March 3, 2007

Last night, we went out to dinner with our relatives.  It was a fish fry at a local Catholic church, and who should sit next to us but a man with a Holy Cross school “indians” sweatshirt.  As long-time Native Voices listeners are aware, Holy Cross is a Catholic school in Latonia, Kentucky, where the team name is “indians” and the mascots have included the same little red sambo logo used by the Cleveland professional baseball team, a grotesque walking mascot for which a kid would wear a ridiculous gigantic rubber “indian” head and pajama-costume and walk around during games.  They have also used other images.

Some years ago, we and other members of the Native community approached the school and tried to talk to them about the offensiveness of abusing Native people as mascots.

The final effort was at a school board meeting, after which we heard nothing.

Well, the good news is that apparently there has been some conversation among the Holy Cross community, but there is still very far to go.

We ended up talking to the person who sat next to us, who, of course, was not an official representative of the school.  We asked if they have changed the mascot yet.  Well, apparently this person just gave the school a “Chief Tawonka,” and we have no idea what the heck that is.  If anyone does know what the heck that is, please let us know.

But, as we talked to him, we learned that there had been some discussion about changing the name, but, he said, they “looked into it,” and it would cost $50,000 to change the uniforms and gymnasium.  And, he said, the school is strapped for money in general and, he said, has “higher priorities,” such as <quote> “education.”

Here’s the thing he doesn’t understand: removing race-based stereotypes is education.  This is not two separate things.  Teaching children that stereotyping on the basis of race, culture, or any other feature is not appropriate is education.  In fact, that is exactly the type of education that a Catholic, that a Christian, school should be teaching their children.  For those who profess and propound the “Golden Rule”—to treat others as you wish to be treated—as well as those who simply want the world to be a more fair and equitable place and who believe in treating all people with dignity and respect, this should be a no-brainer.

The excuse of money is also just that—an excuse.  Replacing the uniforms happens anyway.  When they have to order new uniforms, they change them.  Simple.  When they have to re-finish the gym floor or do other types of maintenance, they remove the offensive logos.  Simple.  Period.  We certainly are not telling them that the change has to be completed in one day.  And we understand that there never is enough money for schools to be able to do what they need to do.  But, we feel, claiming that the change will cost $50,000—when that is $50,000 that they will spend anyway—is allowing them to “cop-out” of making the right moral, ethical—and Christian—decision to change.  It’s time to make the decision.  The Creator will provide the rest.

To hear these comments as made during the radio show, click on Native Voices March 3, 2007
 

April 3, 2002

The following submission was rejected by Fr. Wehage for publication in The Messenger, the Diocese of Covington's official newspaper.

He did send the submission to Clay Eifert, principal of Holy Cross, with a letter of his own indicating that Holy Cross needs to take the submission seriously and, if they are going to make promises to us, that they need to do so in writing. While glad that Fr. Wehage is sending the letter with a letter of his own to Holy Cross, we would have preferred that the letter was published. The community of Holy Cross has not, to our knowledge, been made aware that Native people have asked the school to change its name, logo, and mascot. We would very much like the community of Holy Cross and the Diocese of Covington to consider and educate themselves about the racism inherent in having and supporting the abuse of Native people as mascots.

==================================

March 24, 2002

Dear Rev. Wehage and Mr. Fitzgerald:

The attached is submitted as a Letter to the Editor or Guest Column. It is vital that all Catholics in the Diocese of Covington consider how abusing Native Americans as a race of mascots prevents them from living fully the Catholic faith with “Jesus as the core and center of all they are and do,” as Margaret Quirk wrote in “What is a vibrant church?” She also wrote:

Through worship and prayer, [a faith-filled community] become[s] aware of the presence of Christ within and around them, not just in church, but in the whole world. Through worship, prayer, and meditation, they learn how they are to be Christ in the world and then do the work of Jesus, reaching out as a community and individually.

The Diocese of Covington is being called to pray and meditate about how they are to be Christ-like in the world and do the work of Jesus by changing the use of Native people as mascots. I pray that you will allow this message to reach them.

Yours in God’s grace and forgiveness,

Alice Huffman
================

Has the Golden Rule become the Golden Suggestion?

In the March 22 Education Supplement is a request for assistance to the St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School. I wonder how easy it is for us to send money to the Indian Mission and School in New Mexico; but how difficult is it to show respect to Native American people within our own community?

Since October 2000, my husband and I have asked Holy Cross to change its sports team nickname (“indians”), logo, and walking mascot. The logo is typically called “Chief Wahoo”; I have chosen, however, not to delegitimate true Native leaders through the misapplication of the word chief to what is known among Native people as “Little Red Sambo” nor give the logo false validation as a proper name through capitalization.

