TEACH
RESPECT
|
We Are
a Living People
I don't
understand....
Why should anyone's identity be defined by your games?
We are
a living people.
Why are we used as entertainment for schools?
We are
a living people.
Why must we be used as nicknames, logos, and mascots?
We are
a living people.
Why must we, a living people, be singled out?
Why
must we, a living people, be stereotyped?
Can't
YOU tell who WE, a living people, ARE?
Why
doesn't what WE say matter?
We are
a living people.
Why don't OUR voices count?
We are
a living people.
How can you say "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL..."
BUT
NOT create the Mishicot Caucasians or the Gale-Ettrick Blackmen?
Why
do you treat US, a living people, as relics?
Why
is OUR culture for sale?
We are
a living people.
Why must WE fight, for that GIVEN to others?
We are a living people.
I don't
understand.....
Respect
should be such a simple thing?
Respect
should be such a simple thing!
Why
do YOU make it so hard?
Why
do WE make it so hard?
By Lori Wautier
(Oneida tribal member and Hortonville High School student) - Read
at Wisconsin Senate Education Committee hearing on SB217 on March
15, 2000 |
|
|
NOT
RACISM |
PAGE CONTENTS:
2006
Jan. 28, Wisconsin high schools urged to change mascots
2005
March, ALERT: Wisconsin bill to ban "Indian" mascots and logos, March 2005
2004
Saturday morning, April 24th, ACTION
ALERT
"Indian" Mascot and Logo Task Force
Mar. 9th, Indian logo passes
test: Osseo-Fairchild meeting attended by 120 people
Mar. 9th, Osseo-Fairchild school board
votes to revamp its mascot
Board must rescind Indian logo decision
ALERT: OutKast's
stereotypes at Grammys, Feb.
Osseo-Fairchild school logo
decision angers many Ho-Chunk people
OTHER PAGES:
Racist School Play in Viroqua,
WI, 2004
Racist School Play in Viroqua, WI,
2003
Indians are people not mascots.
2003
Indians are people not mascots.
2002
Indians are people not mascots.
2001
Indians are people not mascots.
2000
Indians are people not mascots.
1999
Team name/mascot changed in Milton,
WI
Wi Legislation - S. Bill 217
- re Indian mascot use in schools
LINKS:
|
|
Wisconsin Indian Education
Association invites you to join us in eliminating stereotypes of Indian
people from Wisconsin schools.
PROBLEM:
American Indian images are used as mascots and logos in more than
fifty Wisconsin public school districts. Wisconsin Indian people are
taxpaying constituents of this state, yet Indian children are alienated
by and discriminated against through the use of "Indian" logo symbolism
in schools their parents help to finance.
For years, tribes, individuals
and Indian communities, advocacy organizations and churches have asked
Wisconsin schools to stop using "Indians" as school mascots or logos.
Twenty - one school districts have changed their "Indian" logos to
images that harm no human being. The remaining schools persist in
promoting stereotypes of American Indian people, teaching children
within their districts how to engage in discriminatory practices,
and exposing children outside their districts to the same. Logo challenges,
under current 118.13 statutes, divide local communities and heighten
cultural misunderstandings between Wisconsin Indian people and their
neighbors. To effectively end the use of these discriminatory stereotypes,
new legislation is required that will ban the use of all "Indian"
mascots and logos in public schools throughout the state.
|
Marquette Changes Nickname
Wed 05/04/2005
By RYAN NAKASHIMA
Associated Press Writer
www.wkowtv.com/index.php/sports/story/p/pkid/21127
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Capping a nearly yearlong debate, Marquette University declined
Wednesday to reinstate its old Warriors nickname, which offended some American Indian
groups with its stereotypical imagery, and instead took on a new moniker, the Gold.
The Jesuit university had abandoned the Warriors name and Indian logo in 1993, but
the nickname that was adopted a year later, the Golden Eagles, never seemed to catch
on.
