[Mb-civic] Indian Mascots in the News

[Barbara Siomos]

Mascots in the News

APA TAKES ADVOCACY POSITION ON SOCIAL CONTROVERSY  

The American Psychological Association (APA) is calling on all schools, universities, colleges, professional athletic teams and organizations to discontinue the use of American Indian mascots and nicknames.  The APA bases its stance on a growing body of evidence showing that Indian
mascots negatively affect the social identity and self-esteem of American Indian students and perpetuate long-held stereotypes and misleading racial representations of Native Americans among non-natives.

Having a prestigious, non-native organization enter the controversy on
the side of Native Americans, who have opposed the use of mascots for years, is a significant development.  

Many high schools have already changed team names at the request of tribes.  In the past decade, it has become the exception rather than the rule for a high school to keep the Native name and mascot.  Educators differ from coaches, alumni, and financial backers who are more likely
to want to continue the mascot traditions.  Many principals and even school boards have taken the same position that psychologists are taking: to honor the wishes of indigenous people.

NCAA CREATES UPROAR IN ITS DEMAND FOR RESPECT

The APA's declaration comes in the midst of a national debate in sports columns and newspaper editorials over Indian mascots.  The controversy was spurred by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) post-season ban on the use of college and university mascots, nicknames,
and logos found to be hostile and abusive symbols.  

Some officials at universities and colleges with native mascots do not believe nicknames or half-time performances are offensive or harmful.  For decades
university trustees and presidents have argued their institutions are honoring history and tribes.  But the NCAA's announcement created a larger public spotlight and required administrators, alumni, students and faculty to actually listen to the opinions and take seriously the
requests of local native nations whose likenesses are portrayed.

Non-native fans at several universities have reacted angrily and in some cases have mistreated Native students on campus who protested the use of Indian mascots and disrespectful behavior during games.

Since the NCAA announced its post-season ban, some tribal councils voted to support the continuation of a local university's mascot.  These tribal decisions have been controversial for anti-mascot advocates.  The NCAA has respected these decisions and removed some college and
university nicknames from its list of abusive symbols. To some advocates this has seemed as if the NCAA was backing down on its original decision.  Other tribes are requesting universities to stop using them
as nicknames and mascots.  Several universities, including the University of Illinois and the University of North Dakota (UND) are ignoring the requests of affected tribes and pushing forward with appeals to the NCAA to remove their institution from the ban. (The NCAA officially rejected UND's appeal for removal from the post-season ban.) 

HARJO ET AL V. PRO-FOOTBALL, INC

The recent debate prompted by the NCAA's ban is not the first time the racist connotations of Indian-based nicknames and mascots forced institutions or professional franchises to defend themselves.  

In 1992, Native Americans filed Harjo et al v Pro-Football, Inc in an attempt to revoke the trademarks of pro-football's Washington "Redskins" on the grounds that federal trademark law prohibits racially disparaging content.   In 1999, the Native American plaintiffs won a significant
victory when the patent office's Trademark Tribal and Appeal Board found the "Redskins" name and trademark "disparaging."  In 2003, a lower court put the case in doubt when a judge found that the Native American plaintiffs waited too long to object and file suit (the trademarks were registered in 1967 and the case filed in 1992).  The plaintiffs appealed to the DC. Circuit Court of Appeals, which recently ruled unanimously--on technical grounds--that the Harjo case was prematurely dismissed and instructed the lower court to re-examine the claims.  

Washington "Redskins" owners claim the nickname and logo are meant to honor Native Americans and the memory of a former coach.  Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO), a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, believes "a lot of people need help understanding that it's wrong to use any derogatory name for a sports team." 

"Redskin" is considered by most American Indians to be a pejorative term
comparable to the worst slurs used to demean other ethnic-racial groups.
Many religious groups including FCNL have taken public positions that the term should not be used and that fan behavior in many sports settings mocks and trivializes Indian culture. The debate has moved from
a consciousness raising struggle to a legislative issue.  For example, California legislators recently rejected legislation to ban the term for high school teams.

These ongoing controversies over the use of Indian names and sports mascots should prompt many people to challenge their perceptions of Native Americans and deepen their knowledge of the actual culture, symbols, rituals, and dances of First Americans.  Examining why non-natives have used Native Americans as sports-mascots is a good place to start.  This topic leads into the larger subject of anti-defamation efforts to curtail the denigration of Native peoples in the United
States. 

LINKS:  

To learn more about IHCIA, go to
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/issue.php?issue_id=109

To learn more about the APA resolution, go to
http://www.apa.org/releases/AmIndRes101805.html

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