As The Messenger showed through the photograph on page 12, this logo apparently remains as entrenched in the classroom as it is in the gymnasium—even after the former principal eventually agreed to “phase it out.” Instead, “wahoo” remains, even on the new sports program, and a new stereotyping logo has been added.

Native people are the only minority race of people to be used as mascots. Native people in Kentucky, Ohio, and throughout the United States have written, called, and met with the past and current principals and school board of Holy Cross to express how offensive “indian” nicknames, logos, and mascots are to them and their children and to ask that this form of abuse of Native peoples, cultures, and spiritualities be stopped.

There is no Catholic school that uses any other minority race of people as mascots; there is no school that calls itself the “Negroes,” the “Asians,” the “Hispanics” or even the “Jews.” Native people and many non-Native people understand that segregating a race of people into a position of mascot is inherently racist.

One of the hundreds of organizations that has resolved to reject racial stereotypes is the Commission on Catholic Community Action of the Diocese of Cleveland, even as part of the community with the professional ball team, the Cleveland “indians,” upon which Holy Cross’s name and logo are modeled. Similar resolutions rejecting bigotry and social injustice come from various Christian, Jewish, and interreligious organizations, the NAACP, the National Education Association, the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and many, many others.

Not long ago, the daughter of a friend from the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation went home crying from elementary school. After an hour and a half of sobbing, she was able to tell her father that schoolchildren had surrounded her and sang a song from the Disney movie Pocahontas. The children did not sing “Just Around the River Bend” or “Colors of the Wind.”

The children circled her while singing “Savages! Savages! Barely even human.”

While I’d like to think that such occurrences do not occur at Holy Cross, reducing Native people to a mascot strongly supports this type of stereotype. One of the things pointed out in the article “What makes Holy Cross unique?” is that “Christian values are at the core of every class and sporting contest.”

The grinning, red-faced “indian” sambo and other stereotyping representations of Native people are emblazoned throughout the gym and school. Last year the cheerleaders bought a walking mascot that is a grotesque caricature of an “indian.” Patrons have written “Indians on the Warpath” and other stereotypical sayings in ads for the sports program. A minority race of people is being used as a token of luck. How does this make Christian values the core of every class and sporting contest?

Supporting and perpetuating stereotypes hurts everyone. Catholic school children deserve to be taught respect for all races. This is the responsible thing educators can do for their students as they look toward the future. Not only does this mean teaching children accurate and truthful information about all groups of people, it also means disallowing perpetuation and support for stereotypes from adults. Regardless of the original intention for adopting such a nickname, logo, and mascot, when Native people say they are not honored by it, the offense becomes intentional.

Fellow Catholics at Holy Cross and in the Diocese of Covington should answer the question “What would Jesus do?” as they think about the abuse of Native people as sports teams mascots.

Let’s not reduce the Golden Rule to the Golden Suggestion.

Yours in God’s grace and forgiveness,

Alice Huffman, Covington

=================

January 8, 2002

The Holy Cross school board meeting where we were invited to speak occurred January 8, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. We spoke about the problems with using Native people as mascots.

After we spoke, the school board was asked what were their plans and they requested time to absorb all the information that was given to them. Clay Eifert mentioned that he thought all we wanted was a change in the logo; he was corrected both last night and in an e-mail this morning in which all previous correspondence to Holy Cross was sent to him; each letter made clear that we have been asking for the name, logo(s), and walking mascot to be removed.

The school board was also questioned about the current sports program which utilized that logo that William Goller said would be removed. Clay Eifert said that he hadn't seen the current sports program; it was pointed out to him last night that the 'chief wahoo' logo was on the cover, beside his picture and the pictures of other school administrators, and throughout the program. Scanned pages of the program were also sent in an e-mail to Clay Eifert this morning.

Our sincere thanks to all those who attended the Holy Cross school board meeting. The e-mail sent to Clay Eifert this morning requested notification of when we would be able to attend another school board meeting to answer any questions the school board may have. We will be asking people to attend that school board meeting as well.

Relevant links:

Pictures of the Holy Cross logo(s) and walking mascot (Go to the folder entitled "'chief wahoo'--Holy Cross Covington KY" http://photos.yahoo.com/lenapendn

Letters sent to Holy Cross
(Go to the folder titled "Mascot Issue Letters" and the subfolder titled "Holy Cross")
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/veilantifHoly Cross

Website
http://kentucky.ihigh.com/holycross-covington

Holy Cross Parish Website
http://www.iglou.com/holycross/

Diocese of Covington, Kentucky
http://www.dioofcovky.org/

Holy Cross update for November 2001

I spoke with Sr. Ruth Kettman of the Justice and Peace Office for the Diocese of Covington on November 21.

