Mascots-Letter from a Concerned Parent

Novemeber 2005

Dear Team:

We, the concern parents of today’s youth are requesting your participation in eliminating the misuse of “American Indians” as “mascots” for sporting teams. Over the years, communities have called for the end of racist imagery and perpetuation of erroneous history (such as the former “black sambo” caricature). Most images and their subsequent actions and behaviors are inappropriate (i.e. “tomahawk chop” – a barbaric practice of collecting bounties by early pilgrims against Indigenous “Indian” peoples) encouraging the continued mythic gestures like tomahawk chops, Hollywood-style “tom-tomming”, and some sort of moaning that is to imply an Indigenous form of singing. Ask an “Indian” if this behavior is what they do or if they appreciate it “in their honor.”

We currently encourage your team to include the accompanying factual information regarding Indigenous Red “Indian” Nations and Peoples in your sports team program for the month of November. Typically, November is “National Native American Month” due to a “Thanksgiving holiday.” We encourage your team to participate in educating themselves and help eliminate racism (particularly as it continues to effect professional sports), show our youth that they can enjoy sports without feeling embarrassed or shamed by teams that choose to misrepresent their Way of Life or see their “culture” as cartoon caricatures and ignorant, immature, and simplistic actions.

There are 4.4 million Indigenous peoples living within what is now called “America”, according to the latest Census data. Many of these are sports fans. In fact, hockey and basketball represent games (team sports – a foreign concept to europeans prior to the columbus invasion of 1492) originated upon Great Turtle Island (misnomer “western hemisphere”) and were practiced for millions of years. Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky are forever thankful to Indigenous Red Nations and Peoples for the millions of dollars they made from the “Indian” games.

Enjoying healthy, athletic competition has always been part of the Indigenous Way of Life. It is time to end using names like the Redskins, the Chiefs, or using Hollywood-style imagery and mocking gestures, as well end mascots wearing “Indian regalia outfits” they have no understanding of. All this continues to “dishonor” an Indigenous Peoples struggling to survive the world’s largest, quickest and deadliest holocaust the world has ever witnessed (yet often denies).

Include with this letter the NCAA’s new policy to prohibit universities from participation in the use of racist mascots, imagery, actions, or nicknames. Encourage your community to become actively involved in ending this form of racism still active with American sports teams.

Concerned Parent

Regarding american sporting team mascots, logos, and gestures disrespecting, offensive to, and racist against Indigenous Red “Indian” Nations and Peoples

Indigenous Red Nations and Peoples:

* did not have “chiefs” Prior to the columbus invasion of 1492, Indigenous men and women of the community would gather to discuss and take action upon a particular national subject – consensus and true democracy in an open circle of balanced voices. The word “chief” is Latin for “dictator/king/leader/president.”

* did not “scalp” European and Dutch pilgrims invented and perpetrated the barbaric act of “scalping” against Indigenous Red Peoples (most having long, beautiful, black hair), offering cash bounties for the “redskins.” Yet many are ignorant of the fact that Indigenous Peoples never practiced such a savage act, waged primarily by god-fearing societies.

* did not “tomahawk chop” Hollywood created a "tomahawk chop" to discredit Indigenous Peoples – who were the victims” of the European “scalping” practice. Indigenous Peoples take offense at the ignorant and racist “blaming the victim” american gesture which promotes the stereotypical lie that “Indians were savage.”

* did not “beat tom-toms” Indigenous Nations treasure the Sacred Drum – whose sound represent the heartbeat of Grand Mother Earth, employing the most beautiful songs on Earth. The vision of the Sacred Drum came to Indigenous Peoples over 51 million years ago. The beat of the Drum sounds nothing like the stereotypical “loud beat followed by three softer beats” concocted to “make fun of Indians” by rednecks.

* did not have or wear “war bonnets” Indigenous Feather Head Dresses have important meaning to the wearer and should not be denigrated or disrespected by mocking such head wear with “chicken feather mimicking.” Indigenous Peoples have no word for "war" - as this was never practiced prior to the occupation of america by alien europeans.

With the invention and concoction of “god” and the male dominating system of greed designed to enslave the masses so that a few can control from atop the “pyramid hierarchy”, domesticated animals, fences, forts, catapults and weapons of mass destruction, murder, rape, and war befell the peaceful “Circle” peoples of all colors of human-kind throughout the world, culminating with the destruction of the final race to be contaminated – the Red People of Great Turtle Island. All races lived simply around central campfires ten thousand years ago and before, enjoying true freedom and sharing great principals and family values.

Please have the above inserted into your local sports team's "program" as soon as possible so as to bring truth and honor to America. (Encourage your local legislator to do the same)

1851 Treaty

See more info at www.1851Treaty.com and Petition

Special thanks to Scott Barta for sharing this with My Two Beads Worth's readers.

Contents

Last updated on November 04, 2005