Letters to the Editor
Published Letters: 468 Editor's Choice: 25
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Respectfully honoring the Native American
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is obviously a bit of a touchy subject so I'm going to try and tread lightly: please don't point your finger at me and scream "Racist", mostly because it is the people who do this who have prevented a real dialogue in our country about race: a dialogue that I feel is sorely needed.
1. OK, so the costume and dance were not of the Peoria tribe traditional garb. So why didn't the tribe and UIUC get together to fashion a costume and choreograph a dance to reflect the true tradition of the Peoria tribe? If the costume and dance did reflect the actual tribes of the area, would this have made it more acceptable? Or is it just a matter of having a Native American as a "mascot" - which, by the way, won't change because the dancing guy is gone.
This offense has also been a relatively new thing. When asked in 1995 about the dance, Don Giles, then Chief of the Peoria Tribe, said, "To say that we are anything but proud to have these portrayals would be completely wrong. We are proud. We're proud that the University of Illinois, the flagship university of the state, a seat of learning, is drawing on that background of our having been there. And what more honor could they pay us?" Supporting Chief Giles was another tribal elder, Ron Froman, who stated that the protesters of Chief Illiniwek "don't speak for all Native Americans, and certainly not us." Froman later changed his position when he was elected chief in 2000 and the tribal council officially requested that UIUC cease the Cheif Illiniwek performances. I would respectfully submit that 7 years is a relatively short time in "University years", as anyone who's ever been an educational administrator will tell you.
2. What is more demeaning/insulting to the remaining Native Americans: being represented by historically incorrect symbols or being seen as the purveyor of gambling by anyone younger than Gen Y? Have you ever been to a reservation casino? To say that they should probably have respect for their own history/culture before anyone else does, doesn't really do justice to the over-the-top garrishness of these establishments. They're sadder than any stereotypes of "Indians" of a few generations ago. The Peoria Tribe has one. They also continue the proud Native American tradition of hitting small white balls around with sticks at their Peoria Ridge Golf Course.
3. There has got to be a middle ground here. A friend of my wife is the smallest amount of Native American (1/8 or 1/16, can't recall which) one could be and still be considered Native American. She got a full ride to the University of Michigan and I'm pretty sure that she's never been oppressed by the white man. Outwardly she appears no more Native American than you or I. Point being, we've pretty much given every conceivable reparation to the surviving Native Americans. When is it going to be enough? Germany's pretty much "off the hook" reparations-wise with the Jews. When will the U.S. government's debt be paid in full to the Native American?
4. The Washington Redskins still exist and that IS a real travesty that the NFL or Congress should fix immeadiately. This is the definition of offensive (as was the Cleveland Indians now defunct "black face" logo).
5. As a personal note, I'm concerned that the overly "PC" purging of all things Native American from our culture will soon be complete - and this will be a sad thing. Obviously, racist stereotypes are bad, but at the heart of many of these mascots is an awe and respect for the Native American's pride, ferocity and ability. Wanting to embody these things in your professional or amateur sporting program is NOT insulting. Sure, it's nice to represent the peaceful, natural, harmonious side of Native American culture, but a sporting team is not usually the place where this happens.
When I was a Boy Scout, I was chosen to be a part of an ultra-exclusive branch of the Scouts called the Order of the Arrow. The only way that you could become a member is if you were elected by members. You would then have to go through an "Ordeal": basically a weekend in the woods of fasting, silence, team-building and meditation. Eleborate ceremonies, pieced together from many different tribes' traditions, were performed at every step of the way by other members, and it was all done in a very respectful, serious way. I later became part of the Ceremony commitee myself and we were allowed to fashion our own costumes for these ceremonies - all the while being encouraged to add our own "flair" while being respectful of the actual garb worn by various tribes. Never once did I stop and think "Am I combining Sioux and Blackfoot here in a disrespectful way?" The seriousness and awe we inspired in the younger boys (not easy to do to a 13-14-year-old) stays with me to this day, as does the Native American traditions that I learned.
The Native Americans are a dying race. If there are still full-blooded Native Americans left in this country, its doubtful that there will be in 50-100 years. If they want younger generations to remember what was good and right about these proud cultures, they're going to need a little help from the "white man". So could we at least meet halfway on this one?