She told me that the logo (that was "chief wahoo"—same as Cleveland’s logo) is being changed to an arrow.

No further changes are being discussed.

She received a number of letters last year, some local and some from people throughout the country. I explained that this is not just a local issue, but affects Native people nationwide.

I asked her what the Justice and Peace Office would do to resolve this situation. She thinks it’s an issue between the school and the Department of Education (for the diocese—which means Lawrence Bowman, who we’ve already tried to get involved in this before.)

I explained that we have sent two letters to the new principal, Clay Eifert, asking him to call us and we have not heard from him at all. She really thinks we should sit down one-on-one with Clay Eifert to talk to him about this. I reiterated that we sent two letters, one on October 8 and the second on November 8, asking him to call us so that we could do just that. I explained that calling him was not an option because of our work situations and my talking to her that day was taking a risk with my job. She suggested that we call him at home; I said, we do not have his home phone number; do you? She said no, maybe it’s in the phone book.

But she said that if we continue to receive no response from Eifert to contact Lawrence Bowman.

I asked her what the Justice and Peace Office’s position is on this issue; she said she is in favor of inclusiveness and of not having any kind of discrimination. But she will not take any action.

I pointed out to her that use of the "indian" name and mascot is inherently racist. No one would use African-Americans as mascots because everyone recognizes that as being racist; for some reason, some people are not capable of recognizing that using Native people as mascots is the same thing.

So if anyone feels like contacting any of these people, feel free. Phone calls would be best if that's possible for you, considering the fact that letters seem to be ignored.

Lawrence M. Bowman, Ed.D.
Director for Catholic Education
Thc Catholic Center
947 Donaldson Road
P.O. Box 18548
Erlanger, KY 4IO18~O548
(859) 283-6230
Fax: (859) 283-6237
http://www.dioofcovky.org

Clay Eifert
Principal
Holy Cross District High School
3617 Church St
Covington, KY 41015
(859) 431-1335

================

November 21, 2001

Sr. Ruth Kettman, C.S.J.
Justice and Peace/Inclusive Church Commission
Justice and Peace Office
The Catholic Center
947 Donaldson Road
P.O. Box 18548
Erlanger, KY 41018-0548

Dear Sr. Kettman:

Thank you for speaking with me on Wednesday. I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

I fear that my reaction to your statement that Anderson High School retains its name of “r*dsk*ns” may have misled you. I said, “Yes—they do” but I did not complete my thought. Anderson retains its use of the racist slur without the approval and in spite of the express disapproval of the Native American community. They have no justifiable reason for continuing to use the name, logo, and mascot and can no longer pretend ignorance of their racism.

In the same way, Holy Cross and the Diocese of Covington have no justifiable reason for retaining the use of its racist name, logo, and mascot. I understood you to say that your position on this issue may depend on the reasons given for keeping the status quo; there are no justifiable reasons for this. None.

In fact, Randy and I, having been raised Catholic and—in my case—going to a Catholic elementary and grade school, believed that once we educated the principal of a Catholic school about the offensiveness and racism inherent in the nickname, logo, and mascot that steps to remove them would immediately follow.

To be honest, we expect more from a Catholic school than a public school.

We are highly disappointed with the lack of response, the resistance, and the “passing the buck” that has been going on for over a year since we first contacted Bishop Hughes and William Goller. As I mentioned, I went to St. Pius X Elementary School for 8 years; it has recently been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School. I was confirmed with the name “Kateri Tekatwitha,” the name of Mohawk convert. During high school, I worked at St. Pius’ rectory. I served as a Lector for many years, including the years I attended college. I always believed that Catholics, especially in the Diocese of Covington, truly lived the Gospel of Christ. I always believed that Catholics recognized that living the Gospel of Christ meant more truly respecting non-majority, non-dominant culture races.

I have found myself disillusioned and disappointed. While I still have hope that Holy Cross and the Diocese of Covington will do the truly Christian thing of respecting Native people in this area and throughout the country, I am disheartened by the responses we have received so far.

I condemn reducing the Golden Rule to the Golden Suggestion.

Always,

Alice Huffman

=================

November 20, 2001

Reverend Thomas Charles Barnes, Pastor
Holy Cross Rector
36th and Church Street
Covington, KY 41015

Dear Rev. Barnes:

The Mission Statement of the Community of Holy Cross states that “As member of the Body of Christ, we, the Community of Holy Cross, strive to:

* Glorify God through worship as a community.
* Grow together in faith, hope, and love through personal and communal prayer.
* Give more of our time, talent, and treasure.
* Provide Christian education opportunities throughout all stages of life.
* Work for justice and peace within our community and the world.
* Unite with other Christians and dialogue with those of other religious traditions to further the Kingdom of God.”

