TITLE: ELIMINATION
OF RACE-BASED INDIAN LOGOS, MASCOTS, AND NAMES
WHEREAS,
the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) w as established in
1970 for the purpose
of advocating, planning,
and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American
Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians; and
WHEREAS,
NIEA as the largest
national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Natives and
Native Hawaiian educators,
administrators, parents and students in the United States, provides a
forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the educationof Indian
and Native people; and
WHEREAS,
through its’ unique relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the
federal government has
established programs and
resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska
Native and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or
non-reserved homelands; and
WHEREAS,
self-representational use
of American Indian logos, mascots and names remain a cherished
tradition in many American
Indian communities; and
WHEREAS,
NIEA has advocated on this
issue has resulted in the elimination of Indian logos, mascots,
and names in educational setting by providing workshops, presentation
of professional papers, adoptingresolutions, providing legal briefs,
and forums organizing networks on Indian educators as advocates; and
WHEREAS,
years of advocacy on this
issue has resulted in theelimination of Indian logo, mascot, and name
symbolism from hundreds of educational facilit
ies across the nation; and
WHEREAS,
educational institutions
choosing to use race-based Indian logos, mascots, and names harm
children, exposing
graduating class after graduating class to these stereotypes, and
indoctrinating them with the idea that it is unacceptable to
stereotypes an entire race of people; and
WHEREAS,
institutions choosing to retain such imagery negatively impacts
students, faculty, and parents from others schools by exposing them to
race-based imagery in interscholastic competitions; and
WHEREAS,
the
limited and sparse representations of American Indians in media and
popular culture
comprise a significant
portion of what children learn about American Indian people and
thereby impact the identity formation of Native students while
reinforcing stereotypes about American Indian cultures, past and
present; and
WHEREAS,
there is a growing base of
support calling for the elimination of Indian logos, mascots and
names as evidenced by
endorsement from professional organizations, for example the American
Psychological Association;
educational advocacy organizations, such as the National Education
Association; human rights
organizations, like the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People; and sports regulatory agencies, i.e. National
Collegiate Athletic Association; and
WHEREAS,
research conducted by
Stephanie A. Fryberg finds;
• Exposure to race-based Indian stereotypes harms American Indian
students,
• Attractive stereotypes
cause as much harm as cartoon caricatures,
• American Indian students who approve the use of Indian logos,
mascots and names experience more harm than do American
Indian students who oppose the use of such imagery.
• Euro-Americans experience a boost of self-esteem when exposed to
the same-race based Indian stereotypes; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Fryberg’s research
has been expanded upon and replicated in the social psychological
arena and the research base has grown in other academic fields;
and
WHEREAS,
educational institutions
should not be the vehicles of institutionalized racism.
Now therefore be it
resolved that the National Indian Education Association calls for the
immediate elimination of race-based Indian logos, mascots, and names
from educational institutions throughout the Nation;
Be it further resolved that
the National Indian Education Association calls for the immediate
elimination of race-based Indian logos, mascots, and names from
educational institutions in the elimination of these stereotypes.
Patricia L. Whitefoot
(2009-2010)
President
National Indian Education Association
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