Mascots

Mascots

 

            Every school and sports team has a mascot. A mascot serves as a name and identity for the schools and sports teams. There’s thousands of mascots in the country. Some of animals and some of one’s heritage. It is fairly popular to have a Native American mascot. Throughout the country there are hundreds, ranging from professional teams to small town high school teams. I attend high school in a small town on the Flathead Reservation, home to the Salish and Kootenai tribes. Our boys are the Warriors and our mascots are a warrior and maiden head. I believe that our community supports and respects our mascots. However, other Native American mascots are not respected as they should be. Native American mascots have been the highlight of the mascot controversies. It’s a touchy subject to address, especially if not of Native American decent. Even if you try stepping in their shoes, grasping their exact perspective is impossible. I have some background knowledge from growing up on a reservation. I believe Native American mascots can present honor and respect if represented in an appropriate way.  

            Many people feel Native mascots are stereotypical. They are costumes with big noses and painted faces and feathers. Their skin is red and they show an angry facial expression. They run around yelling war whoops and chanting. This is seen as disrespectful to many Native Americans. That is not what war hoops and chanting are for especially coming from a non-native American dressed in costume-the case in many instances.

            You may wonder why they have such a problem with it. People of Irish decent aren’t complaining about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Nor Cowboys about the Wyoming Cowboys, or even Wake Forest’s Demon Deacons. According to Elizabeth, it’s their identity-being a Native American. Not only that, but it’s a part of their traditions, heritage, and culture that is sacred to them. When all of that is portrayed in a negative way, it can be hurtful. If you try to put yourself in their shoes, and view it from their perspective you may begin to understand a bit more how they might feel.

            In most instances I believe it’s the mascot itself that ruins the privilege of having a Native American name. The name, in most cases, isn’t what brings issues, unless you’re talking about the Washington D.C. Red Skins or other derogatory names. It’s how the mascot appears and acts during events. At my school we don’t have an actual live mascot. However, during homecoming we have an older tribal member ride on horseback and carry the American flag. Since it is a real person, not a costume, and he is a tribal member there isn’t anything that can come out as stereotypical or display negative actions.

            The school’s population and location also determine the Native American mascot’s acceptability. Most of the high schools in Montana that have Native American mascot names are located on the reservation; for example, Browning and Lodge Grass Indians, Ronan Chiefs and Maidens, Brockton Warriors and so forth. Living on a reservation allows you to have more knowledge on how to respect the mascot name, especially when you are surrounded by the people the name comes from and represents. Also, you’re taught their history and sometimes their language starting early in grade school which helps considerably.

                        To me, sometimes the mascots are okay and sometimes they’re not. Some names are all right and some are not. Native American mascots  is a very conflicting subject, especially if you’re not Native American; it makes it hard to know what’s considered respectful and appropriate and what is not. Even though I have grown up on a reservation and have been taught in school about Native American history, I don’t see myself fit to decide if the mascot and name are appropriate.