Indian Mascot Protests

Native American imagery has been used as mascots and symbols for public schools, universities, and professional organizations since the latter part of the 19th century. This practice has sparked controversy since its inception regarding the consequences these symbols have on Native American people, as well as society as a whole. Locally, individuals sought to alter Native American stereotypes, but a large organized effort did not commence until the latter part of the 1960s. As media attention grew, so did the momentum to eliminate all negative stereotypes of Native Americans.

Supporters for the ban of Indian mascots believe that they foster painful memories, trivialize and stereotype Native Americans, and also distort historical reality. The images chosen by many schools include a person who is overtly aggressive and violent. Names utilized include the Chiefs, Braves, and Redskins. These portrayals do not allow for the diversity among Native American cultures to be seen when all individuals are put under an umbrella label. This is viewed as very offensive in that historically Native Americans were conquered people so that they are seen through this image only after they were conquered. Other problems arise from the imitation or misuse of symbols that have religious significance to Native American people. These are typically taken out of context and used by many non–Native American people during a sporting event and not during a religious ceremony.

Those in opposition to this change maintain that these mascots honor or pay tribute to Native Americans and that many of these mascots are steeped in tradition. These arguments center on power and perspective. In the end, who gets to determine what is offensive? Some organizations maintain that they are working with Native American groups to honor and protect them. Another key argument used is that of the best of intentions. Organizations, especially those in the field of education, must use best practices. Inaction in the face of racism is racism. The best examples seen today are Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Illinois Chief Illiniwek mascots. The attempt to remove Chief Illiniwek has been chronicled in the 1997 PBS [Page 738]documentary In Whose Honor. While some colleges, including Dartmouth, Stanford, and St. John's, have changed their team nicknames, and universities, high schools, and middle schools have dropped their Indian mascots and logos during the 1980s and 1990s, no professional sports teams have done so.

Solomon Little Owl, University of Northern Colorado intramural basketball team member and director of Native American Services at UNC in Eaton, Colorado, holds up the team T-shirt on March 11, 2002, he had printed for his intramural basketball team. Some American Indian students at the UNC were upset with the use of the caricature and name for the Eaton High School mascot and countered by naming their intramural basketball team the “Fightin'Whites,” using a 1950s-style caricature of a middle-aged white man as the mascot.

Source: AP Photo/The Denver Post, Glenn Asakawa.

The 21st century also saw many professional associations passing resolutions in support of abolishing Native American mascots by sports teams and schools. Among those are the Organization of the National Congress of American Indians, the National Conference for Community and Justice, the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Education Association, and the American Counseling Association. In 2005, the National Collegiate Athletics Association announced that it would prohibit schools that used Indian mascots and nicknames to play during the postseason tournament but did stop short of banning schools from using them all together.

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