Posted on January 8, 2008 - Filed Under MASCOTS THAT HONOR |
Honor Indians Institute would like to suggest an alternative to the Tecumseh (Nebraska) High School Indians. We offer the Tecumseh High School PANTHERS! We also invite the Tecumseh Indians of Michigan, the Tecumseh SAVAGES of Oklahoma and the Tecumseh Braves of Indiana to consider this alternative as well. On an educational level, the Tecumseh Indians is just plain wrong. First, Tecumseh, Nebraska was named in honor of the Shawnee warrior, Tecumseh. His name translates into English as “the Panther” hence the Panthers. Tecumseh was known for his call for tribes to unite as one political body to fight the white man’s expansion into tribal lands. He allied with British forces to fight early American invaders into tribal territory. He was opposed to any treaty or compromise with the white man. His objective was to destroy the white man invader. So, it is curious that white communities would want to “honor” Tecumseh, a sworn enemy to the white man! The second reason the “Indians” is just plain wrong is that there were no such thing as “Tecumseh Indians.” He was Shawnee, but was never considered an official Shawnee chief, even though some Shawnee joined his allied group of other like minded tribal members. To put in a modern context that students may relate to, it would be similar to “honoring” Osama Bin Ladin by naming your town “Osama” and your high school mascot would be the “Muslims.” But if you are hell bent on clinging to your curious notions of honoring Indians, then we suggest the TECUMSEH PANTHERS, in honor of Shawnee warrior Tecumseh, the Panther!
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