25 Main Street South Grafton, MA 01560 ‘THRIT-O138 «ouneil@nipuenation org September 23, 2016 Re: Statement on Native American Mascots “The isrpresentaton of Native Americans has been an issue that the United Sats has strugled wih for some time, Native American uth havea suicide rate 3 times that of their peers, and Native American high schoot-aged males have e suicide rate that i 8 times greater. Mascoting Native Americans in light ofthese statistics i reckless axd endanger the most vulnerable population of young people inthe ‘country; and is done purely focenterainment purposes, “The Native American mascot establishes hostile leaming environment. The impact of serotypes of any oval ienity ofa group hasbeen proven fo cause mental health effects such as low selesteem among Native Americans, and nepative attudes towards Native Americans amongst non-Native Americans. When non-Native students are shown stereotypical Native American sprts images, they are more likely to endorse stereotypes about cer minority groups. The practice of mascoting a people gives the ‘community the iense to ac st un di wply ereekype and eases them to perpetuate iin publio much like the offensive “war whoop” and “tomahawk chop.” Imagine, fora moment what hese negative stereotypes mascotting would cause for Aftiean Americans, ‘Asian Americans, and Latinos Thre is a reason noone wants to be masctted. There i reason no other ttc group is mascoted tothe degree that Native Americans ar. t means having ou culture ‘misappropriated without our consent and to have it clowned. Mascoting another group of people without their permission isn’t about lve, respect and honor but about privilege and power, the sme privilege and power that discriminates gains Native American people and our nations every singe da. “There ae 43 high schools in Massachusetts lone that still have Native American mascots. The schools can argue to ep their elinic related mascot they have the permission of the local Native American tribe; however, the Niue Nition Tribal Coun! has unanimously voted that any and all sports mascot, depicting Native people is directly ted to the history of genocide inthis counrty against our peopl. “The we of ethnic-related spors team mascots, symbols, and nicknames has to stp. ‘THE NIPMUC NATION Heed — Love Richardson Council Member & Tribal Clerk Nipmue Nation Tribal Counei