In Wednesday's action, the board of trustees unanimously voted down an attempt by
alumni to return Marquette to its nickname during a golden run that saw it win the
NCAA men's basketball championship in 1977 under legendary coach Al McGuire.
"We live in a different era than when the Warriors nickname was selected in
1954," the Rev. Robert Wild, Marquette president, said at a news conference.
"The perspective of time has showed us that our actions, intended or not, can
offend others."
After speaking with American Indian leaders, board chairman John Bergstrom, a business
administration graduate in 1967, said he changed his mind on supporting the Warriors'
return.
"I became convinced that the Warriors nickname could not be separated from
past imagery," he said.
One former logo featured a profile of an Indian wearing a feathered hat. In 1971,
the school dropped a cartoon figure called Willie Wampum as a mascot, who according
to Forest County Potawatomi Tribe Chairman Harold Frank, was "a little Indian
fellow prancing around with a spear looking like he was delirious."
Frank raised his concerns about the way the Warriors name was depicted in a meeting
with Wild last year. He hailed Wednesday's decision.
"It goes a long way ... and hopefully that opens the doors to establishing
a relationship with Native Americans," he said.
The school, which has 11,500 students, teaches to only 38 American Indian or Alaskan
Native students, a spokeswoman said.
The debate was sparked at commencement last May, when board vice chair Wayne Sanders
said he and another unnamed trustee would offer $1 million each to the school to
restore the Warriors name.
Wild immediately rejected the offer but agreed to have the board discuss it.
A student group called Students for Warriors latched onto the idea, posted a Web
site and eventually gathered 900 signatures of students in favor of a return to
the past.
The co-chair of the group, Dan Maciejewski, 19, said he grew up watching Marquette
basketball, and the glory days were when the school had a different nickname.
"When people think Marquette Warriors, they think Al McGuire's teams. They
think of George Thompson, the great players of that era," he said.
Discounting a Final Four appearance by the Golden Eagles in 2003, he said, "the
vast majority of that tradition came when we were the Warriors."
In contrast, more than half of some 9,000 students, alumni and staff responded in
an online poll in November that the Golden Eagles nickname was "boring,"
"weak," or "common," the university said.
But students on campus were not thrilled with Gold, either.
"Marquette Gold?" chimed students Jaime Bohte, 20, and Tas Bhikhapurwala,
21, when they were told the news.
"It's not a mascot, it's a color," said Bohte, an accounting sophomore.
Danielle Smith, a 19-year-old education student called switching to Gold "pointless."
Wild said the name change would take place when Marquette left Conference USA and
joined the tougher Big East Conference on July 1.
Students, alumni and staff will be asked for their input on developing a mascot,
which is expected to be announced at the start of the new school year this fall.
On the Net:
Marquette: www.marquette.edu/nickname • Students for Warriors: www.studentsforwarriors.com
• American Indian Sports Team Mascots
http://earnestman.tripod.com/1indexpage.htm
"Little drops of rain wear away the greatest of stones."
End Racial bigotry NOW!
http://ishgooda.org/racial/ •
"Indian" Mascot and Logo Taskforce
http://pages.prodigy.net/munson/ •
SEOklahoma University
/www.sosu.edu/slife/savages/ •
Monroe Gilmour, Coordinator
www.main.nc.us/wncceib/ •
UND BRIDGES
www.und.edu/org/bridges/index2.html |
Marquette Changes Nickname
Wisconsin high schools urged to change mascots
Posted: January 28, 2006
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412363
By David Melmer -- Today staff
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin superintendent of education has sent a letter
to all school administrators in the state urging them to begin a process with
the community that would lead to a change in American Indian mascots.
The letter from state Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster does not demand or
mandate that schools change the American Indian mascot, but rather encourages
communities to come together to find alternatives.
''The letter was put out with the hope that communities would have
conversations. In many parts of the state, these conversations have taken place,''
said Joseph Donovan, spokesman for the Department of Public Education.