We hope that you, as the Pastor of the Community of Holy Cross, take this mission statement seriously. We hope that you do everything possible to ensure that all goals of the mission statement are met. We also hope that you acknowledge your responsibility to lead ethically, morally, and spiritually those for whom you serve as a priest and pastor.

We assume that Holy Cross is an inclusive community and strives not to discriminate based on race. When issues of respect for a non-majority race arise, one of the questions you probably encourage people to ask themselves is “What Would Jesus Do?” As Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has pointed out, racism is foreign to the Mind of Christ.

We trust that you will lead the Holy Cross community in doing the right moral, ethical, and Christ-like thing by retiring its schools’ “indian” name and mascot. Native Americans in this area and throughout the country have expressed their unwillingness to be portrayed as a race-based stereotype. Non-Native people and organizations have understood this point of view and have released resolutions against the use of Native people as mascots. One of the hundreds of organizations that have resolved to reject racial stereotypes is the Commission on Catholic Community Action of the Diocese of Cleveland, based on the professional ball team, the Cleveland “indians.” Similar resolutions rejecting bigotry and social injustice come from the American Jewish Committee, the United Methodist Church, the Interreligious Council of San Antonio, the NAACP, the National Education Association, the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and many, many others. As you can see, recognition of the harmfulness of using of Native people as mascots is not limited to Native people only.

We strongly feel that the Community of Holy Cross needs your guidance in retiring the “indian” name and mascot and choosing a nickname and mascot that is more culturally appropriate for Catholic schools and one that does not target a race of people.

Last year we contacted William Goller to ask that the Holy Cross schools voluntarily retire the “indian” name and mascot. He did agree to remove the offensive logo used by the schools at the time.

We have contacted the new principal, Clay Eifert, twice to request an opportunity to speak with him about removing the walking caricature of an “indian” and changing the name. We have received no response.

While we still hope that Mr. Eifert will contact us, we know that, as a priest and pastor who takes the mission statement of the Community of Holy Cross and the social teaching of the Roman Catholic Church seriously, you will want to help “work for justice and peace within our community and the world” and “provide Christian education opportunities throughout all stages of life.” Holy Cross is currently sending mixed messages about racism and stereotyping. We trust that you will help the Holy Cross community grow in faith, hope, and love and Glorify God by answering the question of “What Would Jesus Do?” in the way we know that Jesus would answer.

Please call us at the above number.

Sincerely,

Alice Huffman
B. Randall Huffman
 
 

November 8, 2001

Sr. Ruth Kettman, C.S.J.
Justice and Peace/Inclusive Church Commission
Justice and Peace Office
The Catholic Center
947 Donaldson Road
P.O. Box 18548
Erlanger, KY 41018-0548

Dear Sr. Kettman:

Some time ago letters were sent to you about the name and mascot of Holy Cross high school. A copy of the text of the letters is attached. Clay Eifert has since become the principal of Holy Cross, taking the place of William Goller.

We would like to speak with you about this and what action the Justice and Peace Office will be taking to resolve the problem.

Please call us at the number in our letterhead. If we do not answer, please leave a message indicating your phone number and the best times to call you.

Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Alice Huffman
B. Randall Huffman
 
 

November 6, 2001

Mr. Clay Eifert
Principal
Holy Cross District High School
3617 Church St
Covington, KY 41015

Dear Mr. Eifert:

We sent a letter to you on October 8 that required a reply. We have not heard from you. Did you receive the letter? Will you be responding to it?

Please call us at the number in our letterhead. If we are not available when you call, please leave us a message indicating what is the best time and phone number to return your call.

In the meantime, please read the enclosed article written by Cornel Pewewardy entitled, “Why Educators Can’t Ignore Indian Mascots.” http://earnestman.tripod.com/fr.education.htm

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Alice Huffman
B. Randall Huffman
 

As a member of Holy Cross Parish and Alumni of 1995, and being a person of American Indian heritage I cannot say that I support your stand on the mascot. I support Mr. Goller's decision not to change the name

===================================

Hi, Amy. Thanks for writing to us. Please tell your father hello; I used to coach girl’s soccer with Jim a few years ago when he was coaching you and other kids from St. Augustine.

