Native People Mascots

Did you ever think about the fight over Native American mascot?  People disagree if we should use Native people as mascots.  One day during social studies class we talked a little about these mascots. It got my brain moving. We read articles on this topic. We had many that were negative and one that said using Native American symbols as mascots is okay. I think that the use of Native American mascots is fine as used appropriately.

I read an article where a man named Paul Lukas interviewed an Indian tribe chief. The chief said, and I quote, “If they’re not willing to celebrate the culture, they shouldn’t have the privilege of depicting it.” For example, there is nothing derogatory about braves or warriors, but terms like redskins and half-breeds are derogatory to the Native Americans.

People are saying these names are marginalizing kids, but the chief Paul interviewed said, “The way their culture and their people were treated is the reason. I don’t believe that a menacing-looking brave on the backboard of a basketball hoop is going to marginalize that child as much as that generational trauma.” This generational trauma refers to many facts including that Native peoples were not counted as people until 1924. I believe in what the chief said, and my opinion still stands strong.

I went to a Native American Festival at Long Hunter State Park, called the Pow Wow. I met a man named Diamond Brown (he is full blood Cherokee). When I first met him, I thought he was weird because he had strange clothing. But then a classmate of mine asked him what he thought about the term redskins; his answer was “I think redskins is a good name, as long as they treat the logo with full respect, which got him into talking about other names. He said, “The only thing I do not like is us being called Native American. We have labels for everything: dog, cat, and pencil; those are all labels. It is the same with us. We had a name before you gave us the label Native Americans. Now think about that. You are all Native Americans. We (Native peoples) did not come from the United States. We founded it. So why label us Native Americas when so are you?” He told us that he would prefer to be asked what tribe are you in or to be called Native People.

All of these facts I have used helps me push forward my opinion that Native American mascots are okay to a point, if used respectfully. So next time you’re heading out to a Redskins or Half-breed game, tell your friends and family about this, and you will be a help to this world.