“Indian” Mascots and
Logos
Institutional Racism in Public Schools
Wisconsin Indian Education Association
“Indian” Mascot and Logo Task Force
www.indianmascots.com
Barbara E. Munson
Barb@Munson.net
Christine Munson
crmunson@prodigy.net
What do all of these schools have in
common?
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Berlin Indians
Cornell Chiefs
Lake Holcombe
Chieftains
Menomonie* Indians
Mishicot Indians
Mosinee Indians
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Mukwonago Indians
Riverdale Chieftains
Shiocton Chiefs
Wonewoc-Center
Indians
Viroqua Blackhawks
*Menomonie in Dunn County, WI, not to be confused with the Menominee
Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin.
They all use the same clip-art for
their logo!
Is that a stereotype, or what!?
More stereotypes of Indian people in
our schools…
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Auburndale ‘Apaches’
Belmont ‘Braves’
Black Hawk ‘Warriors’
Big Foot Union
‘Chiefs’
Bruce ‘Red Raiders’
Gale-EttrickTrempeleau ‘Redmen’
More stereotypes of Indian people in
our schools…
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Fort Atkinson
‘Blackhawks’
Greenwood ‘Indians’
Kewauskum ‘Indians’
Kewaunee ‘Indians’
Lancaster ‘Flying Arrows’
Menomonee Falls
‘Indians’
Osseo-Fairchild
‘Chieftains’
More stereotypes of Indian people in
our schools…
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Ozaukee ‘Warriors’
Osceola ‘Chieftains’
Potosi ‘Chieftains’
Poynette ‘Indians’
Prarie du Chien
‘Blackhawks’
Rib Lake ‘Redmen’
Stockbridge ‘Indians’
Seneca ‘Indians’
More stereotypes of Indian people in
our schools…
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Tomahawk ‘Hatchets’
Tomah ‘Indians’
Waunakee ‘Warriors’
Wauwatosa East ‘Red
Raiders’
Weyauwega-Fremont
‘Indians’
Winter ‘Warriors’
Wisconsin Dells ‘Chiefs’
Wisconsin Rapids ‘Red
Raiders’
TEACH RESPECT – NOT RACISM
The Task Force
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Created in 1997 at Wisconsin Indian Education
Association Convention
Indian educators forced out of home
communities
Committed until all schools eliminate their
“Indian” mascot, logo, and/or nickname
Consists of Indian educators and allies
How We Do It
First stirrings of advocacy
How We Do It
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Advocacy
Education
Legislation
Support
Litigation
Coalition Building
Advocacy
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Newspaper Advertisements
HONOR Handbook for Advocacy
T-Shirts, Buttons, Bumper Stickers, and Posters
Youth Task Force Public Service Announcement
Letters to the Editor
Mon, Mar 21, 2005
State should address
Indian issue
I'm writing to comment on the Daily Herald's March 16 editorial, in which the newspaper said the
state Legislature shouldn't follow the Great Lakes Tribal Council's advice and ban the use of Indian
names and logos by schools.
I personally have experienced this issue. I grew up and attended school in Mosinee, where I
experienced racism, discrimination, inequity, and hostility. I was called a "stupid Indian." In the
halls I heard "Kill the Indians." In art class, a student wanted to print a shirt with the phrase "Kill a
Pregnant Squaw, Save Two Walleye." Mosinee had an Indian logo and nickname.
As an American Indian student, I did not feel honored and I was not proud of Mosinee's logo or
nickname. I saw hypocrisy at my school. At one moment, students were talking about protesting
the spear fishing at the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir boat landing -Êthe same boat landing where the
National Guard was called in to address the extreme violence, which included the use of guns, that
protesters took against families supporting the spearers. At another moment, my peers were
chanting in a pep rally, "We are the Indians, the mighty, mighty Indians!"
I did not participate. Rather, I thought about the hatred I experienced and the hypocrisy I saw, and
I took a stand against it.
As a senior, I wrote a letter to my principal and told him the comments I heard and that I
personally found the "Indian" name used by Mosinee to be offensive. I told him that social justice,
respect, and equality (all words painted on the gymnasium wall) were not being upheld in Mosinee
High School. I spoke at school board meetings. I helped with in-service trainings for school board
members. I worked with students who saw the same things I did and we wrote letters to the editor.
I went to classrooms around the state and talked about the Indian mascot and logo issue.
I and many others, Native and non-Native, actively have worked on what the Daily Herald
suggested in its editorial - speaking to individual schools, students and communities; explaining
why names like Mosinee Indians, Auburndale Apaches, and Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders are
offensive; and questioning why schools are not named Central High Caucasians, Mosinee Polacks,
Auburndale Dagos, or the Wisconsin Rapids Kikes. Were we effective? Yes and no.
Some schools have retired their Indian mascot, nickname and logo. However, 38 schools with
Indian references remain. That means there are 38 communities in Wisconsin actively teaching
racial stereotyping and that have failed to listen to American Indian groups, religious leaders, and
civil rights organizations that oppose these practices. There are 38 communities not adequately
teaching young people how to respectfully interact with people from other cultures.
The issue of schools using Indian mascots, logos, and nicknames has been in the news since the
1960s. Forty-five years have passed. If communities have not yet voluntarily retired their
stereotypic images of American Indian people, perhaps it is time for the state Legislature to get
involved.
Christine Munson of Stevens Point is a member of the Oneida Nation.
Youth Task Force PSA
Education
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Frame Debate as Education Policy Issue
Common Themes and Questions About the Use of
“Indian” Logos, Barbara E. Munson
Classroom Presentations and In-services
Conference Workshops
Task Force Trainings
NCCJ Presents: KICK
Resource Materials
Legislation
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Introduced Five Times at State Level
Joint Resolutions
Written and Oral Testimony at Hearings
Support
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Consultation
Community Building
Create a Presence as Requested by Local
Advocates
Build Relationships with School Districts
Undergoing Change
Litigation
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Hand vs. Milton School District
Munson vs. Mosinee School District
Pfaller vs. Mukwonago School District
Wycliffe vs. Medford School District
Affirmative Action Complaints in Viroqua Area
School District
Pending Litigation in Osseo-Fairchild School
District
Coalition Building
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National Indian Education Association
National Education Association
National Conference for Community and Justice
HONOR
Midwest Treaty Network
State and Tribal Task Forces
Wisconsin State Human Relations Association
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Resolutions of Support
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American Indian Sports Team Mascots, Robert
Eurich
Need for Allies
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Continued need for awareness and education
American Indian comprise less than 1% of US
population
Stereotyping impacts everybody
From Pen to Sword
United States Commission for Civil Rights
“The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious
or other groups when promoted by our public
educational institutions, teach all students that
stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, a
dangerous lesson in a diverse society.”
From Pen to Sword
United States Commission for Civil Rights
“The elimination of stereotypes will make
room for education about real Indian people,
current Native American issues, and the rich
variety of American Indians in our country.”
From Pen to Sword
RESEARCH ABSTRACT
Stephanie Fryberg, Ph.D (Tuyalip)
Social Psychology | Stanford University
December, 2002
Study 5 - European American students were explicitly primed
with social representations of American Indians (i.e.,
Pocahontas, Chief Wahoo or Negative Stereotypes). They
reported heightened self-esteem when compared to
European Americans in the no-prime control condition.
This boost in self-esteem for European Americans suggests
that the dominant social representations of minority
groups have significant implications for the psychological
functioning of both minority and majority group members.
Discussion and Feedback
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How can the information from the publications
be utilized in your local community to raise the
level of understanding about this issue?
TEACH RESPECT – NOT RACISM