We trust that you examined the issue prior to contacting us and prior to forming an opinion based on your status as an alumnus of the school and a person of some American Indian heritage. Understand that supporting and perpetuating stereotypes hurts everyone. Regardless of one’s pride in her school, respect for all people and races takes priority over a nickname. There is no Catholic school that uses any other race of people as mascots; there is no school that calls itself the “Negroes,” the “Asians,” the “Hispanics” or even the “Jews.” American Indian people throughout the country and many non-American Indian people understand that segregating a race of people into a position of mascot or token of luck is inherently racist. Religious groups throughout the country have supported the knowledge that using Indians as a mascot is racist and have written statements against the use of Indians as mascots. We expect Catholic people to also be able to understand the racism and hurtfulness of stereotypes and “indian” mascots.

Recently, the daughter of a friend from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation went home crying from her elementary school. After an hour and a half of sobbing, her father was able to learn that other schoolchildren had surrounded his daughter at recess and sang a song from the Disney movie Pocahontas. Would you like to know what song the children sang while circling the girl? Not “Just Around the River Bend” or “Colors of the Wind.”

The other schoolchildren circled her while singing “Savages! Savages! Barely even human.”

Children learn stereotypes early. They carry them throughout their lives unless they are taught and they listen.

While we’d like to think, as we are sure that you would, that such occurrences do not occur at Holy Cross, the use of an “indian” name and mascot strongly supports these types of stereotypes. Parents of Holy Cross students have written “Indians on the Warpath” in a recent patron ad for the sports program. We are sure that opposing teams have cried “Scalp the Indians” in order to psyche themselves up for games. Last year the cheerleaders decided to buy a walking mascot. We assume that you have seen it or a picture of it. How does this honor Native people?

Could Holy Cross have bought a costume that depicted African-Americans in such a form of caricature? Could Holy Cross change its nickname to the “Negroes” or the “Africans”? Could the school do this, even if a person of African heritage thought it was acceptable and perhaps even an honor? How would you imagine the rest of the African-American community would feel?

We know that the answers to these questions are the same principles that apply here.

But don’t take our word for it. You should really examine this issue of social and civil rights and do some research. Here are some places to start:

"American Indian" Sports Team Mascots http://earnestman.tripod.com/1indexpage.htm

AMERICAN COMMENTS web magazine http://www.iwchildren.org/

MASCOTS - Racism in Schools by State http://www.aics.org/mascot/mascot.html

NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOTS: AN EXAMINATION http://www.tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=168

American Indian Resource Center http://www.airc.50megs.com/

Reflections of a Former "Warrior" http://www.athleticsearch.com/bonus-mascots.html

Find Another Name http://www.findanothername.com/

These are just a few of the sites that contain valuable research information. We hope that you will take some time to educate yourself and think about about the racism of “indian” mascots by reading these websites. We are willing to further discuss this issue with you, if desired.

Best regards,
Randy Huffman

Subj: Fwd: Holy Cross--again
Date: 10/10/01 2:47:15 PM

Alice Huffman wrote:

October 8, 2001

Mr. Clay Eifert
Principal
Holy Cross District High School
3617 Church St
Covington, KY 41015

Dear Mr. Eifert:

We trust that Mr. William Goller has passed on to you the previous correspondence we and many others have sent regarding the name and mascot of Holy Cross. Prior to Mr. Goller’s retirement from principal of the school, he agreed that the “chief wahoo” logo would be removed and made this clear to the school community.

The walking mascot must also be removed and the name must be changed. The walking mascot is a disgusting caricature that reinforces harmful and hurtful stereotypes. When one of us and Kree Colding met with Mr. Goller, we offered to buy the walking mascot from the cheerleaders in order to return the money they spent to them and enable them to purchase a new mascot costume when an appropriate name and mascot are chosen.

The name is harmful by its very nature. As you know from our previous correspondence, “Indian” is a misnomer applied to the 500-plus Native Nations as a race. No other race of people is used as a token of luck for sports teams. The simple use of the name causes racial discrimination and separates one race of people from the others. “Indians” are used as mascots alongside animals, making them less than human. The very use of the name allows for trite and stereotyping phrases such as “Indians on the warpath” as seen in the sports team program for the school and allows the opposing schools to invoke violence-inciting phrases such as “Scalp the Indians,” and so forth.

A Catholic school should never promote any stereotype of any race of people, especially during such highly charged times of racial tension in Greater Cincinnati and the United States. Catholic school children and all school children deserve to taught respect and tolerance for diversity. This is the responsible thing educators can do for their students as they look toward the future; not only does this mean teaching children accurate information about other groups of people, it also means disallowing the perpetuation and support for stereotypes from adults. Native American people determine what is offensive to them and Native people have asked that “Indian” names and mascots for sports teams be changed. Regardless of the original intention for adopting such a name and mascot, when Native people say they are not honored by it, the offense becomes intentional.

