"This is the capital of the Omaha Nation, homeland to Jillian Pappan, 19, one of six young Native Americans who have taken legal action to change the name of the Washington Redskins. I recently visited the reservation during a road trip west to learn more about the culture and convictions of a tribe that had produced such a firebrand.
Pappan, as it turned out, was away attending college in South Dakota. And many of her peers were more impressed with her efforts to get a higher education than those to cancel the Redskins trademark. True, the legal action showed that Pappan had not forgotten where she came from or who she was. But going to college had been her ticket off the 14,000-acre reservation, where 80 percent of the tribe is unemployed.
And there were others who wanted nothing more than to punch that ticket as well.
At the public school, I asked two seniors about their plans after graduation. "I want to go to college," said Sissy Spears, 17, sounding as if she were wishing upon a star. "I want to study business administration and Native American culture."
Ricky Saunsoci, also 17, nodded. "Me, too," he said.
Scattered around the school were a few modest, well-kept homes. But other dwellings were run-down and appeared almost uninhabitable. For a tribe that settled along the Missouri River in the 1500s, long before even Lewis and Clark showed up, progress has been slow, the setbacks, many."
Get the Story:Courtland Milloy: In a Land Bleak in Opportunity, 'Redskins' Is One More Barb (The Washington Post 11/22)
pwpwd Redskins Petition:
Blackhorse v. ProFootball Appeals Court Decision:
Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo (July 15, 2005) Lower Court Decision:
Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo (September 30, 2003) Patent and Trademark Office Ruling:
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (1999) William "Lone Star" Dietz Research:
Linda Waggoner: Reclaiming James One Star (Indian Country Today 2004) Relevant Links:
Redskins - http://www.redskins.com Related Stories:
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