Let Indians Decide the Mascot Issue for Themselves
by David A. Yeagley
Originally published at FrontPageMagazine.com | April 18, 2001
Will the Atlanta Braves have to change their name? If so, most people will blame it on hypersensitive Indian egos.
Not all Indians feel the same way about the mascot issue, though. Indian activists such as Elsie Meeks and Russell Means claim they can speak for all of us. But dictating from the top is not the Indian way.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights decided on April 13 that using American Indian names as sports mascots can be a violation of Titles II and IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Meeks, (Oglala Sioux), a member of the commission, believes all such Indian mascots must be removed nationwide.
The Commission said Indian names and mascots could be seen as "disrespectful and offensive" by Indian groups and can create "a racially hostile educational environment that may be intimidating to Indian students."
How can the image of an Indian warrior be intimidating to Indians?
I tried to put this question to Russell Means on the Hannity & Colmes show, April 2. He didn’t have much of an explanation, but managed to fill up a lot of airtime anyway.
TV is a white man’s game, and I’m new to it. But Means is a pro.
Some media-savvy friends told me I was too low-key on the show. I approached it like an Indian. I asked questions. I was polite. I showed Means respect.
Means, on the other hand, was disrespectful. He played it like a pro-wrestling bout. He made faces while I talked. He called me unintelligent. And he kept repeating the same mantras over and over again, about feelings and "hate speech."
Indians can differ on this issue. But there’s a more important principle underneath the mascot thing.
It’s called freedom.
Indians must decide the mascot question for themselves. They should not let "civil rights leaders" dictate to them from Washington or from TV studios.
The situation at the University of North Dakota is a great lesson. In the 1930’s the council of Sioux elders of the Standing Rock Reservation offered the name "Fighting Sioux" to the University, in honor of their own fathers, the great Sioux warriors. This council decision was renewed in the 50’s and again in the ‘80’s.
The "Fighting Sioux" name is hotly disputed right now. But, for some reason, the press never mentions the fact that the Sioux elders themselves wanted the university to use that name. Self-appointed "Indian leaders" such as Means and Meeks don’t mention it either.
In fact, the UND protests are led by leftist faculty Indians who aren’t Sioux, but Ojibwa and Arikara, historical enemies of the Sioux. It’s not their decision, nor any other Sioux’s decision, to reverse the will of the Standing Rock tribal council.
Russell Means is not on any Sioux tribal council that I know of.
Nor is Elsie Meeks, to my knowledge.
The Indian way of deciding issues is through the council of elders, not through professional racial agitators or federally appointed Indians. Each Indian nation has its own council to make its own decisions.
The U.S. government has always given lip service to autonomy in the Indian governing process, yet it often interferes and appoints Indian leaders who are not representative of their tribes, such as Meeks.
In my own Comanche history there’s the famous Quanah Parker. He was head of a nuhmanuhkahn, like my ancestor, Bad Eagle. Both were Quahadi (Antelope) Comanche, but Quanah was a half-breed, and was appointed "chief" of all the Comanches by the United States Government, in 1884. Comanche ways never allowed such an appointment, and Comanches came to highly resent Quanah.
What did Quanah do? He made a fortune leasing Comanche lands to the great cattlemen. Ranchers like Burk Burnett, Daniel W. Waggoner, E. C. Sugg, C. T. Herring, J. P. Addington, and Emmit Cox, all got rich off Comanche land. The ranchers built Quanah a huge house, treated him royally, and glorified him in history books.
Quanah was so unpopular with the Comanches that the government appointed six bodyguards to protect him. Indian federal agents have never been popular among Indians.
Unfortunately, Meeks and Russell seem to be following in Quanah’s footsteps. They are not showing respect for Indian freedom.
I say, let each tribe of Indian people decide for itself the mascot issue. Put it to a vote among the Indians. .
This is the Indian way.
It is also the American way. In 1924, all Indians were declared American citizens. So where are those precious American freedoms?
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