Since the 1960s, at least 25 schools have changed their American Indian
mascot and some schools changed the logo and kept the name. (An accurate count
of
schools that have maintained the American Indian mascot in one form or
another was not available.)
In her letter, Burmaster cited legislative bills now in the state Senate and
Assembly that would affect changes in mascot names. The companion bills open
the door for any resident of a school district who is offended by a mascot
name to file a complaint with the state superintendent.
The bills, both of which are still in committee, require that a hearing be
held with the state superintendent. The school district would be required to
prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the use of the ethnic name,
nickname, logo or mascot does not promote discrimination, pupil harassment or
stereotyping.
Some Wisconsin media have reported that Burmaster mandated the change and
that a $1,000 fine would be imposed if any school failed to cooperate.
The proposed legislation provides for a maximum fine of $1,000 per day in
which the school is noncompliant should the superintend rule against the school.
Burmaster stated that the Department of Public Instruction supports the
legislative efforts.
There are 11 American Indian nations in Wisconsin with populations that
cover most of the state. The Ho-Chunk, in the southern portion of the state at
Black River Falls, is very close to Tomah. Many Ho-Chunk students attend Tomah
schools.
Tomah uses the nickname ''Indians,'' and there is some support to change the
name. The Ho-Chunk, however, are not adamant that the logo or nickname be
changed.
Tomah school board member Dennis Workman favors the change. He told the
Tomah Journal that the arguments to keep the nickname are weak and the two
most-used comments from proponents are: ''First, 'It has always been that way';
and
second, it's 'Don't let the Native Americans have their way.'''
In Osceola, just up the road from the Ho-Chunk Nation, the school nickname
is ''Chieftains.'' There are no plans to change that name, according to school
officials. Osceola was a Seminole chief who refused to leave the area, and
the school nickname evokes a sense of pride and honor, school officials said.
''As you know, I believe that stereotypical American Indian logos do not
support sound educational practice because they interfere with a school's
efforts to provide accurate information related to the history, culture and tribal
sovereignty of American Indian nations,'' Burmaster stated in her letter.
Marquette University changed its mascot name from ''Warriors'' to ''Golden
Eagles'' after some heated debate. The students voted for the new mascot name.
The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution calling for an
end to the use of American Indian mascots. In the association's comments, it
stated that there is a potential negative impact on students' mental health -
particularly that of American Indian students - with the use of such mascots
or symbols.
Burmaster also stated that a new initiative in Wisconsin would guarantee a
quality education for every child through attention to and respect for
diversity, including differences in race and culture.
In Menomonee, the nickname ''Indians'' was dropped in favor of ''Mustangs,''
only to be changed back a year later after a school board election removed
three members who agreed with the change. Menomonee is located in the
northwestern part of the state and near several Ojibwe nations.
Some school administrators read Burmaster's letter and threw it away. Others
reported it to the school boards. Few schools have expressed any strong
desire to make a mascot name change on their own.
All tribal governments in the state, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council,
the Wisconsin Indian Education Association and other organizations have
expressed opposition to American Indian mascots and nicknames.
The WIEA made a list of 38 schools with mascots that are considered the most
egregious offenders of the mascot issue.
|
ALERT: Wisconsin bill to ban "Indian" mascots and logos, March 2005
From: Barbara E Munson Barb@Munson.net
Mar 12, 2005
On Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council President, Ray DePerry addressed a joint session of the Wisconsin State Legislature. In the historic State of the Tribes Address, Chairman DePerry called on the Wisconsin State Legislature to enact legislation to eliminate the use of "Indian" mascots, logos and names from the public schools. Representative Frank Boyle ( 73rd Assembly District) has authored such a bill on behalf of Wisconsin Indian Education Association and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council and Spencer Coggs (6th Senate District) has authored a companion bill in the Senate. The bill currently identified as LRB 0712/1 is now circulating the legislature for signatures of supporters. By days end on Friday it had received 30 signatures! Assembly Speaker John Gard has indicated that he will give the bill a hearing if his colleagues in the legislature want one. In the spirit of the dawn of a new era of improved relationships among all people of Wisconsin heralded by Chairman DePerry we hope that every legislator in both houses will sign onto the bill.
