From: Mike Wicks
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: Mar 1, 2006
Subject: RE: Policy on School Mascots
First, let me comment on the poll.
I think if someone had run a poll in Selma, Alabama in 1963, the racists would have easily outnumbered the oppressed and voted to keep oppressing them. Indians make up about 1% of the US population, so they will never be able to out vote the racists in such a poll.
Resources that you can print and use;
http://www.aics.org/mascot/society.html A letter from the Society of Indian Psychologists
http://www.aics.org/mascot/cornel.html An article by Dr. Cornel Pewewardy
http://www.aics.org/mascot/david.html A letter from David P. Rider, Ph.D.
http://www.aics.org/mascot/truth.html A paper by Dr. Chris Kraatz
http://www.aics.org/mascot/racism.html A report by the US Department of Justice concerning violence against Indians.
http://www.aics.org/mascot/civilrights.html US Commission on Civil Rights statement
I regret that we cannot have someone be there with you, but feel free to use any or all of the above resources to show the mascot does in fact cause harm.
Mike
American Indian Cultural Support
From: Robert Eurich
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: Mar 29, 2006
Subject: RE: Article for your website
Thank you for your interest in and willingness to address this difficult issue. You will have already received the message I sent to Mr. Hemingway of the Rochester school district and copied to the New Hampshire State Education Department.
Addressing the issue is generally more of a marathon than a sprint and is typically not one that will make many friends for those leading the effort. If you intend to pursue this it might be advisable to find others of like mind, including organizations such as religious, civic, educational, civil rights, etc., with who you can ally. It is much harder for a school board to dismiss a group than it is to dismiss an individual. Having moral and material support is also very important as this can become quite isolative as well as down right hostile. Also, internal change - originating from within the district/school - can often be the most effective, lasting and easiest way to achieve success. A strong advocate within the school, such as the superintendent, principal, student council, etc., would be helpful, although such are often difficult to find.
Thanks again.
Robert
American Indian Sports Team Mascots
From: Mahtowin Munro
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: Apr 3, 2006
Subject: RE: Mascot Issue in Rochester, NH
Hi. I know Rochester, NH very well. I applaud you for trying to get them to change their mascot and am impressed that you have been able to get this far! Sometimes school systems will not even talk to people about this unless the people live in the community and have children in the system.
One thing that has been a factor in the past is that the school board sometimes will say that no one is adversely affected by the racist team names and/or mascots because there are no Native children in their school system. I do not know if there are any Native families in that system. Even if there are not, though, I think the point is that it teaches the wrong lesson to the non-Native children as well as being insulting or demeaning to Native people. Have you been able to line up any families with children currently in the system who oppose this? That may be a key factor.
Have you looked on-line to find some materials about this issue? You can try http://www.committee500years.com/ and they also will have a link to the National Coalition Against Racism in the Media (or something like that). There is also an organization in DC, I think, that works on this issue full-time.
Best of luck to you - mahtowin munro for uaine
United American Indians of New England
From: Joyce W. Vincent
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: Apr 12, 2006
Subject: RE: Addressing Mascot Issue in NH
Dear Pete,
I apologize for the delay in writing back to you. The last couple of weeks have been really hectic. Please feel free to send them my contact info. I would be happy to talk to them about Mascot issue concerns. Please ask them to send me an email.
Sincerely,
Joyce W. Vincent
Associate Director
Native American Student Support Services
http://www.mcnaa.org/
From: Annawon Weeden
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: Apr 19, 2006
Subject: RE: Addressing Mascot Issue in NH
Good evening Mr. Sanfaçon,
I would like to thank you up front for realizing the severity of this issue. As a native person it insults me personally and challenges all children who are raised in a school system which proudly displays such racism.
Oddly enough, 3 of my own children attend a school right on Cape Cod in our own (Wampanoag) backyard, which also uses the same name for it's mascot (Red Raiders)
Obviously I can not go into enough detail to convince your colleagues and associates in NH to remove such a painful and misinformed icon within this initial email. I am sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I don't think I could've attended the meeting on April 11th even if I had known in time. I would like to be notified of any other meetings that are upcoming in hopes of attending one in person.
In a nutshell, the term "red" being applied to a living people is as racist as black and white. For those of us who realize these are not cultures it seems almost pointless for me to describe anyone that way. As a native person, it is appalling to know we fed the first European settlers to arrive in this country, we desperately tried to show them as much survival skills as possible realizing they had no idea how to survive in this climate using the resources available and yet the descendants of these people can come up with such a misinformed and inappropriate term such as "Red Raiders" to depict our people. We had nothing to raid which makes the entire term inaccurate and degrading by all means.
I would gladly share specific information with you and the school staff since we actually do a lot of work on the topic of stereotypes and sports teams in general.
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention here at Boston Children's Museum.