We would like to arrange a time to meet with you to discuss the necessary removal of the walking mascot and change of the name. We would like this topic to be addressed during the school board meeting during our attendance. We also ask you to invite Guy Jones of the Miami Valley Council for Native Americans to address the school community about why “Indian” names and mascots must be changed. You can contact him at (937) 275-8599.

We have also conferred with Fr. William Cleves, former president of Thomas More College, and he is willing to speak with you about this necessary change. In addition, we have several videos and other resources about the problems of using “Indian” names and mascots that we are willing to loan to you, the school board, and the school community. Also enclosed are some articles for your perusal.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please call us.

Sincerely,

Alice & Randy Huffman

Subj: New letter(s) for Holy Cross to send
Date: 2/28/01 10:53:40 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: (Alice Huffman)

Friends,

Forward this message to anyone/everyone who will help.

I have drafted new letters for the principal, "superintendent," and bishop of Holy Cross. I have placed each letter in my online "briefcase" so that you can download it, modify it as desired, sign and send it.

The letters are in under "Mascot Issue Letters." Then go to files #13 plus. The Letters are called "Holy Cross--new developments" and describes which person it goes to. Each letter has the address of the person. I will be adding additional people so look for the same title "Holy Cross--new developments."

So that you have an idea about the letters, this is the letter to Mr. Goller, principal of Holy Cross:

Mr. William Goller
Principal
Holy Cross District High School
3617 Church St
Covington, KY 41015

Dear Mr. Goller:

It has come to my attention that Holy Cross in the Diocese of Covington uses the team name of "Indians" (and "Lady Indians"), uses the same logo as the Cleveland Indians, and now has a walking mascot. We are writing to sincerely thank you for agreeing that Holy Cross will get rid of the "Chief Wahoo" logo and we are sure that you will continue to do the right, moral, ethical, and Christian thing by getting rid of the highly offensive, clown-like walking "Indian" mascot and by changing the racially-targeting name to one that is more culturally appropriate and racially sensitive for your school and the Diocese of Covington.

Stereotypes have no place in schools, public or private. "Indian" mascots teach students how to stereotype a group of people on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, and cultural ethnicity. They teach students to maintain these stereotypes and to promote them by carrying them into other school districts at interscholastic sports competitions.

This is not just a local or school issue; it is nationwide. It extends far beyond your school, your diocese, your region of the country. This is about social justice for Native people throughout this country.

Your position as principal and teacher for a Catholic school carries with it the responsibility to lead morally and ethically and with a sense of social justice by not allowing the perpetuation of generalizations, stereotypes, and racial insensitivity toward any racial/ethnic group, including Native people.

Native people find the names and mascots offensive. They create a hostile environment for Native children and adults in the community and beyond. "Indian" mascots and logos deny Native people full and welcome participation in the present and the future by artifactualizing them, making them of value only in the past, only as people who no longer exist.

Disregard of Native people living today who express their unwillingness to be portrayed in the way non-Indians deem acceptable shows only that you are exercising your privilege, power, and control by dismissing what real Native people are trying to tell you. When Native people tell you that what you are doing hurts them, offends them, and does not honor them in any way, how can you argue with that? Why should you want to?

Many people confuse a symbol with the values they want it to represent. Indians are real people, not symbols, not mascots, not logos. You want the symbol of Indian to represent a strong sense of spirituality, bravery, fortitude, and tenacity. How do you ensure that that understanding is achieved? And when Native people tell you that those are not the values it represents, how can you insist that it does? "Indian" is a name imposed upon the 500-plus Nations of this continent and their citizens by outsiders, foreigners, people who came only to conquer, take the land and any other material goods they deemed valuable, and change the people living here to suit their image of what and who they should be and how they should live and what religion they should practice. Continued use of this name after Native people have asked you, Holy Cross, and the Diocese of Covington to change strongly indicates the continuation of this conquistador-colonial-plantation-owner-mentality. Use of "Indian" as a name for sports does not represent spirituality, bravery, fortitude, nor the ability to overcome obstacles; it represents only that non-Indians are in control of how Native people are represented, thought about, understood, and interacted with—that non-Indians own the images and the very name of Indians.

I know that you, Holy Cross, the Diocese of Covington, and the Catholic community would never consider using the name "Negro," "Chinese," "Japanese," "Jews," and so forth for your teams nor use caricatures of African-American, Chinese, Japanese, of Jewish peoples for logos nor for walking mascots at your games.

There is no difference between using any of these names and caricatures and using Native American names and caricatures. It violates racial and ethnic sensitivity and civil and social rights.

