Native Americans want Mariemont Schools' sports logos to change

update 7/29/20 PM: format changes for improved readability
-----
Background: I’ve been on a fascinating journey to learn about Native American mascots in local Sports. Mariemont City Schools’ ‘Warriors’ is of course a fine (& honorable) term. In question is our mascot/imagery: an abstract profile of a Native American man in a head dress. Also in question are traditions like a ‘warpath’ website, a ‘pow-wow’ bonfire each Fall, and group dances/chants in the stands at football games. I’ve learned a lot, and this analysis/information is only the start of an important conversation. This information has been shared with Mariemont City Schools’ School Board.

Disclaimers: I’m a white guy of European descent who looks out for the ‘little guy.’ As a Christian, I have a responsibility for the ‘least of these.’ I am a fan of Mariemont Schools and Mariemont Sports. My kids attend Mariemont Schools.

Conclusion & Recommendation: While not the ultimate decision makers, the Native Americans we try to represent with our imagery ought to be heard. And if, through that listening, we learn they’re overwhelmingly supportive of our choices and traditions, then we have no issue. However, if many have concerns, then we ought to honor their opinions and give great weight to their recommendations…even if others/other groups are supportive. While at least one organization that represents Native Americans is supportive of imagery like ours, multiple accredited organizations representing Native Americans have real, databased, decades-long objections to our imagery. We should hear them. Because many Native American organizations are opposed to our imagery, let’s keep the ‘Warriors’ and change the logo. Further, let’s commit to more real and rich education in all the schools to truly honor Native Americans.

Details

There are a few organizations representing Native Americans who strongly support Mariemont’s and others’ Sports imagery and language. One example: Native American Guardians (founded 2014) naga.org Their detailed rationale is below, but generally they appreciate Native American history being relevant today through Sports names and imagery. They disagree strongly with ‘anti-mascot’ representative groups on this topic like Congress of American Indians (1944). Thank you to NAGA for such helpful information and education.

There are many organizations that are strongly opposed to even well-intentioned ‘thoughtful’ imagery. One example: Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition (founded 1970s) gcnativeamericancoalition.com Their detailed rationale is below, but they generally believe imagery and names are homogenous stereotypes that hurt Native Americans, particularly kids (research based). They agree with ‘anti-mascot’ representative groups like Congress of American Indians and the Miami Tribe of OK, formerly of OH (pre 1800s). They disagree strongly with ‘pro’ representative groups on this topic like Native American Guardians.Thank you to GCNAC for such helpful information and education.

On either side of this argument then, there is data and endorsement(s) to justify the desired position. But if a significant number of Native American organizations oppose our imagery, then shouldn’t we listen? And shouldn’t we value the afflicted more than the un-afflicted? And, aren’t there countless other ways to celebrate history that both the afflicted and unafflicted can agree on?

Two interesting side notes: First, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma (our local organization), reaffirmed just this week their consistent opposition (see Resolution below):"...absolute opposition...to the use of derogatory and stereotypical names and images of American Indians as sports mascots or icons for any purpose by any public school or institution...." Second, ironically, research (link below) shows a negative impact to kids, the very demographic our schools are charged with nurturing.

Conversation Transcripts & Research (in chronological order). Please excuse typos as conversations occurred via Text/DM. I have redacted full names and contact information but am happy to provide on request.

Native American Guardians http://naguardians.org/ Pro Mascot

Hi cortney, kathy j, native american guardians association [naga] rep for ohio. I grew up in cincinnati and went to anderson/turpin. I currently live in cleveland. We can help you with your logo debate. Do you have a keeper fb page yet? Call me to fill me in. I love mariemont and often hung out there.

Call me and privide your email here. we have a lot of info. go to nagaeducation.edu and click on links. we are writting blogs. naga believes in education not erradication.  ncai has been discreaded. they say redskins is the scalps of dead indians which is a lie proven in two court cases but the ncai still pushes the lie to insite people. ncai wants to get rid of all na names as per the oneida indians that believe in the decolonization movement and started the not your mascot organization. we are all on stolon land and must go. it's unbelivable what they are pushing. poll after poll show that 80-90% of na support na names in schools and sports. the 10% of radical na are attacking schools with propaganda and brainwashing pc people from the suburbs. naga networks with schools and will speak at your committee meetings and help with your support page with facts. naga is about education not eradication.

