Indian Mascots

Naming sports teams after Indian symbols, using horrific terms like "redskin" (related to genocidal colonial scalping practices) is a terribly offensive practice.

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I need to make it clear that I don't agree with Mr Two-Hawks' use of the word "race", which is a myth rather than a scientific or social reality, but I agree with his sentiments about mascot use. Tyson Yunkaporta

John Two-Hawks Says...

Let me begin by addressing the obvious first. The

terms 'reds**n' and 'brave' are, by their definition

alone, racial slurs. 'Reds**n' is a historic word

which came into use during the times when Indian

men, women and children were hunted like animals

and murdered, then scalped. These scalps or

'redsk**s' were then turned in for a bounty.

The term 'brave' is a demeaning word used for many

centuries in reference to Indian men. It stems

from the once popular belief that Indians were

less than human. The continued use of these

nasty words leads me to believe that this 'less

than human' belief still exists today....

These 'Indian' mascots/team names oppress Indian

people. They oppress because they continue in the

use of extreme negative stereotypical antics, words

and images. Antics like the 'tomahawk-chop', mock

'Indian war-chants', non-Indians painting their faces

and dressing-up like 'Indians', mascots performing

mock 'Indian' dances or throwing fiery spears etc..

Indian children cannot possibly look at a stadium full of

thousands of people mocking their spirituallity and making

fun of their traditions and feel good about being Indian. This

is what 'Indian mascots' do. They glorify all the stupid old

stereotypes and steal the pride our children could have in

the beauty of their race. They insult the entire Indian race (sic).

Insulting an entire race.... the very real definition of racism....

Read more in the article Indian Etiquette And Offense.