You can help!! Listed below are the names of those who have already signed on to the bill If your assembly representative or senator is not on the list, please call or write encouraging her/his signature. Or if you personally know a legislator who has not signed on, please encourage your friend to share in the creataion of this new era of good will.
Thank you for your good heart in taking this action, may you receive a joyful return.
Osk^n^su,
Barb Munson
You can use the following address to look up your legislator http://165.189.139.210/WAML/
Legislators signed-on to LRB 0712/1, relating to the use of ethnic logos, nicknames & mascots in public schools as of Friday, March 11, 2005:
Representatives : Senators |
Frank Boyle (73rd) - Author
Spencer Coggs (6th) - Author
Chuck Benedict (45th)
Tim Carpenter (3rd)
Therese Berceau (76)
Bob Jauch (25th)
Garey Bies (1st)
Fred Risser (26th)
Spencer Black (77th)
Jason Fields (11th)
Tamara Grigsby (18th)
Gary Hebl (46th)
Fred Kessler (12th)
John Lehman (62th)
Louis Molepske (71st)
Terry Musser (92nd) |
John Richards (19th)
Marlin Schneider (72nd)
Donna Seidel (85th)
Mike Sheridan ( 44th)
Gary Sherman (74th)
Jennifer Shilling (95th)
Christine Sinicki (20th)
Barb Toles (17th)
Bob Turner (61st)
Sheldon Wasserman ( 22nd)
Leon Young (16th)
Joe Parisi (48th)
Mark Pocan (78th)
Sondy Pope-Roberts (79th)
John Richards (19th) |
|
Indian logo passes test:
Osseo-Fairchild meeting attended by 120 people
Chris Vetter
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram 3/9/2004
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story.asp?id=39137
FAIRCHILD - As Richard Plass left Fairchild School on Monday, he
tried to stay upbeat about the school board's decision to keep the
Chieftain logo intact.
"I'll continue supporting people who want change," said Plass, a
Menominee Stockbridge/Munsee Indian.
Plass briefly put on a foam Cleveland Indian hat, which he said
portrays Native Americans in a poor way. Plass came to the meeting
from Kent, Ohio, where he teaches American Indian studies.
When asked if he was disappointed in the vote, Plass became choked
up. "Oh yeah," he whispered.
The Osseo-Fairchild school board voted 4-1 Monday to approve a revamped
logo of the Chieftain as the school's official mascot, while outlining
a policy for when and where the mascot will appear in the school,
on uniforms and equipment.
Under the new policy, the logo will depict a Ho-Chunk Indian wearing
a headdress.
John Elkins Sr., who spoke in favor of using the Chieftain logo,
said he was happy with the board's vote. "It was a good decision,"
Elkins said. "It finally put closure to this issue. The policy removes
all the gray areas as far as which logo should be used at the schools."
The vote was the first reading of the logo use policy; a second
reading will occur in April.
Danielle Velie, 17, an Osseo-Fairchild student, said she was disappointed
with the vote.
"I just don't think they listened to us," Velie said. "(The board)
made up their minds before listening to us."
About 120 people attended the meeting at Fairchild's elementary
school. The board initially approved the new logo at its February
meeting. However, Trempealeau County District Attorney Peter Gierok
told the district in a letter that the public notice about the meeting
did not state the board would be voting on the logo. Gierok said the
school board should rescind its vote and hold another public meeting
on the issue.
On Monday the board rescinded its February vote and then opened
the floor to discuss the plan.
