Arkansas State University's "Indian Family" will be retired Thursday night.Courtesy Photo/Arkansas State University
Goodbye, Good Riddance, 'Indian Family'
February 28, 2008
Unbeknownst to the Osage Nation, Arkansas State University's mascot, the Indians, was loosely based on the tribe for their "fighting spirit" when they warred on neighboring tribes during the 1800s. Now that the mascot is set to be retired, the tribe is the university.
"We are pleased Arkansas State University has joined the noble fraternity of schools that have chosen to honor Native Americans by not using their image or names as part of their schools mascots. We encourage them to find more appropriate ways to connect with the Indian community through education," Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray said. "We hope that the last days of the mascot are respectful and thoughtful about the new approach toward racial sensitivity."
According to an ASU press release, the Indians mascot and the "Indian Family" were taken from the heritage of the state of Arkansas from the Osage tribe. The head of ASU's "Indian Family" is named Chief Big Track, after a "legendary" Osage chief.
There was in fact an Osage chief named Cashesegra or Big Track, according to the historical journal, Chronicles of Oklahoma.
"We have no knowledge nor have given any permission to use our image or name in promotion of a school's mascot," Gray said. "We look forward to a new relationship with [ASU] and to the day when Native Americans and their image are no longer misused in this manner."
The retirement ceremony and celebration will take place at halftime of the men's basketball game between Arkansas State University and University of Louisiana-Monroe Thursday night at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro.
The ceremony concludes a year-long project centered on directives from the NCAA which declared that educational institutions with Native American nicknames and imagery would not be allowed to use the names or imagery in postseason competition.
"We have taken enormous strides to do everything in our power to not offend anyone," said Markham Howe, ASU director of university relations. "This is a farewell celebration for the alumni and our fans."
The "Indian Family" is a trio of students attired in what the school calls "authentic Native American wear." Dressed in buckskins, war bonnets and facial paint, the three students walk to the middle of the arena and raise their right arms to the "four directions" as the crowd applauds, said Richard Carvell, director of broadcasting at ASU and chair of the committee to coordinate the retirement ceremony for the "Indian Family."
According to Carvell, the retirement ceremony will feature each member of the "Indian Family:" Chief Big Track, the Indian Princess and the Indian Brave; each will place a "memento" at mid-court before leaving with the lights out in the arena. The ceremony will also include a tribute video.
The Indians mascot and the "Indian Family" have represented ASU as the school's athletic nickname since 1931. The school's previous mascots were the Aggies in 1911 (sometimes called Farmers), Gorillas in 1925 and Warriors in 1930. The Indians will stay on as the school mascot throughout the spring sports season before giving way to the Wolves in the fall.
This story originally was published by the Osage News and is used with permission.
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Comments?
The Osage Nation should have
The Osage Nation should have known. Arkansas State proudly used the Indians as mascot for 75+ years before the NCAA "directive" was issued. Ranking members of the Osage Nation were contacted frequently to help ensure that even the clothes of the Indian Family were authentic and that all actions were respectful to the Osage heritage.
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Arizona Web Design
ASU
Who cares about Arkansas State!
Native Americans are glad to have there name removed from such a shitty school
Outsider Looking In
To begin I will hide nothing. I am not Caucasion, nor am I African American and I am not Native American. Per being singled out anyway. I am simply American, born and raised with pride of this country and yet saddened by the diversities that continge us as brothers and sisters.
I read all the comments on this article (which by the way, I enjoyed).
In my forty years of life, I thought I would never see a day when Americans could not be in harmony, I never knew that the one people I love and adored could be against each other. I never thought it possible to see each other as different. Maybe I am seeing all this wrong, but words say so much when read in heart.
It don't matter who we are or where we have been nor does it matter what we are called; As long as we as individuals know within our hearts we all bleed the same and should be standing next to one another in friendship or brotherhood and sisterhood.
Why continue the mess of seperations, aren't we educated enough to know that civil wars hurt more than just pride. They destroy life and have never built a strong community. I just ask of all of you and of myself and those who have not read. Don't keep looking for the seperations but rather look for the unities of life.
