“Sometimes we are invisible, even to ourselves.”
Boozhoo John,
“Sometimes we are invisible, even to ourselves,” said professor and author Dr. Anton Treuer (Ojibwe and Leech Lake).
That quote sits with me, especially as we get closer to Halloween and people begin to choose their costumes. I’ve seen countless children dressed up as Native Americans with their generic headdresses and bow and arrows. As people living in the United States, we are used to seeing old Western movies portraying “savage Indians” alongside heroic cowboys, Indian mascots for sports teams, even Indian maidens on boxes of butter.
The Images We See
But as Native people, those images and costumes say something more. They say that we only exist in the past and all of us – all of our many different tribes and customs – can be lumped together as one image.
Mascots are never neutral symbols. They are exaggerated caricatures never intending a positive representation. Those stereotypes are harmful to all of us – especially our children.
Imagine growing up in a society that tells you you are invisible, part of the past. This has serious impacts on mental health that persist through generations.
Our Many Positive Role Models
This October, I encourage you to take some time to educate your peers and family about the repercussions Native mascots and costumes have on us. And do your own research to learn about the many Native people who have spoken out against Native mascots and who stand as positive role models for our people.
One of those people is Mark Denning (Menominee), a close friend of Native Vote, who has stood up against racial stereotypes here in Wisconsin and contributed to the removal of Native mascots [[link removed]] in sports teams.
Ayanna O’Kimosh (Menominee), known locally, is in ninth grade and a professional boxer. She has won a Silver Gloves National Championship and multiple state and regional Silver Gloves Championships – all while advocating for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
Nicole Mann (Round Valley Indian Tribe) is currently serving as the mission commander for the SpaceX Crew-5 mission and is the first Native American woman to go into space. The crew launched last Wednesday and my favorite part – she took an Ojibwe dream catcher into space!
Wes Studi of the Cherokee Nation is well-known for his career as an actor and film producer, particularly for his portrayal of Native Americans in film. In 2019, he received an Academy Honorary Award, becoming the first Native American and the second Indigenous person from North America to be honored by the Academy.
Jonas Metoxen (Oneida) played fullback for the Green Bay team before they were the Packers after attending the Carlisle Indian School from 1891 to 1900. Oneida historians report that there were many more unpaid Oneida tribal members who played early on for what is now known as the Green Bay Packers.
I could go on and on, but I leave it to you to continue learning about the many Native people who have worked to better the lives of our future generations. The recent book Notable Native People [[link removed]] by Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation) is a great place to start along with our reading list at the bottom of this web page [[link removed]].
Why Our Work
This is why our work is so important. We are here to ensure our children and the seven generations who come after us have lives free of harmful images. The more we educate others about our issues, the more opportunities we have to make positive changes.
And when everyone has access to the ballot, they can use their voice to vote for our people.
Donate to Native Vote [[link removed]]
Miigwech (thank you),
Dee Sweet
Native Vote Manager
Wisconsin Conservation Voices
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Wisconsin Conservation Voices
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Madison, WI 53703
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