People from across the state and the Midwest told the board the
Chieftain logo and name should be retired. Plass said he attends similar
meetings on Native American logo discussion throughout the region.
High school students Kellie Claflin, 15, and Julie Goplin, 15, urged
the board to pick a new mascot and logo.
"As long as there is a Native American symbol, there will be students
offended by it," Claflin said.
Osseo resident Matt Tiller suggested the board change its mascot
to a butterfly or the mythical phoenix - animals that suggest a rebirth
or new beginning.
"It's pretty obvious this issue has gradually torn our community
apart," Tiller said.
Patricia Marroquin-Norby said the board is not looking at the logo
and mascot as a religious issue.
"Eagle feathers are sacred. Headdresses are sacred," Marroquin-Norby
said. "I would never disrespect your religion, as Christians."
However, those who spoke in favor of the logo said they've never
seen instances of racism or the mascot being used in a demeaning manner.
Rita Garcia Rindahl said she is filled with self-esteem when she
sees the headdress. Rindahl said she never heard of racism while her
daughter attended the school.
Before the vote, school board member Duane Merritt suggested students
should be allowed to decide on the mascot. Merritt, who cast the lone
dissenting vote against the policy, also expressed concerns about
lawsuits that could arise because of the logo.
Vetter can be reached at 723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com.
The Osseo-Fairchild school board voted 4-1 to accept the first reading
of a logo use policy. Voting yes were: Brian Boehnen, Rollie Colby,
Larry Moen and Curt Skoyen. Voting no was Duane Merritt. Linda Hagedorn
abstained; Gracia Anderson was absent.
J P Leary, Consultant
American Indian Studies Program Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
608/267-2283 or 800/441-4563 FAX: 608/266-3643 jp.leary@dpi.state.wi.us
AIS Program Web Page: www.dpi.state.wi.us/amind/index.html
|
Osseo-Fairchild school board votes to revamp its mascot
From the Minneapolis
Star Tribune
www.startribune.com/stories/568/4654267.html
The Associated Press
Published 03/09/2004
OSSEO, Wis. - The Osseo-Fairchild school board has voted to change
its chieftain head logo from the image of a Plains Indian to the Ho-Chunk,
fueling a three-year controversy that has divided the communities.
The board voted 4-1 for the change with one abstention Monday evening
in this western Wisconsin school district of about 2,200.
The board voted for the change in February, but Trempealeau County
District Attorney Peter Gierok told the district in a letter that
the public wasn't properly notified the vote could take place. Gierok
said the school board should rescind its vote and hold another public
meeting on the issue.
More than 100 people attended the meeting Monday, said school board
member Rollie Colby. He said normally about 30 people attend.
The chieftain head was Osseo's logo before it joined the Fairchild
district in 1968, then it became the logo for the merged district.
But after the state attorney general issued an opinion in the early
1990s saying American Indian mascots, logos and nicknames in public
schools could violate a state law that prohibits discrimination against
students, the school gradually stopped using the logo on school equipment
and materials.
It didn't become an issue until the school built a new gym - without
the chieftain head logo - in the 2001-2002 school year.
The school board voted in July 2002 to change its chieftain head
logo to the letters "OF" for Osseo-Fairchild.
In November, voters upset by the change recalled four board members.
The new board reinstated the logo in February 2003 in a tumultuous
meeting during which one protester, Harvey Gunderson, was arrested.
But after more complaints, the board decided to change the image
from a Plains Indian, which doesn't reside in Wisconsin, to the image
of a Ho-Chunk, which has about 1,500 members in several western Wisconsin
counties.
They consulted with local Ho-Chunk members on the revamped logo,
which is very similar to the other one, Colby said.
Gunderson, whose wife is Oneida, said the board's decision goes
against the Ho-Chunk Nation and other tribes opposition to Native
American nicknames and logos. He said the board also disrespected
the students who requested the student body be able to choose the
nickname and logo.
