The use of Indian tribe mascots
in sport has become an increasingly talked about subject. It has been
questioned whether or not using a tribe’s name is inappropriate and degrading
for its members. In the majority of cases, the opposite is true. Indian related
mascots are something the tribe’s members can have pride in and use as a means
of sharing their culture.
A mascot for any team is always
something fans and alumni cherish and represent outside of sport. Professional,
collegiate, and many other programs use their mascot as a way to identify the
backbone of what their team represents Native Americans are given the ability
to use this as a means of sharing their culture with others in our community.
The meaning behind these tribe mascots goes beyond fake feathers and war paint.
Saginaw Chippewas public relations director, Frank Cloutier, describes Central
Michigan’s mascot as a way of honoring the triumph of the resilient and
competitive members of their tribe.
When such teams as the Chippewas
take the playing field they are fighting like a Chippewa, fighting to win.
These qualities of determination and bravery are messages that young children
across America should follow. The fact that the face of these messages is a
Native American tribe is something it’s members can take great pride in because
their tribe is depicting an image every person strives to portray in society.
It is a very honorable thing to be identified with the core values of many of
the tribes found throughout America.
Without Native American mascots,
it would be nearly impossible for some tribes to get their message out. For
schools such as Central Michigan, the cultural heritage education provided to
the students regarding the mascot is the most important aspect. It allows for
its large number of students to be informed about what the tribe stands for and
what it means to be a member. For Navajo Nation member Leon Yazzie, Native
American mascots have given him the chance to give the public a sense of who he
is.
Yazzie is a fluent Navajo
speaking Native American who wears the Chicago Blackhawks’ symbol any chance he
gets. He explained that he had never paid attention to the sport of hockey, but
loves the idea of a successful huge market team representing Chief Black Hawk
every time they take the ice. These mascots give Yazzie and his fellow Native
Americans something to root for and believe in. Gained interest in sports teams
much like Yazzie will also encourage young Native Americans to pursue
opportunities in sport they may not have considered otherwise.
Non Native American individuals
are very much to blame for the misconstrued meaning behind much of the
controversy surrounding these mascots. With the installment of these mascots,
an educational system should also be set regarding the tribes history. Frank
Cloutier and Central Michigan have made great strides in portraying each
party’s intentions with the use of the mascot. Bringing both parties to a
mutual agreement on the matter has allowed for a prime example of successful
cultural sharing between two very different groups.
The misunderstanding and misuse
of Native American mascots is where these mascots can become demeaning to the
tribes. As long as there is educational systems set up for the parties
involved, the continued use of these mascots will be far from racist. There
will be now power hungry groups if each side is set out with the same mission
in mind. This mission is what represents the cultural basis being portrayed
when a team takes the playing field.
Much like Frank Cloutier and
Leon Yazzie, many Native Americans see the possibilities and benefits that
result from the use of Native American mascots. The honor and positivity
portrayed through a Native American mascot is the perfect dynamic to gain the
interest of individuals who otherwise would be oblivious to the existence of
some of these tribes. With the tribes involvement in issues related to the
mascot it offers possible financial, educational, and political gains for each
tribe.
Native American culture is very
under heard and understood in our society today. The small numbers of some of
these tribes makes it very difficult for them to be understood by the public. Native
American mascots are something that should be kept and used as a tool to
educate the public about the meaning and significance of the many Native
American tribes. The brave resiliency of the different tribes symbolized in
mascots is something Native Americans can keep their pride alive in.
LINKS
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/indian-team-names-no-problem-some-native-americans-irritant-others
No comments:
Post a Comment