Naga is doing a media bitz this month. #savethename has the ads.

Naga is working on changing the dictionaries back to north american indian for the redskin definition that was falsely changed in the '70 due to radical activist spouting off lies in the media. now those same activist point to the dictionary definition they had rewritten. same people still at it. warrior is not isolated to na indian. social justice warrior for example. it's just a generic name not offencive at all. i like your logo!

Naga has a facebook support page, naga supporters group, is the name of it. we invite you to join.

Yes and that's how naga feels. There is nothing wrong with your logo. 90% of natives would feel proud. Unfortunatly, the radical activist are very loud and pushy.i am a white girl from the forest hills school system. I have been following this debate for 50 years. Naga asked me to help in this fight. We are networking all across the country.

(is your organization political?) no, because while we do have the support of many republicans, there are dems that support it also.

make sure you go to #savethename on fb search to see native americans are speaking up. We are working like crazy to address this assult on culture.

Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition https://gcnativeamericancoalition.com/ Anti Mascot

Hello- this is Dawn K. Please do not listen to NAGA. They are a group that has been disassociated from their Nations and are not an authority on mascot issues in any way. While there are situations where Indigenous/Native American images have been used in association with schools, there have been agreements with local tribal leaders. Here in Ohio, there are ZERO tribal councils- sovereign tribal nations. Out of over 572 Nations, there aren't any here and NAGA has no authority to give a school in Ohio permission to use the imagery of an Indian for their mascot. However, NCAI- the National Congress of the American Indian is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities with all 572 federally recognized tribes signing the anti-mascot campaign. That should tell you something right there.

Furthermore, students have civil rights including Native American students. They should be free from discrimination, which these mascots are proven to be harmful, degrading, inaccurate, and just plain wrong.

Yes, even a "sensitive" image is inappropriate because there is no such thing as a general "Indian." There are many, many people and Nations each with our own languages, images, cultures, foods, and so on. How can one Indian image represent us? That is stereotyping.

Yes, NCAI agrees with this- http://www.ncai.org/proudtobe

I'm glad you are reaching out and asking these questions, Cortney. Here is the harmful research: As documented in a comprehensive review of decades of social science research, derogatory "Indian" sports mascots have serious psychological, social and cultural consequences for Native Americans, especially Native youth. Of today’s American Indian and Alaska Native population, those under the age of 18 make up 32 percent, and Native youth under the age of 24 represent nearly half, or 42 percent, of the entire Native population.

https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/indian-mascots

Here is the most recent study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550619898556?journalCode=sppa

We humbly ask the American public to stand with us, the GCNAC, in advocating for the change of the school and sports team names to help make it clear to all people, everywhere, that the use of racist Native "Indian" mascot names must end. As Native Americans, we did not create these images and stereotypes that resulted in racism- but we are calling for its end. It is the responsibility of all Americans who hold privilege to do the work to end this legacy of discrimination.

We are members of NCAI.

NAGA doesn't have members- they are just a group of people who have opinions.

Our organization- the GCNAC has been around as a part of other organizations since the 1970s. Our history goes back to Jeanne Marie Brightfire Stophlet, Director of the Indian Center in Cincinnati and Inter-Ethnic Council of Greater Cincinnati during the 1970s. We formally incorporated as a nonprofit 4th of March, 2019. None of our directors receive any money for the work we do- we are a 100% volunteer, 100% Native run organization.