"We are extremely disappointed because the school board has basically
snubbed their noses at the Ho-Chunk Nation and at other Indian people
who have opposed these nicknames and logos."
He said he and his wife haven't determined what they will do next
but they are considering filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against
the school board and the state Department of Public Instruction.
Colby said the board puts more weight on the opinions of Ho-Chunk
living in the community than a group living several counties away.
The board also has to formalize the policy on how the logo and mascot
will be used in an April meeting.
Colby said there are three key points that likely won't change.
Those are the logo won't be used on team uniforms or warmups, the
letters "OF" will be used on administrative things, like stationary
or newsletters, and school apparel will have a mix of the name Chieftains,
the letters and the logo.
John Elkins Sr. spoke in favor of using the chieftain logo Monday.
"It was a good decision," Elkins said. "It finally put closure to
this issue. The policy removes all the gray areas as far as which
logo should be used at the schools."
Student Danielle Velie, 17, said she was disappointed with the vote.
"(The board) made up their minds before listening to us," she said.
School board member Duane Merritt, who cast the dissenting vote,
expressed concerns about lawsuits that could arise because of the
logo.
Brian Foss, executive vice president of the National Conference
for Community and Justice in Washington D.C., said the issue of Native
American mascots is one of the top five public policy priorities for
them in the next three years. He said it affects hundreds of school
districts around the country.
He said it's important the district go to a tribe's leadership to
see how they feel about logos or mascots.
"It's an issue of respect," he said.
|
Board must rescind Indian logo decision
2/16/2004
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram (Wisconsin)
Opinions http://www.leadertelegram.com/story.asp?id=38141
In November 2002, when voters in the Osseo-Fairchild school district
recalled several board members, the common thread of the complaints
was that the ousted board members didn't listen or show respect for
their constituents.
Curious, then, that last week some of the new board members voted
to install an Indian logo as a school symbol without posting the item
on its agenda, a move that clearly violates the state's Open Meetings
law.
A majority of the Osseo-Fairchild board members obviously have made
up their minds that some form of an Indian logo is what they and their
constituents want. The vote last week to approve the logo depicting
a Ho-Chunk Indian was 5-1.
The recall election in November 2002 was in no small part because
of the previous board's decision to eliminate the Indian logo, despite
some claims to the contrary. It also supposedly was because people
felt the board had developed a cavalier attitude about the rights
of citizens to be heard on important matters.
Supporters of last week's action point out that the logo issue has
already been debated at length. " ... Obviously, the majority of the
board felt this has been discussed and presented enough," board member
Rollie Colby said. "It's time to get on to other things."
While that may be the majority view, and while in the end what happened
last week may be inevitable, the way it was carried out shows a lack
of respect for opposing views and a total disregard for democratic
government.
Posting agendas that clearly spell out the issues and perhaps sitting
through long periods of public comment aren't always fun or convenient,
but it's necessary if government is going to be open to all who want
to get involved. It's a dangerous precedent to skip these steps at
board members' whim because they don't see the need for it.
A committee appointed to study the logo issue was split. They presented
their report to the school board last week, and board President Brian
Boehnen sided with the group backing the Ho-Chunk logo and recommended
it for consideration.
The 5-1 vote of approval followed, with only board member Duane
Merritt dissenting. "I thought it was an illegal vote, and I challenged
that," Merritt said. "The public hasn't seen it, and I'm not sure
the kids have. I don't think that's right."
This is a funny way for a school board to show its respect and commitment
to openness, the same openness previous board members were kicked
out for supposedly lacking.
Whether the Indian logo is respectful or disrespectful, or a source
of pride or embarrassment to the community is something that the community
has the right to decide, absent a court order that makes it a civil
rights issue. For now, the people in the Osseo-Fairchild school district
and every other school district have the right through their elected
officials to make that decision.
But what the board members don't have the right to do is trample
on the Open Meetings law in the process because they unilaterally
decided they could conduct the public's business without the public
knowing about it, regardless of what the final outcome will be.
