frankly, whites (and I am one of them) should honor all requests of Native Americans because we are merely visitors on their land. "
RM wrote on April 7, 2006 10:05 am:
" Nebraska is behind the times and should have addressed this issue long ago. No matter how much is said about the "respectful" use of these mascot representations, I would be shocked to see actual examples of schools, students and communities that use the mascots AND truly make an effort to understand the culture and values they believe they are "respecting." If representatives of an under-represented, devalued and oppressed group in this country express that they feel disrespected by dated, over-simplified and archaic stereotypes such as these mascots, the response should be to LISTEN first and foremost. Unless one has walked in the shoes as a member of this group, one has no room to judge the impact that is made and felt within the culture. Nearly all of these mascots--on a local and national level--do nothing but perpetuate negative images and stereotypes. Nebraska has done so much to devalue and disrespect Native Americans and their culture. It is time the state takes a step that makes sense, demonstrates respect and shows they are willing to listen to voices other that those from the dominant majority. "
AJWOOD33 wrote on April 7, 2006 3:38 pm:
" Vikings anyone? thats a good one! Were the Vikings forcefully removed from their homes. Was there an old Viking man, shot holding his American Flag by white soldiers. Were there little viking children and women running for their lives from cavalry guns. How can anyone compare? Every school district that has a Indian Mascot should have to teach the 'TRUE' Indian History. If they want the name they should be required to know the plight of the Native American. If they have honor after those teachings. Read a book "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown. "
513 years and counting wrote on April 7, 2006 4:11 pm:
" "Damn Dirty Indian!" this said by a white man living next to an all indian public school on the Winnebago Indian Reservation, to a young Winnebago Indian man. When a white person says "Indian" to any young Winnebago man or woman, thats all they have to relate. So where is the honor in that? I was at the basketball game last year when the students of Ponca High School, Ponca, Nebraska, "Home of the Indians," ridiculed the players of the team from the Winnebago Indian Reservation with tomahawk chops and hollywood warwhoops. Where is the honor in that? All you white people who think you honor us with your own perception of honor, are wrong. How can you show your fellow man honor when all of your fellow man, no matter the color of his skin, are no longer sacred to you? When a man of colored skin, is just that, a man with colored skin, and not just a man to you. Our hope is one day white people will all change their one way thinking. remember change begins by looking in the mirror first. "
Todd wrote on April 7, 2006 5:22 pm:
" What are the mascot names going to be changed to? Let's say that you change a schools nickname to Bears. Then PETA might get involved...or changing the name Oakleafs. Then the damn "tree-huggers" will be out in full force! The worst thing a school nickname could do is change it to "Timberwolves". Then both of those groups get together and fight! It is just a nickname...stop whinning and worry about something that is important in life...maybe the farmers should get together and start complaining about the "CORNHUSKERS"!!! (maybe just about the football coach!) "
Neil wrote on November 24, 2007 2:41 am:
" And with all due respect, Carrie, 48 million of your Nordic ancestors weren't murdered at the hands of European Americans. "

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