Native American Symbols and Opposing World-Views
Differing world-views are made apparent with the controversial use of Native American names and symbols in both schools and sports. Each of these opposing views is a result of separate cultural realities created by both tradition and history. Many Americans fail to comprehend that the exploitation of these names and symbols as marketing strategies, sports paraphernalia, mascots and team names causes tensions within our culture. The American and the Native American world-views are the two differing cultural realities that affect one another in regards to the use of these names and symbols. The American world-view is upheld mainly by desensitization and the belief that the use of these names and symbols is simply American tradition and team spirit. Native American world-view however, associates these names and symbols within a complex and truly ancestral reality. Native American names and symbols have important and profound meanings in the Native American culture in contrast to the American world-view which causes not only disagreement, but discrimination within our culture as a whole.
Native Americans themselves are affected by these racist images which can cause a decreased sense of self-esteem and cultural identity" (Pewewardy 2004). This word is a French corruption of the Iroquois word otsiskwa, meaning female properties" (Pewewardy 2004). "Supporters of such names and mascots claim that they honor Native American people, embody institutional traditions, foster a shared identity, and intensify the pleasures of sports and athletics" (Pewewardy 2004). "The word redskin originated in early colonial times when European colonists paid bounties for Indians' red skins- thereby coining the term redskins. Similar use of other culture's names and symbols in this negative context would not be tolerated in our current culture, why then has this become the exception? Imagine the uproar that would occur if a football team were named The Sacramento Slaves and the fans showed their support by painting themselves in black-face at the games, shouting derogatory words at those they were attempting to heckle. Actions such as these are equally insulting and they would not be tolerated. Objects in which stereotypes are encouraged include school and sports related gear such as fake war paint, Styrofoam tomahawks and imitation headdresses. These negative behaviors and uses of objects and symbols "distort the American cultural realities by suggesting such stereotypical notions to be true. Although most of these people actually believe they are causing no harm, the same beliefs are not held by the Native American world-view. s issue hinder many Americans from understanding the relativism of Native American cultural beliefs. Derogatory images are not only enforced with names, but with objects as well. Another offensive term, used with the intent of heckling at games, is the word squaws. All of the above symbols serve to "condemn Native Americans to the past and are the base of the concern to which the mascots, logos, and the practices of sports fans evoke a false sense of history and discrimination" (Miller 1999). There are several examples in which names and objects are used in relegating Native American culture.
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Acceptance Essays
