Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 1:58 PM
Subject: First Hurdle Cleared (mascot issue)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 25, 2003 Contact: Lori Nelson, Alliance Against
Racial Mascots, (213) 250-8787
Assembly Education Committee Approves Legislation to Abolish American
Indian Mascots in California's Schools
Sacramento, CA- In a hearing Wednesday, the Assembly Education Committee
voted 6-3 to approve Assembly Bill 858 (Goldberg) legislation to eliminate
American Indian mascots in California's schools. Assemblymembers Jackie
Goldberg, Rebecca Cohn, Manny Diaz, Loni Hancock, Fran Pavely and Sarah
Reyes voted for the bill. This bill would prohibit elementary, middle and
high schools from using the racial epithet, "Redskins," as a team name.
The bill would also prohibit the use of "Indians", "Braves", "Apaches",
"Comanches", "Papooses", or any Native American tribal name. "Warriors"
and "Sentinels" are also prohibited by the bill, if accompanied by American
Indian imagery. The prohibitions do not apply to schools located within
Indian country, as defined by federal law, if approved by tribal
enactment.
"This issue is a critical civil rights issue for all Californians. Nobody
deserves to have their religious icons and sacred objects exploited by
sports teams in our public schools," said Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg
(D-45).
Sponsored by the Alliance Against Racial Mascots (ALLARM), a coalition
formed by the Southern California Indian Center and the National Conference
for Community and Justice, this bill has garnered broad support in Native
and non-Native communities; including the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU), Hoopa Valley Tribe, Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, National
Indian Education Association, Museum of Tolerance, and the California
Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA).
"We are pleased to support this legislation this year. I commend
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg and the Assembly Education Committee for
their efforts to address an important civil rights issue while upholding
tribal sovereignty," said Lyle Marshall, Chairman of the Hoopa Valley
Tribe in California, and a member of ALLARM.
"For over 40 years, Native peoples have called for the elimination of
Indian mascots. Yet, over 100 schools in California maintain racial
mascots. The need for a state law is clear. All children suffer when
racial stereotypes and religious intolerance are promoted in education, " says
Cindy LaMarr, Executive Director of the Capital Area Indian Resources, Inc.
and the first California Native to be elected President of the National
Indian Education Association (NIEA).
For more information about the bill and racial mascots, please go to
www.allarm.org.
April 30 - Daily Feast
Those of us who have seen a grass fire know that when one flame is smothered, another can break out in a different place. It takes trained minds to perceive where the next will happen - not so different from our daily lives. Sometimes it is hard to do anything new because of the emergency work. This is all a part of the business of living. We never quite reach perfection - not all at once. Even if we do, we are off to something else that needs more help, more work. If it were not for the moving and stretching of time, perfection might become a dead nothing. The Cherokee would tell you not to build your campfire near loose tinder. What earthly purpose is there in starting a fire with a match or a tongue, in places and in ways where we have no business?
~ No one ever saw an Indian destroy something the Great Creator gave to man for his needs. ~
RED FOX
'A Cherokee Feast of Days', by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
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Elder's Meditation of the Day April 30
"Modern civilization has no understanding of sacred matters. Everything is backwards."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW
Modern civilization says, don't pray in school; don't pray at work; only go to church on Sunday. If you don't believe what I believe, you'll go to hell. Deviancy is normal. Our role models cheat, drink and run around; these are the people in the news. The news sells bad news; no one wants to hear good news. Kids are killing kids. Victims have little protection. Violence is normal. Leaders cheat and lie. Everything is backwards. We need to pray for spiritual intervention. We need to have guidance from the Creator to help us rebuild our families, our communities and ourselves. Today, I will pray for spiritual intervention from the Great Spirit.
Grandfather, we pray for your help in a pitiful way.
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'THINK on THESE THINGS'
by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
Did you know that when we poke fun at someone else we're covering up our own embarrassment?
We all have shortcomings, peculiarities about ourselves that we take no pride in nor want others to know about. So, frequently we call attention to the "different" traits of others. Sometimes we believe they are not aware of their own problems, but they are. They are superconscious of them, and because of it they must escape through finding something about someone else they believe is worse than their own.
Truly wise persons are those who take their own unique qualities and build around them. Some of the most fascinating people are those who surround their unusual features with such exquisite mannerisms and beautifully developed personalities so handsomely as to make others ordinary.
It has been written by Augustine, "This is the very perfection of man, to find out his own imperfection."
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Available online! 'Cherokee Feast of Days Volume III'
by Joyce Sequichie Hifler.
Visit her website to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones......and also for those who don't have access to the Internet: http://www.hifler.com
Elder's Meditation of the Day
by White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their website: http://www.whitebison.org
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Subject: Indians are out, Wildcats are in at West Seattle High
Friday, April 25, 2003
Indians are out, Wildcats are in at West Seattle High
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/119146_wildcats25.html
By DEBORAH BACH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
After scrapping its problematic Indians moniker and remaining mascotless for months, West Seattle High School has a new nickname less likely to offend: the Wildcats.
The mascot got 54 percent of the student vote this week, trumping the other ballot option -- the Wolf Pack -- by a nail-biting 8 percentage points. West Seattle abandoned its former Indians nickname in September after Seattle Public Schools adopted a policy in July banning the use of tribal names for school monikers and mascots.
The district established the policy after the student-run Native American Club at West Seattle High objected to the Indians name used at the school for more than 80 years.
The policy was subsequently challenged by the school's alumni association, but was upheld last month by a King County Superior Court judge.
The two ballot choices were among 10 politically correct options, which also included the Yellowjackets, Wolves, Ravens, Mustangs, Tigers, Wolverines and Falcons.
Principal Phil Brockman said the school will select an image to go along with its new mascot by holding a student art competition.
Asked if he was relieved to see an end to the hotly debated mascot issue, Brockman said, "I'm glad it's over, yes."
Had the school chosen its new icon last week, the Wildcats could have joined in a kickoff on Monday of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning standardized tests.
To pump up the school's sophomores, who started taking the test this week, Brockman and a group of teachers strutted out their own rendition of the Village People's disco hit "YMCA," substituting "W-A-S-L" and writing their own test-boosting lyrics.
In the spirit of the original version, the WASL People included a few construction workers, a police officer, a sailor, a Marine and a leather-clad biker.
The one noticeably absent figure, a standard Village People character, was the Indian.
More headlines and info from West Seattle.
P-I reporter Deborah Bach can be reached at 206-448-8197 or eborahbach@seattlepi.com
