Native American Sports Names

By way of introduction, I am Cherokee, Ottawa and Irish. My Native American culture is paramount in my life.

I also graduated from the University of North Dakota (UND) in 1988 with a BA in American Indian Studies. UND had over 300 Native American Students at the time I went to school there. UND goes by the name of The Fighting Sioux.

While a student at the University I was part of an organization that sought a name change. Why? We felt that the use of the name promoted racist acts by students on the campus and at sporting events. While I attended the University and later when I taught there, there was at least one racial incident per semester on the campus aimed at the Native American Student population.

I knew several students that were attacked and beaten my non-native students. Racial slurs were yelled at hockey games. There was a major verbal assault aimed at Female Native Americans students and their children at a homecoming parade one fall.

The University still holds onto the name even after the NCAA came out against the use of Native American sports names.

The University claims they use the name to honor the native Americans of the state of North Dakota, in spite of the fact that the name was chosen by the student body in the 30's because the in state rivals, North Dakota state is the Bison and according to the UND Student paper , The Fighting Sioux, reflected killing the Bison!

This is a reflection of my personal experience while at UND. Because of the events on the campus while I lived there, my youngest daughter, refused to dance at pow-wows any more, because she did not want to been seen dressed "like an Indian".

The NCAA attempted to do the right thing by coming out against the use of such names. Even though they had allowed to let some Universities to continue to use such names. They have specifically told UND to drop the use of their name because of the history of racial events on the campus.

None of this reflects the use of such names by Professional sports teams. The football team in Washington D.C. comes to mind. Redskins in comparable to the use of the N word and no professional team would consider using that word. And, the logo used by the Cleveland baseball team. What could be more racist.

There have been many Native athletics in the past that have refused to play for such teams. I have been surprised that other "players" have not spoken out against the use of such names.

Another problem with the use of such names and the mascots that go with them is the use of symbols that are sacred to many Native people. The use of feathers, paint, dance and the drum. A few years back a female comedian sang the National Anthem at a professional baseball game. At the end of the song she grabbed her crotch and spat. It caused a national outcry and yet, Native people say the same things that many Americans were saying after seeing the use of "our" sacred symbols at sporting events.

I hope that professional teams will one day follow the NCAA in banning the use of such names and mascots.