Non-Native Alumni Show Up at Educational Forum Angry about Dropping of Indian Mascot
OKLAHOMA CITY—The Educational Forum on Native American Mascots, sponsored by Oklahoma City Public Schools Native American Parent Committee, was an attempt to reach out to help community members understand why the Capitol Hill mascot was being changed. An honorable intent, based on the optimistic premise that, if those who oppose the change just understood that damage caused by racist mascots, surely their perspective would change.
Sitting in the audience, it was clear that most did not come open to learning, but rather to simply register their protests, at times hatefully and disrespectfully. When panelist and OKCPS alumus Rance Weryackwe introduced himself in the Comanche language, an elderly man whispered loudly that he didn’t wish to “listen to him talk like that.” There was a fair amount of eye rolling and head shaking from change opponents when the moderator, Sarah Adams-Cornell, made a presentation about the documented harms caused by race based mascots, including the hostile learning environment created by enshrining them in educational institutions, explaining “by not changing, we are in violation of students’ civil rights.”
Only a half hour into the forum, the man who had previously mocked a panelist for speaking his language announced, loudly enough for at least my side of the room to hear, that he didn’t care what “the Indians think,” before storming out of the room in a huff. A woman in the audience laughed condescendingly when panelist Johnnie Jae Morris spoke about stereotypes and how they are foundational to many problems faced in Indian Country. Overall, most of the whispering and hateful comments were the basic “get over it” and “that’s in the past” type sentiments.
When it came time for the question and answer session, Moderator Sarah Adams-Cornell announced that no questions had been submitted on the topic of the forum, asking for questions on the issue of education and Native American mascots. A female snarled “it’s because we don’t need to be educated,” in response, and the majority of the crowd who opposed the mascot change stood up and walked out together. None asked any clarifying questions or expressed the intent to understand.
Some paused in the entryway to speak to media. Pam Townley, who graduated from Capitol Hill in 1973, lamented the school board’s vote, stating “no one knew about it!” In reality, people all over the world knew about the impending vote, thanks to social media. Townley’s solution is simple: segregation. “If they don’t like what is going on at Capitol Hill, then go to a Native American school, where you don’t have to worry about it.” Ironic, considering panelist Jacob Tsotigh spoke about the not too distant past, where businesses posted signs stating “no dogs or Indians allowed.” Her comments illustrate the point made by Brady Henderson that “the past cannot be divested from the present . . . It defines us.” Racism and segregation are indeed alive and well but, as Brady also said, “the past is in the present [and] change is part of the process.” Progress is possible.
Some individuals aren’t willing to allow that change, without fighting it every step of the way, however. Capitol Hill alumus, 84-year-old Roy Meler, interrupted the meeting, demanding to be heard. “Instead of talking about this foolishness, we ought to be talking about education. You’re the ones stirring this up.”
When Adams Cornell spoke about bullying and ridicule faced by her children, who are part of the school district, Meler shouted “I don’t believe it!” Later, I overheard him stating to others that bullying of Native students have no connection to the mockery inherent with mascots and that the solution is simply corporal punishment against those who bully.
Meler wasn’t the only one who vented his anger so emphatically. Carrel Wilson carried on quite dramatically, ranting in the hallway for several minutes, calling the research and ideas presented by the panel “propaganda.” Carrel stated that the panel discussion was “an unbelievable performance by a group of people who are making money off this themselves,” yet gave no indication as to why or how he believes that panelists are profiting. He did, however, try to link the use of racist mascots with the state name of Oklahoma, erroneously translating it as “home of the red man”. Wilson went on to state that panelist Dr. Matthew DeSpain was incorrect as to the history of violence against Native peoples, saying that “redskins were admired. It was a term of admiration,” but failing to address the fact that the term was used in connection with bounties placed on the heads of Native Americans.
In the end, the message from the Parent Committee was summed up concisely by Johnnie Jae Morris, who said, “We’re not trying to take anything away. We’re trying to get something we can all be proud of.”
Summer Wesley is from the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma. She is an OU Law School Graduate and Former Tribal Attorney & Social Worker.
Some people will ALWAYS need an enemy (to hate), but their only REAL enemy is within.
Sad people-I would pray for them.
I started the campaign to remove the Redskin moniker and mascot from Capitol Hill high school over a year ago. I was surprised at the resistance of the Oklahoma City public schools past and current superintendents. After this report, I have a much better understanding of the depth and breath of the bigotry embedded in the white Christians of Oklahoma City. You have to live in this state to fully grasp the magnitude of my previous statement.
