"You can't honor someone simply by claiming you are honoring them. That has been the core issue of stereotypes and mascots since the beginning of organized sports teams.

If a person wants to see how to truly honor a people, stroll through the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community-funded mall at the end of the new TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota. Each of the tribal nations in Minnesota has its own elegant statue that informs, celebrates and enhances.

Like native people themselves, the mall is subtle, yet cannot be ignored, powerful in an understated way. This is how to honor people.

Contrast this to a man performing at halftime a mash-up of "Flashdance" and every spaghetti western ever made or a group of people masquerading in costumes and face paint."

Get the Story:
Letter of the day by Timothy A. Brown: When honoring Indians, inform, celebrate and enhance (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 9/29)

Related Stories:
Native Sun Editorial: Mascots are not an honor (9/22)