National Congress of American Indians http://www.ncai.org/ Anti Mascot

(no reply yet from this group. Info based on my research and endorsement by GCNAC)

NCAI's Long Standing Opposition to Harmful "Indian" Sports Mascots: As the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, NCAI has long held a clear position against derogatory and harmful stereotypes of Native people—including sports mascots—in media and popular culture. In 1968 NCAI launched a campaign to address stereotypes of Native people in popular culture and media, as well as in sports. Since this effort began, there has been a great deal of progress made and support to end the era of harmful "Indian" mascots in sports.

http://www.ncai.org/proudtobe

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma (previously Ohio) https://www.miamination.com/ Anti Mascot

(no direct communication with this group, instead sharing recent Resolution 20-31 July 27 2020)

Resolution 20-31 Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Position on Ethnic or Race-based Derogatory Mascot Names or Derogatory Mascot Caricatures

Whereas, the Myaamia, recognized today by the United States as the Miami tribe of Oklahoma, are a distinct people originating from the Great Lakes lands of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, and

Whereas, after being forcefully removed from our homelands in 1846 we lived or a time on reserve in eastern Kansas and were again removed to the Indian territory where our seat of government still resides in the city of Miami, Oklahoma, and

Whereas, our history and that of all federally recognized tribes/First nations of this land has been recorded by many observers through time and that written history has grouped all as one people under collective terms such as the “Indians”, the “Natives”, or the “redskinned”, and

Whereas, as a sovereign and culturally distinct people we believe these terms have too often created a “one Nation”, “one Tribe”, “one People” perception and that this lack of understanding and respect for the unique cultural identities of each sovereign Tribal Nation has fostered the perception of “Indians” as an all-encompassing description for the citizens of the First Nations, and

Whereas, we believe this melded perception has negatively impacted the individual and distinct identities of our First Nations and encouraged the development of race-based icons and mascots in this country, and

Whereas, the Miamia Tribe of Oklahoma stands firmly against misrepresentation through stereotypical images and names which only serve to demean and misrepresent First Nations peoples, and

Whereas it is our belief that the presentation of accurate information regarding Myaamia culture, history, traditions and language are vital in our efforts to stand against misrepresentation and misunderstanding, and

Whereas, we take full responsibility for how our culture and heritage are taught within our community and how we are identified culturally and historically by the world, and

Whereas the Myaamia Tribe of Oklahoma has a deep abiding commitment to Myaamia community education through our Myaamia Education Services & Programs Department and our unique Cultural Education Programs, and

Whereas, our Cultural Resources Office in our Myaamia Center at Miami University work together to support, create and deliver true knowledge of Myaamia culture, language, and history within our community and to external public education programs in order to aid in the accurate telling and understanding of our history and heritage, and

Whereas, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma in care and respect full support of our Myaamia citizens today and those generations to come, and also out of concern for greater public understanding, has demonstrated absolute opposition - founded in cultural knowledge - to the use of derogatory and stereotypical names and images of American Indians as sports mascots or icons for any purpose by any public school or institution, and

Whereas, this opposition is rooted in our strong belief that such words and images impart a negative or misleading perception which impacts the self-esteem of our Myaamia children, adults, and elders, and

Whereas the Myaamia tribe of Oklahoma demonstrated this observation in a 1996 Resolution delivered to Myaamia University in Oxford, OH calling for the removal of the Redskins mascot; and through respectful consideration and mutual agreement that esteemed institution took the necessary action to correct the negative image and by doing so demonstrated respect to not only the Myaamia but all First Nations of this land, and

Whereas, the Myaamia tribe of Oklahoma recognizes and respects longstanding relationships existing between certain Tribal Nations and Institutions and does not stand in opposition to their agreements or understandings related to any individual Tribally approved names, icons or mascots, and

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma adoptions this Resolution as our stated opposition to the derogatory and stereotypical names, icons and mascots’ and to reaffirm our commitment to providing meaningful and informed education about the culturally distinct indigenous peoples of this land

Certification

The undersigned, as Chief of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, does hereby certify that Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Business Committee is composed of five elected members. The foregoing Resolution 20-31 was duly adopted this 27th day of July 2020 by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Business Committee,  through Special Meeting, with an approving vote of 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstaining.

Douglas G Lankford, Chief

Attest:

Donya Williams, Secretary-Treasurer

(pdf images can be found at https://www.mymiamicounty.com/miami)

Blog pivot to new topics

This blog was created for my term as Mariemont Councilman. On occasion since completing my four years, there have been big issues that deserve more than a social media post. 2020 has had many. So i'm going to use this platform in a new way, when I'm looking for more 'permanence.' Of course feedback is always welcome.