Oregon Bans Native American Mascots: Should More States Do the Same?
SodaHead News
2012/05/19 21:55:01
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The Oregon Board of Education has spoken. Public schools in the state must discontinue the use of Native American mascots by July 2017—or risk the loss of state funding.
The new regulation, which bans the use of Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots, is being described as the toughest and most far-reaching of its kind. According to Oregon officials, Wisconsin is the only other state with a similar ban, though their policy is far less stringent. In Wisconsin, if complaints are made, schools must prove that their mascots do not promote discrimination, harassment, or stereotyping.
Fifteen Oregon high schools, and an unknown number of elementary and middle schools, are impacted by the new policy. Names specifically prohibited include “Redskins,” “Savages,” “Indians,” and “Braves.” Schools that use the name “Warriors” will be allowed to continue doing so, as long as they abandon any graphics associated with Native American tribes, customs, or traditions.
The new regulation, which bans the use of Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots, is being described as the toughest and most far-reaching of its kind. According to Oregon officials, Wisconsin is the only other state with a similar ban, though their policy is far less stringent. In Wisconsin, if complaints are made, schools must prove that their mascots do not promote discrimination, harassment, or stereotyping.
Fifteen Oregon high schools, and an unknown number of elementary and middle schools, are impacted by the new policy. Names specifically prohibited include “Redskins,” “Savages,” “Indians,” and “Braves.” Schools that use the name “Warriors” will be allowed to continue doing so, as long as they abandon any graphics associated with Native American tribes, customs, or traditions.
The state school board considered eight hours of public testimony and 700 written comments (400 in favor and 300 against) before voting 5-1 to accept the new policy. Individuals against the regulation argued in favor of maintaining longstanding community traditions and avoiding expensive changes in a time of tight public budgets. They also claimed that in some cases the mascots were intended as respectful tributes.
However, the state schools superintendent, Susan Castillo, argued that “intent is not enough.” She added, “We need to focus on what the impact is on our kids.”
And according to Se-ah-dom Edmo, an educator at Lewis and Clark College who testified in favor of the ban on behalf of the Oregon Indian Education Association, the impact is definitely not positive on Native American students.
“If you were like me and grew up here in Oregon and played opposing these schools that had Indian mascots, there was harm that was done there,” she said. “I think they were intending to honor native folks, but any time that you objectify a person or stereotype a group of people, which is really what the mascots did, it ceases to become a truth about them. The broader psychological impacts show lower self-esteem for native students and poor race relations.”
So SodaHeads, what do you think about Oregon’s ban on Native American mascots? Should more states do the same?
Read More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na...
"Don't mess with us, or we'll gnaw your tree down!"
They even renamed everything that had squaw in the name.
Taking away the right to name such mascots is the same same as taking our right to choose for our self's
The word "Braves" doesn't have to mean Native American and you can even keep mascots with painted face, feathers and so forth because Celtics did the same thing.
Native Americans want it removed then remove it... but if Native Americans didn't even ask for this, then the board of education is out of bounds as unless the native peoples themselves ask for this... they have no legal right.
I'm just waiting for these crackpots to determine that states, counties and cities named after native peoples have to change their names... I think you would have a big fight on your hands.
But if they're going to say the mascot names are offensive, then certainly the county, city & river names - and state names - must also be offensive and should be changed. Massachusetts, the Dakotas, Utah - even New Mexico, ultimately named for the Mexica Indians - should be changed, along with cities like Cheyenne.
So what next? Change the names of cities, counties and states whose names are derived from native origin?
You have a point in that if the depictions are negative then they should be reconsidered and natives should be the ones pressing the case... not whites doing it for them as there's no difference as it's whites making the decision.
What should be done is work with Natives who don't view this as insulting and include them in the schools activities teaching their history, their culture and let them come up with how the schools conduct themselves if it's to retain Native symbols or activities. Take advantage of the situation to spread native culture and to give them a say in how the schools conduct themselves.