The board should rescind its action of last week, put the item on
a future agenda, invite people to be heard, listen to their comments,
and then vote.
- Don Huebscher, editor
|
From: Harvey Gunderson gunderso@triwest.net
PRESS RELEASE: Feb. 10, 2004
Osseo-Fairchild school logo decision angers many Ho-Chunk
people
On Monday, February 9, the Osseo-Fairchild school board adopted
a controversial school logo which many believe will be even more unacceptable
than the one it replaced. The new logo is a drawing of a Ho-Chunk
man wearing a headdress. Tracy L. Littlejohn of La Crosse said, "As
a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, I find this decision obscene." Rachel
Montana, member of the Ho-Chunk Nation living in the Osseo-Fairchild
school district, said "Ho-Chunk people are alive! We are living and
are a people! Why use us as a logo?"
Jon Greendeer, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation from Stevens Point,
said "The Osseo-Fairchild action goes against what many natives have
been working toward and goes against the official policy of the Ho-Chunk
Nation." The official position of the Ho-Chunk Nation was passed by
the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature on August 6, 2002 in Resolution 8/6/02C
".by officially restating that the negative portrayals of Native American
Indian peoples through stereotypes, nicknames, logos and mascots,
are offensive and unacceptable." The Osseo-Fairchild school board
received copies of the official Ho Chunk position at its December
2002 meeting.
The Osseo-Fairchild community has been embroiled in controversy
over the use of a "Chieftains" athletic nickname and logo for the
last two years. School board members in 2002 discontinued the Indian
head logo because of concern for the impact on the education of Native
and non-Native children. Logo supporters then recalled four board
members who had voted for the change, winning each race by a slim
margin. At the December board meeting, three American Indian families
notified the new board that they would file a federal civil rights
lawsuit if the board reinstated an "Indian" logo.
At a special meeting on February 24, 2003, the board voted to hold
a referendum on April 1 concerning the logo issue. American Indians
and their supporters pointed out that a referendum in a 98 percent
white community is an inappropriate way to deal with a civil rights
issue, arguing that if civil rights issues had been determined by
referendum during the 1950's, blacks would still be attending segregated
schools in the South.
Protesters opposed the meeting because it was called with only one
day notice and held during a weekday afternoon while a board member
opposed to the logo was gone. A large demonstration was held outside
the Osseo-Fairchild high school before the meeting. Three demonstrators
were ejected from the meeting by Osseo police, with one being arrested
for civil disobedience. The school board voted to hold a referendum
on April 1, adding an amendment reinstating the Indian head logo until
the referendum was held. However, the State elections board subsequently
ordered the school district to not hold the referendum on April 1
because the school board had violated the requirement that matters
on the ballot be determined at least 42 days prior to Election Day.
A lawsuit was drafted by Gary Montana, Standing Rock Lakota, and
a civil rights attorney who lives in the school district and has children
in the schools. He shared the draft with the board and requested a
meeting to try to resolve it without going to court in order to save
taxpayer money. "The school board seems to really want to spend school
district tax money to defend a racial nickname and logo", said Carol
Gunderson, member of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and a plaintiff
on the lawsuit draft. "This money should be spent on education for
our kids rather than defending logos that hurt children. We have tried
everything we can to get the board to understand that these nicknames
and logos demean and dehumanize Indian people. It seems like they
only care about athletic logos and not about Indian children," Gunderson
said.
Rachel Montana, member of the Ho-Chunk Nation who lives in the school
district, said "What are these nicknames and logos teaching our children?
Why do they want to put up a Ho-Chunk head? They should do something
else that does not negatively affect kids."
For contact information or details, contact: Harvey or Carol Gunderson P.O. Box 667
Osseo, WI 54758-0667
(715) 597-6668 or (715) 797-9198 or (715) 828-6668
gunderso@triwest.net
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