The walking mascot is a gross caricature that must be removed regardless of how new or old it is. It harkens back to minstrel shows that demeaned African-American people and the cartoons and caricatures used by the Nazis to dehumanize Jewish people and justify Nazi treatment of them. Any school should not wish to associate itself with these practices. Students deserve to have pride in their school. The student who is wearing that costume does so because he wants to show pride and support in his school. That student and students in the future deserve to be able to dress up like their mascot and have fun and show pride. This cannot happen if the name "Indians" remains. The very nature of using the name leads to stereotypes and dehumanization of people, manifested through the Holy Cross cheerleaders' purchase of the walking mascot costume. It is time to choose another name, another mascot, one that does not dehumanize, one of which everyone can be proud.

The mascot and name used at Holy Cross school in the Diocese of Covington needs to be changed, particularly after the Pope's recent apology to Indigenous peoples for the Catholic Church's past treatment of them. Continuing use of mascots and names that demean, degrade, and are offensive overall to Native people makes the Pope's apology meaningless rhetoric.

I am aware that the Diocese of Covington has already made at least two changes in its schools' names and mascots. Villa Madonna Academy changed its name from the Vipers because of its association in the Bible with snakes and evil to Blue Lightning. Thomas More College changed its name and mascot on May 11, 1994 under Father Bill Cleves' presidency from the Rebels and a Confederate soldier when the African-American community expressed the negative connotations it carried for them and others; the nickname is now the Saints. We trust that you and the Diocese of Covington will have the same respect for the Native American community in removing offensive names, logos, and mascots.

I applaud your decision to get rid of the "Chief Wahoo" logo and know that you, Holy Cross, the Diocese of Covington, and the Catholic Church will find it your hearts, minds, and souls to have the additional spirituality, bravery, fortitude, and tenacity to also get rid of the walking mascot and the name of "Indians." I know that you, the students and staff of Holy Cross and the Diocese will be able to find a new name and mascot of which everyone can be proud. I realize that this will require a considerable amount of money, but the payoff of teaching racial sensitivity and true respect and tolerance of diversity to the students of today and the future will be more than worth it.

Thank you again for your decision to remove "Chief Wahoo" from Holy Cross walls, floors, uniforms, t-shirts, ballcaps, and so forth. We look forward to hearing what your new name and mascot is.

Sincerely,

Friends,

William Goller, principal of Holy Cross "indians" announced his decision yesterday (Feb. 14) to the school board.

"chief wahoo" is gone. The name "indians" remains.

Randy asked if the name change is negotiable; Goller responded, "Not at this time."

In addition to our latest call for help to call and/or fax Goller thanking him for getting rid of "chief wahoo" and explaining to him the necessity of changing the name as well--which we ask everyone to continue--we are asking for those "local" to us (near Cincinnati, Ohio) to contact us to be involved in visiting the school and Goller. Goller has repeatedly asked Randy to visit the school so that Goller can "show him around" and show him "what we do here." We would like others to go to the school together with us to speak with Goller about how and when the logo/mascot of "chief wahoo" will be removed and to speak with him about the name change as well.

Goller will not be the principal of Holy Cross in the fall. Randy, after speaking with him several times, feels 75% sure that we can convince him to change the name as well. His reasons for keeping it are weak and he seems to want to think of himself as knowledgable about Indians (his daughter visited the Zuni reservation he has told Randy). He will listen to people who talk with him respectfully.

We want him to feel good about his decision to get rid of "chief wahoo." We also want to continue efforts to change the name as well. If you contact him, please thank him for getting rid of "wahoo" and stress the need for the name change as well.

Again, the contact info is

Mr. William Goller
Principal
Holy Cross District High School
3617 Church St
Covington, KY 41015
(859) 431-1335 phone
(859) 655-2184 fax
To send a fax via the Internet, go to
http://www.faxpc.com/quickfax/freefax.asp

To be involved locally, e-mail us privately.

We have been considerably encouraged and heartened by the responses others have provided. Some have congratulated and praised us, which we appreciate and are thankful for, but the congratulations and praise are also yours. In other words, thanks for all your help.

Always,
Alice & Randy Huffman

I forgot to include other thoughts that I've been thinking about for some time.

Even after "chief wahoo" is removed and the name is changed, I wonder about saying "it's done." I'm thinking that the next step in our work here is to continue the education process by speaking with Goller and the next principal about having Native people enter the classrooms to speak about Native people and to offer truthful and accurate "lessons."

The schools that offer(ed) an insult to Native people would then be able to work with Native people to provide a truthful and accurate curriculum for and in the future. Is this being done in schools that have changed the name/mascot/logo? Does it work well?

