Wisconsin schools with Native mascots show ‘disregard for the personhood of America’s first peoples,’ state and national tribal leaders say in letter to districts
GREEN BAY - Tribal leaders from across the state and country this week sent a formal letter to Wisconsin school officials of the more than two dozen districts that have refused to retire Native American race-based mascots or logos.
The letter also encouraged school officials to discuss the issue with tribal leaders about why these mascots are harmful and should be discontinued.
“Out of respect for tribal sovereignty, we ask that you heed the voices of tribal leaders representing hundreds of Tribal Nations and the organizations that serve their citizens when assessing where Indian Country stands on this issue,” the letter read. “To that end, we invite you to begin a dialogue with us to learn about contemporary Tribal Nations and Native peoples and why these mascots degrade us, misrepresent who we are and dismiss the many important contributions we have made, and continue to make, to this country.”
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Among the signatories of the official letter were Ron Corn Sr., chairman of the Menominee Nation; Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation; and Bryan Bainbridge, CEO of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, which represents all 11 federal recognized tribal nations in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.
At the national level, Larry Wright Jr., executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, the largest and oldest organization representing tribal nations in the U.S., also signed the letter, along with Tesia Zientek, president of the National Indian Education Association.
Several leaders of local educational institutions also signed the letter, including Dr. Lisa Poupart, director of First Nations education at UW-Green Bay; Christopher Caldwell, president of the College of Menominee Nation; and James Pete, president of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association.
Barb Munson (Oneida), who heads the Wisconsin Indian Education Association’s Mascot Taskforce and who has been leading the call to retire the mascots in Wisconsin schools since the 1990s, also signed the letter.
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Munson has had some success over the years with dozens of school districts since retiring their mascots.
But 26 school districts in Wisconsin still use Native American race-based mascots and/or logos.
The letter points to recent national events casting a spotlight on the issue, including the new names of professional sports teams, including the Cleveland Guardians and the Washington Commanders.
The letter also provides links to decades of several studies and social science research showing these mascots have serious psychological, social and cultural harm for Native people.
“The intolerance and harm promoted by these mascots, logos, and associated fan behaviors and school traditions perpetuate negative stereotypes and contribute to a disregard for the personhood of America’s first peoples,” the letter read.
The letter also pointed out that tribal leaders in Wisconsin have been calling for a retirement of the mascots since the first State of the Tribes Address in 2005.
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The signatories also offered to assist school officials on how to properly educate students about Indigenous people.
“Moreover, know that we are committed to working with you to expand and strengthen the curriculum your schools teach Wisconsin students about Tribal Nations and peoples, particularly the undersigned Nations,” the letter read.
A special response email address has been set up at mascots@ncai.org.
26 school districts in Wisconsin that still use Indigenous-based mascots or logos
These 26 school districts in Wisconsin still use Indigenous-based mascots or logos, according to the Wisconsin Indian Education Association:
Baldwin-Woodville (Blackhawks)
Belmont (Braves)
Berlin (Indians)
Big Foot (Chiefs)
Black Hawk (Warriors)
Cornell (Chiefs)
Fort Atkinson (Blackhawks)
Greenwood (Indians)
Kewaskum (Indians)
Lake Holcombe (Chieftains)
Lancaster (Flying Arrows)
Mishicot (Indians)
Mosinee (Indians)
Mukwonago (Indians)
Muskego (Warriors)
Osceola (Chieftains)
Ozaukee (Warriors)
Potosi (Chieftains)
Prairie du Chien (Blackhawks)
Rib Lake (Redmen)
Riverdale (Chieftains)
Seneca (Indians)
Shiocton (Chiefs)
Stockbridge (Indians)
Waunakee (Warriors)
Wisconsin Dells (Chiefs)
Dig deeper:
'Doctrine of Discovery': Tribal leaders in Wisconsin applaud Vatican’s repudiation of 'Doctrine of Discovery': ‘It’s good to hear that recognition, however late it is’
Place names: Officials rename 28 places in Wisconsin that had names derogatory to Indigenous women. Here's where they are.
Wisconsin law enforcement logos: ‘It is not an honor to appropriate the identity of another’: Some Wisconsin law enforcement agencies still use Indigenous logos
Native mascots in Wisconsin: Advocates continue efforts for Wisconsin school districts to drop use of Native American mascots
Frank Vaisvilas is a Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.You can directly support his work with a tax-deductible donation online at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Wisconsin schools with Native mascots get letter from tribal leaders
