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 in sports teams. |