The Oklahoma City public school system is, perhaps, the worst school system in the entire United States. Students of color, especially the black students, receive no useful education whatsoever. The reader may think this is a glib overstatement, but a review of school scores across the Oklahoma City system reveals that most schools receive a F grade.
The native students, current and past, their families and faculty must stand fast to keep this decision from being reversed. Frankly, I’m not confident that the board’s decision will stand because of the bigotry of the population at large.
I have experienced the discrimination toward Native Americans myself as a Capitol Hill high school student and faculty member. It exists; I have had enough of the “honor” bestowed upon indigenous peoples by white European immigrants who slowly and surely stole native lands and sought, by means of genocide, to eradicate the inconvenient presence of indigenous peoples.
I pray that we are strong enough to resist the white movement to restore the Redskins moniker and mascot.
Bah Bii Daash, Ojibwe Ochita
P.S. It’s Capitol Hill not Capital Hill.
great article. made me smile to know you are standing your ground, in an honorable way; your detractors acted like spoiled children with no discipline who whined when they didn’t get their way.
In the words of the great AIM leader Russell Means, “Unless you are an American Indian, you do not get to tell me how I feel about being used as a mascot.” The term Redskins is a term of admiration? I don’t think so.
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Sad reaction, great article. Im happy to see that schools are doing the right thing in spite of divisive and hurtful reactions.
http://www.openbible.info/topics/closed_minds
Don’t stop now keep your resistance to racism and rights alive. It would be a different story if the Mascot name was blackskins and not redskins, there would a lot more out spoken anger.
“A female snarled”?
The behavior of many (most?) of those in attendance was reprehensible. What was your purpose in calling this person “a female” rather than “a woman”? To dehumanize her? Present her as less than a person?
We all know words matter – otherwise it would not be so vitally important to change the mascots. I question the internalized misogyny that led the author to that particular phrasing.
I am a white, 63 year old woman, who was raised in the great state of Oklahoma. From the time I was old enough to figure out what was going on with people, I have always believed the people who were truly oppressed and discriminated against were the Native Americans! So sad that the white man doesn’t see what was done to the Native Americans! Stand your ground! I hope that the OKC school board will come through and have the sense to change this mascot. Good luck!
“Native american”. Subjugation at its finest
Stand Strong! Great article SUMMER WESLEY , Thank you!
I’m a Native American from Oklahoma. I attended a public school in rural Oklahoma that was and still is predominantly Native, between 95 and 97%. My children now attend a school in the same area. All schools in the area have Native mascots, I don’t take offense to this. What I take offense to is the incorrect teaching of Native American history in schools and how that not only affects one’s education, but also their perspective. The race issues I witnessed and still hear about from my children are the Native against Native racism. For example, if you’re hair isn’t jet black and you’re skin isn’t as dark brown as others then you’re treated as if you’re not Native enough. I would rather see these issues addressed along with language preservation and cultural enrichment before the issue of mascots that at one time were used as derogatory and racist labels. Warriors, Chieftains, Braves, Chiefs, etc are not racist. Redskins I know and understand that was used as a racial slander at one time. But most Natives I know, including myself have taken such words as that and wagon burner, etc and used it to build up our pride instead of allowing it to tear us down. Changing the name of mascots won’t change history, history is an ever evolving, changing, living representation of how we as a people have been affected and affect each other and the world. And if you read a school history book you’ll realize it’s 50% perspective.
I do not understand your rationale for example, you mention language preservation and cultural enrichment. That is your responsibility to pass that to your children
On the other hand, allowing your children to be demeaning and gracious names does not fall into the foregoing category. What it does mean is that your allowing your children to be insulted.
I recommend that you do some research and gain an understanding what the term “Redskin” meant to white Christians when they were attempting to eliminate, by genocide, the Cheyenne. You might make another inquiry in regard to the Lakota/Dakota. The term Redskin was not used as a racial slur but was used to describe the blood remaining on a Native Americans head after his “scalp” was taken in order to collect bounty.
Leann, you are so right!
What if they took your kids pick in braids and made his teeth really big with a computer and said “This will be Our MAsCot! What would you say then? The make fun of mascots.. natives are humble and Honoring people.. It is a Honor to have receive a Eagle Feather.. Do you think it is a honor to be a mascot?? where is the praise? there is none mascots are made fun of during the game and used to taunt people>> where is the honor?? Indigenous dont honor this garbage>> Megwitch
take it from a city indian> > that what u would call me, dishonoring of your own people..
I sure hate that I didn’t know about that meeting!
SPREAD THE WORD ON ALL MEETINGS OF ALL KINDS:
http://www.dcclothesline.com/2014/07/14/obama-preparing-give-away-8-50-states/
i say to all those non natives “you get over it, it’s just a name” so let it go.