I don't know how I got to this web site so I may not be able to see any comments on mine. Though I pray, before you write anything at all in relation to my comment; Think about your fellow Americans and respect each others thoughts and feelings and above all. Love one another, after all was it not your ancestors who first gave of the peace pipe? Let's share another day of peace, not just for one but for all who share pride in this wonderful world.
Outsider
mascot name
Thank you Arkansas State for doing the right thing. As an educator of Native American children (Indian is not offensive, just inaccurate, most native Americans I know have never BEEN to India), it is important that our children know that their heritage is one first and foremost of PEOPLE. Any stereotype (I don't dress like the "family") propagates the "stoic, mystic warrior prince" crap we all have to deal with. I now have a new favorite D I college to cheer for. Go Wolves!!
Good bye Indian family and good riddance
As the previous commenter demonstrates, too many people just don't get it. They say they never heard anyone complain. Well that can't be true, Indians at that university have been complaining about the ridiculous use of Native images to promote team spirit.
To say Osages knew is presumptios. The tribe was never asked nor gave permission to use the "legendary Chief Big Track" image to jump up and down on the sidelines in a war bonnet. Of course the characters who wore hollywood versions of Osage clothings couldn't be further from authentic representations.
So your Oklahoma high school had an Indian mascot. Well there is nothing special about that. Oklahoma has 165 of them and they have not changed one of them. Not one. Racially insensitive alumni defend the ugly mascots with leadpipe cruelty. It has gotten violent at times in peaceful attempts to seek change.
It is a good day. The ASU Indians are no more. Go Wolves!
After your post I thought I
After your post I thought I would do some research to make sure my original post was accurate, IT WAS. Some people like to "jump on a bandwagon" without any knowledge of the situation. So I thought I should help educate you.
Oh by the way, I said "ties to Native Americans" to keep from going into a long history of the 3 tribes represented in my family.
Again I have NEVER heard of or found in record (and with our administrations fear of lawsuits it would be there) any student with Native American heritage complain. As a matter of fact there have been Native Americans on our sports teams. And after talking to them personally, they could not be prouder of a mascot. The only record I can find of complaints have come from "Indian Activists". And the group of faculty members who followed the rule of political correctness. There is also no record of any "violent" conflicts connected in any way with attempts for change at ASU.
If you truly believe that the Osage Nation didn't know, you have relegated them to the dark ages. They are far to powerful of a group not to have known. I never said that they gave their permission. I don't know of any school that went about 75 years ago getting permission for anything. Plus a group of people don't have the right to give or deny permission for the use of a historical figure. It is not copy rightable. That would be like Hollywood getting the government's permission to use the name/image of George Washington every time it is/was used. Chief Big Track was the model for a member of the Indian Family. We were not the Osage, we were the Indians.
Your comment about "Cheif Big Track" jumping up and down on the sidelines proves that you have never seen the "Indian Family" and have no idea of what you are talking about. Cheif Big Track was the most solemn mascot I have ever seen anywhere. He walked onto the field/court, raised his hand toward each side of the field, walked off the field/court, and spent the rest of the time, normally standing in one place, watching over his team.
The "hollywood versions of the clothes" and the "war bonnet" were hand made by Native Americans. They also passed a review of a group of Native Americans from various tribes. A group of various tribes was used because ASU was the "Indians" not the "Osage". This group was in contact with ASU continuously to make sure every aspect of the imagery was acceptable. If anything was not authentic, it was because heritage was not preserved among that group.
As for my Oklahoma High School, it was very special. You see my classmates and I walked side by side as friends and equals (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Native American). I didn't even realize until 20 years later that it was comprised of over 70% Native Americans. As your research indicates (I hope you had at least this one statement correct), none of the 165 schools in Oklahoma have changed their Indian related mascots. If it is such a problem, a state with such a high Native American population would have instituted/demanded change. The Native American community is very powerful in Oklahoma.
