Maulian Smith: An ugly war over a racist school mascot in Maine


A statue of an "Indian" in Skowhegan, Maine. Photo from Blowin in the Wind

Maulian Smith, a member of the Penobscot Nation of Maine, explains the harmful effects of Indian mascots:
When Native Americans are portrayed as mascots we are brought down to a level of being an object or a token, not a race of actual people with a rich heritage and modern day life.

The images are stereotypical and keep us in a one size fits all box of what we are supposed to look and act like. This is harmful to our people because it shapes how we are treated by dominant society. We are degraded and disrespected because to them all we are is a people in the past and we are silly pictures with big noses and red skin.

Even if the images are nice to look at it still is taking a race of people and objectifying us.

The symbols: feathers, war paint, peace pipe, tomahawk, clothes, etc are all sacred to our culture and are to be used in the proper way by our people. When they are paraded around and misrepresented by these teams it is mocking our religion and undermining our core values.

Our children grow up in a time that identity is crucial. They need to know who they are so that they are prepared for the challenges of life. If they see this identity stolen, ridiculed, mocked, misused, laughed at, lied about, etc then it hurts them and makes our nations weaker.

This weakening of our sense of identity is a contributor to our high rates of: alcoholism, suicide, crime, cultural loss, domestic violence, and obesity. Words matter.

No other group is treated this way. There would never a team with stereotypical and/or derogatory depictions of African Americans, Catholics, Jews, Hispanic, or Caucasians.

Get the Story:
Maulian Smith: 'Beat Your War Drum Somewhere Else!': The Ugly War Over a Racist Mascot (Indian Country Today 6/21)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories
Maine won't let tribal treaty promises be printed in constitution (06/19)
Maine tribes assert sovereignty and sever relationship with state (05/28)
Donna Loring: Politicians circle the wagons around Maine tribes (5/27)
Maine tribes hold rally after withdrawing from state Legislature (5/26)
Maine lawmakers won't back fishing agreements with tribes (5/15)
Bill allows Maine tribes to follow VAWA jurisdiction provisions (5/12)
Top Maine official opposes bill for fishing agreements with tribes (04/29)
Carter Cates: Maine governor doesn't want to hear from tribes (4/28)
Column: Commission takes on truth and reconciliation in Maine (4/24)
Editorial: Maine governor fails to treat sovereign tribes as equals (4/23)
Donna Loring: Being Native in Maine means living with racism (4/21)
Opinion: Penobscot Nation fights state to regain control of river (03/16)
Maulian Smith: Indian people are not your mascots or costumes (03/10)
Tribes in Maine face opposition to jurisdiction over non-Indians (02/24)
Town in Maine approves new name for road after controversy (10/08)
Opinion: Town sends wrong message with street after R-word (09/24)
Mark Chavaree: Penobscot Nation fights to save namesake river (08/20)
Report faults Maine over dealings with Passamaquoddy Tribe (07/16)
Maine asserts jurisdiction over tribal waters in case against EPA (07/09)
MPBN: State tries to place fish limits on Passamaquoddy Tribe (02/21)
Maine tribes criticize state for pulling out of fishing agreement (02/19)
Jamie Bissonette Lewey: Maine must keep promise to tribes (02/03)
Passamaquoddy Tribe makes progress on state fishing talks (01/30)
Charges dismissed against trio of Passamaquoddy fishermen (8/13)
Passamaquoddy Tribe continues to exercising fishing rights (04/30)
Letter: State mistreats fishermen from Passamaquoddy Tribe (04/17)
Passamaquoddy leaders cite threat from governor on fishing (04/02)