Annawon Weeden
Native Programs Educator
Boston Children's Museum
300 Congress St.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 426-6500 x 208
weeden@bostonkids.org
http://www.bostonkids.org/index.html
From: John "Greyhawk" Ackerman
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: May 11, 2006
Subject: Red Travesty
having read your letter you sent to cris, I decided to respond to you. Having Cherokee and Lakota blood, I think the school board should rethink their position. My feeling is that the logo and name makes it seem that they are classifying all native people as raiders and mauraders, which we are not, and completely uncivilized. At least in the native world a person's word is binding and respected, unlike most whites and some other ethnic groups. All they are thinking of is dollar signs (costs of uniform changes plus everything else that would have to be done.) If the mascot was the nazis or a derogatory name for blacks (which I won't even write down) someone would have already have had them in court, but when our people say anything, we are being picky. Since our people are the ONLY ONES who are NOT immigrants, we should be shown a little more respect than this. If we had closed our borders, where would they all be right now? As far as the gentleman(?) with the Navahoe jewelry, I'm sure the artist who worked hard to make it, instead of raiding for it, thanks him for the business. I suppose I should get off here before I put something in writing I may live to regret. Wado for the chance to put in my two cents' worth.
won't hold against you for being white (ha-ha) because I feel as though you have a red heart for taking this stand and if I knew you personally I would probably call you a brother. We feel like all men with a good heart are brothers in the end. Feel free to use my message any way you feel fit. John "Greyhawk" Ackerman
p.s. If you want to print this or forward to anyone, be my guest. and if they ask, my last name is dutch. the native blood is maternal, the power side.
From: Christine Rose
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: May 11, 2006
Subject: Mascot Issue in Rochester, NH
Hi Pete. Thanks for working so hard on this issue. The bright red faced logo and feather on the floor and the awful name of Red Raiders needs to be changed. Is there anyone on the list from NH, VT, MN, Mass, who might be interested in joining Pete? I am willing to get involved from CT and would like others to lend support, too, even if they don't have a lot of time. Fighting a mascot and team name are hard enough alone, just knowing there is support is helpful.
If there were several of us, we could actually form an educational forum to remove team names and mascots in New England. Contact me or Pete off list if you are in New England and are interested in being a part of this.
Thanks so much.
Christine
Students and Teachers Against Racism
From: Dee. J Ko
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: May 12, 2006
Subject: RE: Mascot Issue in Rochester, NH
STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN! DONT BACK DOWN EITHER! AND DONT LET ANYONE BULLY YOU! IM A CHEROKEE WOMAN AND HAVE LIVED A TOUGH LIFE IN THE CITY WHERE I GREW UP. RACISM NEVER GOES AWAY, BUT I DO STAND MY GROUND AND SPEAK MY MIND! AHO! LITTLE BROTHER!
Pete, keep me on your update list, I'd like to know how this works out. Dee
From: Rick Pouliot
To: Christine Rose
Sent: May 12, 2006
Subject: RE: Mascot Issue in Rochester, NH
Hi Christine. Maybe we should consider gathering together a coalition of people, native and allies, and especially churches, from across New England that can look at this issue in a broader context and develop a unified statement, through press conferences, and even some public service ads on tv and radio?
Rick
From: Rick Pouliot
To: Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: May 12, 2006
Subject: RE: Mascot Issue in Rochester, NH
Good afternoon Pete,
FYI I have forwarded your message to a bunch of individuals and organizations, as you know this is not a new issue but one that has arisen time after time. Hopefully the school will be proactive and change the logo and name. I would suggest sending a letter of contacting the US Dept. of Educations, Human Rights Division as well, and to try and get a copy of the NCAA's position on mascots and send it to the school district.
Rick
From: Renee T. Grounds
To: Dr. Lyonel B. Tracy
Sent: May 12, 2006
Subject: RE: Mascot Issue in Rochester, NH
Dear Commissioner Lyonel,
I am a sophomore at Dartmouth College and I am aware of the discussion around the use of Native American mascots and sports names in New Hampshire schools, specifically in Rochester, NH. I am tuned in to the issue especially because of Dartmouth's former "Indian" mascot. While the mascot was changed because of its harmful connotations and degrading nature, I believe mascots in NH's public schools must also be changed. This is not merely an issue of political correctness--it goes deep into the spirit of New Hampshire and the future of its youth.
The use of racially demeaning mascots does a disservice to both Native and Non-Native students alike. I have felt the damage of these racist images, especially as a public school student of Native American heritage (Yuchi/Seminole). From the time I came to New Hampshire two years ago, I have experienced its open, welcoming nature and this leads me to believe also in its prudence and justice.
I realize the mascot issue is not only a concern in New Hampshire, as school boards across the country address the use of Native American sports names. I am proud to be living in this state for the duration of my undergraduate education and I thank you for helping to make it an even more welcoming and respectful environment.
Sincerely,
Renée Grounds
Dartmouth College
Class of 2008
P.S. I personally invite you to Dartmouth's 34th Annual Pow-wow taking place tomorrow at noon (Saturday May, 13th).
Hope you can join us!
