Native American Mascots in Contemporary Higher Education: Part 1: Politically Acceptable or Ethnically Objectionable?

Abstract

The battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876 was one of the last great wars fought by Native Americans on a grassy battlefield. The battle was fought over territory and the right to live in the Dakota and Montana territories. The Native Americans won the battle of Little Big Horn but eventually lost the war and were forced to live on a reservation away from their homeland. Today another great battle involving Native Americans is taking place, not on a grassy plain somewhere out West, but in courtrooms, classrooms, and tribal meetings across the country. The battle is over the use of historical Native American images and traditions as mascots and nicknames of higher education institutions. The research reported in this paper identified seven institutions of higher learning (not a complete list) which have abolished the use of Native American mascots on their campuses. Although these seven schools do not include a community college, much food for thought is presented for the benefit of community college educators who respect the thoughts and feelings of Native American Indians. The need is for this study to be replicated among community colleges with Native American mascots.