Local breaking news on Minnesota Public Radio is that Louise Erdrich, one of the most well-known writers living in the Twin Cities, rejected an honorary degree from the University of North Dakota because of the school’s continued use of the “Fighting Sioux” sports team name and logo.
It’s a strong statement from a writer, and one that reminds us that symbols have power. Words have power. And so do our choices. Erdrich grew up in North Dakota and has an American Indian heritage as part of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
I am still thinking about the news. And may post a comment later when it has had time to sink in. But I think it’s important to post information about writers as people, and not just authors.
One thing I do know – writers can make a difference. Someone is always listening.
You can read the full article, Author Louise Erdrich rejects UND honor over ‘Sioux’ nickname, at Minnesota Public Radio.
Friday, April 20th, 2007
Related Links:
WRITERS ON WRITING; Two Languages in Mind, But Just One in the Heart by Louise Erdrich – great article on language, symbols, and culture, from the New York Times archive, May 22nd, 2000
Because I’m so fond of her work, I want to support Erdrich on this. And I find some sports team names offensive, such as the Washington Redskins.
Yet it seems less offensive, to me, when the Cleveland franchise, in tribute to their best athlete of the 19th century, call themselves the Indians.
And I wonder if it is ever okay to use an ethnic identity, as some North Dakota tribes do not mind the name.
No easy answers – I’d think it unfortunate if the Vikings had to change their name, because of an ethnic reference.
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She must have felt strongly about it. She doesn’t strike me as someone who’s simply trying to make a statement.
It’s hard to look at it from where I sit outside and understand what is right. I think about the Zia symbol, which the State of NM co-opted as its state symbol. It’s become a universal symbol and taken on a life of its own. But then again, it doesn’t depict a flesh-and-blood being, as the Fighting Sioux logo does. The Zia symbol doesn’t, in any way I can see, perpetuate any stereotype (although it takes something sacred to others), and even if the Fighting Sioux is of a brave warrior, that image might be harmful in subtle ways to real people. (Remember the Frito Bandito or the sleeping Mexican of Taco Bell? What kind of stereotypes did those perpetuate?)
No answers. Just thinking out loud.
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It’s a tough issue. And comes back to symbols and icons and words rooted in the past. I imagine the root idea of being a Sioux warrior was something many were once very proud of. I was struck by the comment in the MPR article that stated that there were Native Americans at UND that nominated her for the honor. There seems to be some dissent, even among themselves. And I think that is common.
If we tried to change every offensive reference in the English language, we might as well banish it altogether. I don’t know where I land on this one; I am somewhere in the middle. There is a part of me that thinks we’ve got bigger battles to fight out in the real world than the use of a logo. But another part knows all too well what it’s like to feel discriminated against. Anyone who is on the margins can surely relate.
And symbols can perpetuate harmful myths about a culture, like ybonesy says about the Frito and Taco Bell ads. And then ombudsben brings up a good point – no one would ever ask the Vikings to change their name because a fighting Viking reference appears different in people’s minds somehow. Why, I don’t know.
In the end, I think I’m most proud that Erdrich has stuck up for what she believes in. Isn’t that the most we can ask of anyone?
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These posts are so interesting to me, partly because I worked in Cleveland for 11 years, when the people regularly debated in the media whether to get rid of Chief Wahoo, the Indians’ symbol. One point that has stayed with me from those debates is that most sports’ teams symbols were originally chosen because they connoted strength, which explains names like Giants, Vikings, Chargers, Fighting Irish, etc. No team would choose as its symbol something that the team didn’t respect and think others would respect. In retrospect the symbols may look offensive, But the original intent was the opposite. So I can see both sides on this one.
Jan Harayda
One-Minute Book Reviews
http://www.oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com
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Jan,
I’m still in the middle on this one, too. I was discussing it with my partner last night who is from North Dakota. She said when she was growing up, she didn’t remember any of this even being discussed. Same with me. I grew up in Pennsylvania and there was a rival team in high school called the Susquehanna Indians. We were both remembering that there seemed to be great pride in the names and the identification as being one of strength.
My high school mascot was the Patriot. There were two, 3-corner hat Patriots wielding rifles stenciled on the center of the gym floor. My sister told me (long after I left the area) that when she got to high school there was a big debate over whether to keep the fighting Patriots mascot because of the reference to guns. Where do you draw the line?
Symbols and words like these are peppered throughout language and culture, not only with Native American references but all ethnic backgrounds. I still hear people use offensive words like gypped, though I don’t think I’ve heard Indian giver since my childhood. Things do slowly change.
Doing the politically correct thing can be confusing. When I lived in Montana, most Native Americans I talked to at the time preferred to be called Indians – not Native Americans. This was at the same time many teachers were being educated to use the term Native Americans.
Many times, I don’t know the right thing to say or do. Or who to stand behind. In this case, I think the discussion is good. It makes people think and reflect.
Thanks for your comment!
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I’m wondering, has there ever been any solid, comprehensive polling on how the Sioux, err Lakota themselves feel about this?
Or for that matter, on how most Indians/Native Americans feel about it?
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That’s a good question. I don’t know the answer. It seems like a logical step that must have happened at some point along the way. But then…you never know.
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