Question

For your discussion posts this week, please watch the short video posted in Unit 3 Discussion, National Congress of American Indians. Then, please consider the ways that the National Congress of American Indians, which created this video, demonstrates concern for how American Indians are portrayed in American sports. Please justify your initial response with sound reasoning. In your post, you are also invited to consider other uses of different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and images in all sports (professional, collegiate, and otherwise) to see if you think any use of these backgrounds is acceptable--and why you think what you do. What does this video seek to communicate, and how does it try to convey its message? Consider different images and words used in the video to address this point. To what extent can or should words and names like “Redskins” be used in American culture, specifically regarding sports? What impact does this have on Native American culture? On Native American people? Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Answer 1

In 1940 National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) initiated a movement to eradicate pessimistic stereotyping of Native American people in the media where the campaign focused on Indian names and mascots in sports and NCAI maintained that teams with mascots such as redskins perceived a negative labeling to Native American people and downgraded their indigenous civilization and customs.

Indigenous mascots were also part of the bigger concern which was related to cultural misappropriation and breach of indigenous intellectual property rights which comprised of occasions where non-natives used indigenous music, art, costumes etc. in entertainment and business.

Furthermore it was also asserted that damage to Native Americans took place because of the misuse of indigenous customs and traditions by the majority of people in the society that continued to persist with the process of domination and subordination that were put into use to colonize, dominate and subjugate indigenous groups.

Furthermore in 2005 American Psychological Association (APA) made a declaration suggesting the instant removal of American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities by schools, colleges, universities and organizations due to the damage done by generating a unreceptive and argumentative environment which was created due to the pessimistic impact on the self-respect of American Indian and unfairness and intolerance that had breached and contravened the civil rights.

Social science study and examination have enumerated that sport mascots and images are somewhat not just for entertainment purpose but also represent significant symbols having a deeper psychological and social impact. Thus the research report highlighting the destruction and impairment that it had created led to professional associations representing civil rights, educational, athletic and scientific professionals endorsing a declaration and guiding principle that stated that the use of Native American names and symbols by non-native sports teams would be a kind of racial typecasting that could encourage and support misapprehension and discrimination which would add to tribulations faced by Native Americans.