There was a case back in the 80's with a school here where natives came out raising hell because they thought the school was exploiting them... turned out everything was Celtic including the name, the mascots and so forth. But just because the natives saw Warriors with painted skin and heard chanting they assumed it was about them. Celtic peoples are very similar in culture and heritage and in this case, the Natives raising hell proved they were narrow minded and ignorant.
If you dis...
So what next? Change the names of cities, counties and states whose names are derived from native origin?
You have a point in that if the depictions are negative then they should be reconsidered and natives should be the ones pressing the case... not whites doing it for them as there's no difference as it's whites making the decision.
What should be done is work with Natives who don't view this as insulting and include them in the schools activities teaching their history, their culture and let them come up with how the schools conduct themselves if it's to retain Native symbols or activities. Take advantage of the situation to spread native culture and to give them a say in how the schools conduct themselves.
There was a case back in the 80's with a school here where natives came out raising hell because they thought the school was exploiting them... turned out everything was Celtic including the name, the mascots and so forth. But just because the natives saw Warriors with painted skin and heard chanting they assumed it was about them. Celtic peoples are very similar in culture and heritage and in this case, the Natives raising hell proved they were narrow minded and ignorant.
If you disapprove of what these schools do then you make the point that if they want to use anyones culture, use the history of white people for the school with Celtics, Vikings and other Barbarians... simple changes that could be made.
But then, if these white people have native ancestry then they have a right to do this.
In fact, when you see natives getting together to celebrate pride in themselves, most look like white people, dress like white people and everything about them is white mans culture which they refuse to abandon.
Hell, you see natives arriving in a Boss Hog Cadillac wearing cowboy hats and clothing... what's native about that?
You should be more insulted by your own people selling out their culture and heritage. If you want whites to stop exploiting your people... then you need to establish who and what your culture is because if your peoples embrace white mans culture and heritage, you have nothing left to preserve because it's your people selling out not whites making them do it today.
Try making your people give up the white mans heritage as much as you try to stop whites from taking your heritage.
Bet you can't as most natives in the past may have been forced to give things up but for the past 40 years they have had the freedom to embrace their culture and experience a revival... are they doing it or are they refusing?
Honestly, I hear you Chaiah so please don't misunderstand. I am saying this cuts both ways and while you may be offended by things like the tomahawk chop with the Atlanta Braves... you should be just as hurt seeing native people with white mens names, white mens clothing, white mans culture and heritage choosing them over natives. The only thing about so many of your peoples today that is different from most whites is that whites with native ancestry live like whites but claim native heritage... natives choose to live like whites and claim native heritage no differently.
I have native Cherokee ancestry but I don't claim to live like a native or claim their culture as there's more to it than claiming native heritage as you have to live native heritage to do this. In the same way, natives claiming to be natives must live like natives... they must embrace and live native heritage as it must be more than just having darker skin, they must live like natives or they are no different than I and millions of whites who have native heritage.
I answered Yes like you Chaiah if you read my comment above. I do it with understanding that if they don't have to do it, then they can make a few changes like Braves being Celtic Braves rather than natives.
But it must be natives themselves leading this charge and not whites deciding this because many natives don't mind this just as they do not live as native people... they actually enjoy participating and supporting sports franchises with native themes.
This is something you and your peoples must decide for yourselves but you have to be fair and sane minded as you cannot condemn whites speaking of pride about their native heritage or doing things like this because they are part native... you cannot say they don't have a right when they are no different than most natives who live like white people, have white men's names and dress are as white as most white people.
You have a problem on your end as well as if you want to claim whites are insulting your heritage, you must prove that you yourselves are not insulting your ancestral heritage by living like whites and abandoning your native heritage by choice rather than being forced to.
The more laws against something, the less liberty we have to choose.
Stop this nonsense.
Did any actual native Americans complain about this?
And how about the outrage concerning these?
Crusaders, Beer, Fighting Cardinals, Vikings, Devils... they're a-ok, but "Braves" with the image of a cherokee? Can't have that, apparently.
But ZOMG that hairstyle must be renamed or banned because it is clearly discriminating against American Natives! EVERYBODY PANIC!