I also the time for a change became necessary, but not because the University degraded the Native Americans. It is the activists that have made "Indian" a dirty word.
The war drums have faded off into the distance, but there is a strange new sound on the horizen. It is the sound of THE WOLF -- THE RED WOLF.
LET THE HOWLING BEGIN
Exactly.
You said it well Anonymous. People who are not Native just do not get it. It's still going to take quite some time before they ever do. Don't know what to say about the Natives who go supporting this kind of crap. How sad.
Oh yeah, we don get it!?!
I start to get bored to see that Native people think that all non-Native people are stupid.
Is bad to see a stereotyped "Indian", I do not deny it. As well people that pass like "Native" But then why for Native artist still paint braves, natives with horses in the wild, maids with spirits and other stuff, that are in LEGIT NATIVE ART GALLERIES?????????????. (Don't play fool saying that none, do a decent Google search instead). It not suppossed that you all hate that kind of art????
Where are the paints of natives using computers, on space or modern families, huh??? It is just because that is do not profitable like a brave indian in a small red loincloth????
So only Natives can exploit stereotypes of Natives becuase is a good use of sterotypes? Better make all your names, places and icons copyrighted. So we can use them only if we can cough enough money.
In part I understand your behavior since you had Americans as conquerors and they are a real very racist people. But if you demand zero tolerance, then is logical so see zero sterotypes on your legal merchandise too. Otherwise, you are just an hypocrite bully schools for pastime and profit.
Enjoy your "red wolves". I dunno that you will care for them after November.
Political Correctness Gone Too Far
As an Arkansas State Alumni with close ties to the Native American heritage, I wanted to comment on this article.
There are statements in this article that are not true.
1. The Osage Nation should have known. Arkansas State proudly used the Indians as mascot for 75+ years before the NCAA "directive" was issued. Ranking members of the Osage Nation were contacted frequently to help ensure that even the clothes of the Indian Family were authentic and that all actions were respectful to the Osage heritage.
2. "Misuse." How is it misuse to honor the history of our area? How is it misuse to honor your tribe? It was a sad day when "INDIAN" became a dirty word. I am closely related to many Native Americans (my family and other close friends). I have never met one who considered Arkansas State University (or other schools for that matter) to be offensive because of the use of "INDIANS" as a mascot. To be honest most are proud. I also went to a high school in Oklahoma with an Indian mascot. To your suprise the student body was predominately Native American. I NEVER heard anyone from that community claim that the mascot was derogatory in any way.
3. "Directive." I just wanted to define this term for you. It means strong-armed by bullies. Any school that had a strong enough alumni base and enough money was reprimanded and then left alone.
Why would any school use a mascot that they were ashamed of, embarassed of, made a mockery of, etc.? A school mascot is a symbol of pride and is to be treated as that. It is an honorary symbol to be defended and even fought for.
Tonight the Arkansas State University "Indian Family" and mascot of the Indians were retired. This to my knowledge is the last Division 1 holdout. We fought to the end to retain our honor and our heritage that we were so proud of.
Just so you know The Indians of Arkasas State University represented the Osage Nation tonight with a victory on the court.
Respectfully,
Forever An Indian
Political correctness
Dear "Forever an Indian", I noticed you said you had "ties" to the Native American community. Well, as an ACTUAL card carrying memeber of a federally recognized nation, it is my opinion that Native Americans should not be the only cultured so "honored". Wouldn't it be interesting to see the New Mexico Wetbacks vs the Long Island Kykes? Or how about the Chicago Amos and Andies vs the San Francisco Chink? NOW do you getit?
I guess I should have known
I guess I should have known better than to post on a site that's purpose is to spew discention. I said "ties" because between my mother's side of the family and my father's side of the family there are "ACTUAL CARD CARRYING MEMEBER (OOPS MEMBERS)" of three federally recognized nations. The terms you used were intented to be derogatory from the very beginning. The term "Indian" (though a case of mistaken identity in the beginning) has been accepted down through the years. So yeah, I think I getit (oops get it).
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