I also wonder about how we may go about thanking schools that have changed name/mascot/logo and reinforcing the positiveness of the change. Is it appropriate to invite them to the next local pow wow as, say, "honored guests" and/or have an Honor Dance for them? In terms of the students, in particular, would this be a good way to introduce them to "real Indians" and begin their education about Native people?

I hope these ideas make sense. I would appreciate any thoughts about them. Again, they stem from thinking about continuing the education and learning for students, teachers, administrators, and community. It would very much rely on people local to each school.

Alice

Subj: Re: URGENT: Holy Cross "indians"
Date: 2/13/01 8:42:24 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: (Randy Huffman)

Just so that you know, if you want to call him and talk to him in person, the best time is from noon to 2:30 eastern. As I found out when I spoke with him, he teaches in the morning, eats lunch in his office at noon and is free to answer calls and read faxes until school is out.
Too bad I interrupted his lunch today, but he was pretty much a captive audience at the time. He is easy to talk to, a very nice gentleman and is willing to listen to you with respect. Why not give him a call and maybe persuade him to change the name along with the logo. (His phone number is below.)

Randy

TEACH RESPECT

Subj: URGENT: Holy Cross "indians"
Date: 2/13/01 3:05:24 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: (Alice Huffman)

I just got off the phone with my husband, Randy. He learned that the school board has turned over the decision about the name and mascot of Holy Cross to the principal, William Goller, ENTIRELY. There is a meeting tomorrow night; Mr. Goller will announce his decision to get rid of the "CHIEF WAHOO" LOGO but will KEEP the "Indians" name.

If you feel strongly enough about the issue of using "Indians" as mascots to want the name to be changed as well, we are asking that you call or fax William Goller your comments about WHY THE NAME MUST BE CHANGED AS WELL. In my last message about this, I indicated that William Goller wants to keep the name because "Indians are spiritual people." We are very unsure about how such an understanding of the name and of Native people in such a way will be conveyed. Will he begin every game by saying that they call themselves "Indians" because they are spiritual people? not because Indians are fierce, competitive, ruthless, will win games, or whatever?

If you would like to encourage him to change the name in addition to getting rid of the "chief wahoo" logo, please call him at 859-431-1335 or FAX 859-655-2184. Please also THANK HIM for talking with us and THANK HIM for getting rid of "chief wahoo." Explain to him in very clear terms WHY the name must be changed as well.

One more thing: to send a fax via the Internet, go to http://www.faxpc.com/quickfax/freefax.asp

Thanks again for all your help. Tomorrow is the day!

Alice H.

Again, he will announce his decision tomorrow night. If you would like the decision to be a change in BOTH the logo and the name, please contact him immediately.

Many, many thanks for all your help.

Always,
Alice H.

Date: 2/9/01

Friends,

We have heard nothing at all from the principal of Holy Cross in Covington, KY, where the name is the "indians" and the logo is "chief wahoo." We will be attempting to call to speak with him again, but we'd like to remind everyone that addresses and a sample letter for this school are available at

In the last conversation, however, that Randy had with the principal, the principal said that he wants to "phase out" 'chief wahoo' because he's never liked it and thinks it's offensive BUT still wishes to keep the "indian" name BECAUSE, he says, "indians are very spiritual people and we want to connect our Catholic school with spiritual people." Just like the Committee of 500 Years of Resistence in Cleveland, we feel that both the logo and the name must go. A "positive" stereotype is still a stereotype and still creates problems for Native people. Either Indians are noble savages, bloodthirsty heathens, or "shamans" and genetically pre-determined environmentalists. Wanting to keep the "indian" name because "indians are spiritual people" falls under the last category. Indians are people, not shamans and not all-wise, all-knowing gurus with all the answers to save the world. While we all know spiritual leaders, "indians" are not spiritual leaders. And others have pointed out the irony of a Catholic school wishing to "honor" Native people and their spirituality.

Anyway, if you haven't already and if you wish to do so, please write another letter addressing this issue in particular--that of keeping the "indian" name in order to "honor" Indians for being spiritual people. I also wonder how such an idea would be conveyed to the students, the teachers, and the other teams the school plays. Additionally, you may wish to encourage the school to not only change the name and logo but also to become involved with Native people in the area, to ask Native people into the classrooms to ensure truthful and accurate teachings about Native peoples, histories, cultures, and lifeways.

Please feel free to pass this info on to anyone who may be interested in supporting this position. Also, if anyone is interested in calling to speak with the principal him/herself, please let us know. Randy and I are more than a little frustrated at being unable to do so because of our jobs.

Always,
Alice and Randy Huffman

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