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I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P

Posted on January 9, 2009 - Filed Under Indian Mascots |

Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People

RESOLUTION REQUESTING PRESIDENT OBAMA TO TELL SCHOOLS AND OTHER SPORTING TEAMS TO STOP USING INDIAN MASCOTS

WHEREAS, I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. was established by Indian high school students participating in the Circle of Learning project sponsored by the Omaha Public School District, Office of Indian Education’s Native Indian Centered Education (N.I.C.E.) and in cooperation with Little Priest Tribal College and The Honor Indians Institute; and

WHEREAS, I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. was established to encourage students to learn more about tribes and tribal people and to stop perpetuating ignorance and negative stereotypes about our people by using Indian images as team mascots; and

WHEREAS, Numerous schools here in Nebraska and throughout the United States and professional sports teams use Indian images as team mascots, such as Redskins, Redmen, Red Raiders, Savages, Indians, Chiefs, Chieftains, Braves, Warriors, etc., claiming that such names and images are meant to honor Indians; and

WHEREAS, Numerous Tribal, Civil Rights and other professional organizations have condemned the use of Indian mascots as racist, offensive and harmful to Indian students, and that they perpetuate ignorance and negative stereotypes about Indian people; and

WHEREAS, Groups such as The National Congress of American Indians, Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, The United States Commission on Civil Rights, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), United Nations, Committee On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination and the American Psychological Association have called for the elimination of Indian mascots by schools and professional sporting teams; and

WHEREAS, The majority of schools here in Nebraska and throughout the United States and professional sporting teams have not listened to tribal leaders, people and educators and have continued to use Indian images as their team mascots; and

WHEREAS, We as students who are affected by the racism, offensiveness and ignorance perpetuated by Indian mascots add our voices to those speaking against Indian mascots and ask schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots; and

WHEREAS, We also call upon the newly elected President BARACK OBAMA, who received overwhelming support from the Indian community by promising change in Indian country, to join with us in calling for schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People (I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P.) denounce Indian images used as mascots as racist, offensive, degrading and that they perpetuate ignorance and negative stereotypes about our people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. adds our voices in calling for schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascot; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. encourages students to join our Circle of Learning and learn more about Indian tribes and peoples; and

FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. respectfully requests that President BARACK OBAMA join with us and add his voice in denouncing the use of racially offensive Indian mascots and by telling schools and sports teams, starting with the WASHINGTON REDSKINS, located in our National Capitol and his new home, to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots.

DATED this 7^th day of January, 2009,

BY:

__________________________________________

Andre Fast Horse, President

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