The Native American Mascot Controversy

A Handbook

C. Richard King

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9780810867321
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Native American Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

Sports mascots have been a tradition for decades. Along with the usual lions and tigers, many schools are represented by Native American images. Once considered a benign practice, numerous studies have proved just the opposite: that the use of Native American mascots in educational institutions has perpetuated a shameful history of racial insensitivity. The Native American Mascot Controversy provides an overview of the issues that have been associated with this topic for the past 40 years.

The book provides a comprehensive and critical account of the issues surrounding the controversy, explicating the importance of anti-Indian racism in education and how it might be challenged. A collection of important primary documents and an extensive list of resources for further study are also included. Expounding the dangers and damages associated with their continued use, The Native American Mascot Controversy is a useful guide for anyone with an interest in race relations.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Part I: Background
• Chapter 1: Chiefs, Braves, and Tomahawks: The Use of American Indians as University Mascots
• Chapter 2: Teach Them Respect Not Racism: Common Themes and Questions About the Use of “Indian” Logos
• Chapter 3: Native Americans as Sports Mascots
• Chapter 4: The Problems with Native American Mascots
• Chapter 5: What the “Fighting Sioux” Tells Us about White People
• Chapter 6: Gendered Discourse: Higher Education, Mascots, and Race
• Part II: Educational Issues
• Chapter 7: A Letter from the Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees Regarding the Use of Chief Illiniwek (February 17, 1998)
• Chapter 8: On the Use of American Indian Mascots: A Presentation to the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (January 28, 2002)
• Chapter 9: American Indian Imagery and the Miseducation of America
• Chapter 10: Native Images in Schools and the Racially Hostile Environment
• Chapter 11: Native Mascots and Ethnic Fraud in Higher Education: Using Tribal Critical Race Theory and the Interest Convergence Principle as an Analytic Tool
• Chapter 12: Mascots and Meaning: How One District Worked Through the Emotional Issue of Changing Team Logos
• Chapter 13: Strategies for Making Team Identity Change
• Chapter 14: Native American Mascots and Alumni Giving
• Part III: Reform and Resistance
• Chapter 15: Defensive Dialogues: Native American Mascots, Anti-Indianism, and Educational Institutions
• Chapter 16: Putting the Moccasin on the Other Foot: A Media History of the “Fighting Whities”
• Chapter 17: Note to Congress: Stop Shielding “Indian” Mascots and Start Defending Indian People
• Chapter 18: The Resurrection of the Chief
• Chapter 19: Tribe Approval of Mascots Not Enough
• Part IV: Documents: Policies, Resolutions, and Legislation
• Chapter 20: Statement on the Use of Native American Images and Nicknames as Sports Symbols (2001)
• Chapter 21: The Five Civilized Tribes Intertribal Council Mascot Resolution (July 14, 2001)
• Chapter 22: Opposition to the University of North Dakota’s Use of the Fighting Sioux Name and Logo (2002)
• Chapter 23: Denouncement of the Use of Any American Indian Name or Artifice Associated with Team Mascots by Any Professional/Nonprofessional Sport Teams (1993)
• Chapter 24: Resolution in Opposition to Native American Mascots (1999)
• Chapter 25: Statement on Team Names (1993)
• Chapter 26: Statement on the Use of American Indian Sports Mascots (January 27, 1999)
• Chapter 27: Resolution Recommending the Immediate Retirement of American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities by Schools, Colleges, Universities, Athletic Teams, and Organizations
• Chapter 28: Native American Imagery Resolution (2005)
• Chapter 29: Policy on Native American Logos and Names (1993)
• Chapter 30: Competition and Anti-Discrimination Policy (2002)
• Chapter 31: Guideline for Use of Native American Mascots (2005)
• Chapter 32: Resolution on the Elimination of American Indian Mascots (1997)
• Chapter 33: Resolution Condemning Use of Derogatory Sports Team Names, Mascots, and Symbols (1999)
• Chapter 34: Resolution on Native American Mascots (1998)
• Chapter 35: Resolution on Native American Mascots (2002)
• Chapter 36: Resolution of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs (1999)
• Chapter 37: Report on Use of Nicknames, Logos, and Mascots Depicting Native American People in Michigan Education Institutions (1988)
• Chapter 38: California Racial Mascots Act, AB 858 (2004)
• Chapter 39: Oklahoma Racial Mascots Act, Senate Bill 567,1st Session of the 50th Legislature (2005)
• Chapter 40: Tennessee Mascot Act: House Bill no. 133 (2007) by Representatives Bell, Matlock, Hill; Substituted for: Senate Bill no. 162 by Senator Bunch
• Chapter 41: U.S. House Resolution 1933 (2005)
• Chapter 42: Protection of University Governance Act of 2006, H. R. 5289 (May 4, 2006)
• Part V: Additional Resources
• Chapter 43: Organizations Advocating Change
• Chapter 44: American Indian Mascot and Nickname Changes: A Chronology
• References
• About the Editor