“Indian” Mascots and Logos

1. “Indian” Mascots and Logos Institutional Racism in Public Schools Wisconsin Indian Education Association “Indian” Mascot and Logo Task Force www.indianmascots.com Barbara E. Munson Christine Munson Barb@Munson.netcrmunson@prodigy.net

2. Berlin Indians Cornell Chiefs Lake Holcombe Chieftains Menomonie* Indians Mishicot Indians Mosinee Indians Mukwonago Indians Riverdale Chieftains Shiocton Chiefs Wonewoc-Center Indians Viroqua Blackhawks What do all of these schools have in common? *Menomonie in Dunn County, WI, not to be confused with the Menominee Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin.

3. They all use the same clip-art for their logo! Is that a stereotype, or what!?

4. More stereotypes of Indian people in our schools… • Auburndale ‘Apaches’ • Belmont ‘Braves’ • Black Hawk ‘Warriors’ • Big Foot Union ‘Chiefs’ • Bruce ‘Red Raiders’ • Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau ‘Redmen’

5. More stereotypes of Indian people in our schools… • Fort Atkinson ‘Blackhawks’ • Greenwood ‘Indians’ • Kewauskum ‘Indians’ • Kewaunee ‘Indians’ • Lancaster ‘Flying Arrows’ • Menomonee Falls ‘Indians’ • Osseo-Fairchild ‘Chieftains’

6. More stereotypes of Indian people in our schools… • Ozaukee ‘Warriors’ • Osceola ‘Chieftains’ • Potosi ‘Chieftains’ • Poynette ‘Indians’ • Prarie du Chien ‘Blackhawks’ • Rib Lake ‘Redmen’ • Stockbridge ‘Indians’ • Seneca ‘Indians’

7. More stereotypes of Indian people in our schools… • Tomahawk ‘Hatchets’ • Tomah ‘Indians’ • Waunakee ‘Warriors’ • Wauwatosa East ‘Red Raiders’ • Weyauwega-Fremont ‘Indians’ • Winter ‘Warriors’ • Wisconsin Dells ‘Chiefs’ • Wisconsin Rapids ‘Red Raiders’

8. TEACH RESPECT – NOT RACISM

9. The Task Force • Created in 1997 at Wisconsin Indian Education Association Convention • Indian educators forced out of home communities • Committed until all schools eliminate their “Indian” mascot, logo, and/or nickname • Consists of Indian educators and allies

10. How We Do It First stirrings of advocacy

12. How We Do It • Advocacy • Education • Legislation • Support • Litigation • Coalition Building

13. Advocacy • Newspaper Advertisements • HONOR Handbook for Advocacy • T-Shirts, Buttons, Bumper Stickers, and Posters • Youth Task Force Public Service Announcement • Letters to the Editor

15. Youth Task Force PSA

16. Education • Frame Debate as Education Policy Issue • Common Themes and Questions About the Use of “Indian” Logos, Barbara E. Munson • Classroom Presentations and In-services • Conference Workshops • Task Force Trainings • NCCJ Presents: KICK • Resource Materials

17. Legislation • Introduced Five Times at State Level • Joint Resolutions • Written and Oral Testimony at Hearings

18. Support • Consultation • Community Building • Create a Presence as Requested by Local Advocates • Build Relationships with School Districts Undergoing Change

19. Litigation • Hand vs. Milton School District • Munson vs. Mosinee School District • Pfaller vs. Mukwonago School District • Wycliffe vs. Medford School District • Affirmative Action Complaints in Viroqua Area School District • Pending Litigation in Osseo-Fairchild School District

20. Coalition Building • National Indian Education Association • National Education Association • National Conference for Community and Justice • HONOR • Midwest Treaty Network • State and Tribal Task Forces • Wisconsin State Human Relations Association • Wisconsin Education Association Council

21. Resolutions of Support • American Indian Sports Team Mascots, Robert Eurich

22. Need for Allies • Continued need for awareness and education • American Indian comprise less than 1% of US population • Stereotyping impacts everybody

23. From Pen to Sword United States Commission for Civil Rights “The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other groups when promoted by our public educational institutions, teach all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, a dangerous lesson in a diverse society.”

24. From Pen to Sword United States Commission for Civil Rights “The elimination of stereotypes will make room for education about real Indian people, current Native American issues, and the rich variety of American Indians in our country.”

25. From Pen to Sword RESEARCH ABSTRACT Stephanie Fryberg, Ph.D (Tuyalip)Social Psychology | Stanford UniversityDecember, 2002 Study 5 - European American students were explicitly primed with social representations of American Indians (i.e., Pocahontas, Chief Wahoo or Negative Stereotypes). They reported heightened self-esteem when compared to European Americans in the no-prime control condition. This boost in self-esteem for European Americans suggests that the dominant social representations of minority groups have significant implications for the psychological functioning of both minority and majority group members.

26. Discussion and Feedback • How can the information from the publications be utilized in your local community to raise the level of understanding about this issue?

27. TEACH RESPECT – NOT RACISM