Chippewas' Defensive Tackle Is an Actual Chippewa
Many of us have reservations about schools and pro franchises whose nicknames, mascots, and paraphernalia invoke Native American tribal names, rituals, and likenesses. My personal opinion: Tribal nicknames (such as Utes, Seminoles, or Blackhawks) are OK unless a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name. In some cases, using a tribal nickname may even be a way to honor or pay homage to a nearby Indian nation. Problems arise, however, when team mascots, paraphernalia, andor rituals mock or stereotype tribes or tribal traditions. (I'm talking to you, Chief Illiniwek.) I also disapprove of nicknames that are blatant racial slurs (such as "Redskins"). I'm on the fence regarding names such as "Braves" or "Indians."
This brings me to the story of Central Michigan University's sophomore defensive tackle Ronnie Ekdahl (pictured). Ekdahl is a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe; Central Michigan's nickname is the Chippewas. Ekdahl is the first actual Chippewa to play for the Chippewas (football, at least; I'm not sure if he is the first Chippewa varisty athlete at CMU). This put Ekdahl in an interesting position when, in 2005, the NCAA passed legislation punishing member schools for Native American nicknames and mascots. For his part, Ekdahl says:
If you're wondering why I'm bringing up Ekdahl's story today, I should mention that his Chippewas pounded Ohio U. for the MAC title last night. The CMU Chippewas will be playing in the Motor City Bowl on the day after Christmas. (How's that for getting jobbed? "Congratulations, you won 9 games and took your conference title. Now you get to spend Christmas two hours down the road in Detroit.")
This brings me to the story of Central Michigan University's sophomore defensive tackle Ronnie Ekdahl (pictured). Ekdahl is a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe; Central Michigan's nickname is the Chippewas. Ekdahl is the first actual Chippewa to play for the Chippewas (football, at least; I'm not sure if he is the first Chippewa varisty athlete at CMU). This put Ekdahl in an interesting position when, in 2005, the NCAA passed legislation punishing member schools for Native American nicknames and mascots. For his part, Ekdahl says:"I understand what the NCAA was trying to do, and in some instances I think it's appropriate, like when the name is used in a disrespectful manner. . . . I have never felt in any way disrespected," Ekdahl said. "There's a very close relationship between the tribe and the school. I have been treated like a football player. Being a Chippewa has just never been an issue.
"And if I ever felt it had become an issue or that something was being done that was disrespectful, I'm pretty confident I could say something and it would be changed right away. The relationship is one of respect."
If you're wondering why I'm bringing up Ekdahl's story today, I should mention that his Chippewas pounded Ohio U. for the MAC title last night. The CMU Chippewas will be playing in the Motor City Bowl on the day after Christmas. (How's that for getting jobbed? "Congratulations, you won 9 games and took your conference title. Now you get to spend Christmas two hours down the road in Detroit.")
posted by Tinley | 3:42 AM
1 Comments:
Josh Tinley wrote “My personal opinion: Tribal nicknames (such as Utes, Seminoles, or Blackhawks) are OK unless a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name.”
As I understand Josh’s position, he believes it is acceptable for a school to use an ‘Indian’ tribal nickname provided permission is granted by a tribe and that tribe has authority to grant such permission to the school to use that name. He also clearly states that the tribal nickname (such as Utes or Seminoles) would not be appropriate if it is the case that “a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name”.
Based on Josh’s writing, it appears that he is arguing that Florida State University’s “Seminoles” nickname is appropriate because the Florida band of Semonoles (called the “namesake tribe”) explicitly granted permission and, most importantly, because the tribal council of the only other “surviving tribe” of Seminoles (in Oklahoma) did not pass a resolution opposing Florida State’s use of the tribe’s name. Based on his what he wrote, if the Oklahoma Seminole band had passed a resolution opposing the usage, Josh would then oppose Florida State’s use of the “Seminoles” nickname on the basis (as he wrote) that “Tribal nicknames (such as Utes, Seminoles, or Blackhawks) are OK unless a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name.” Since there are two tribes with the Seminoles name, Josh appropriately acknowleged that neither tribe possesses the exclusive right to grant permission to use the tribal name as an athletic nickname but that each tribe with the tribal name should have the right to veto use of its tribal name as an athletic nickname.
The University of North Dakota’s racial “Fighting Sioux” nickname is another good example illustrating Josh’s valid logic. There are 14 federally recognized tribes with the name of “Sioux”. No one Sioux tribe claims it possesses the right to speak on behalf of another Sioux band. Therefore, if all 14 Sioux tribes were to approve UND’s use of the “Fighting Sioux” nickname, Josh would approve it. However if 13 Sioux tribes oppose the nickname and one Sioux tribe were to “approve” UND’s use of the tribal name, Josh wisely would disallow the racial nickname because this is a case where (as Josh wrote) “a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name.” Similarly, even if 13 of the 14 Sioux tribes were to “approve” such usage, the 13 tribes do not even collectively possess the “right” to grant approval for the 14th Sioux tribe. Therefore, as Josh validly asserts, if the 14th Sioux tribe were to object, UND would not be allowed to use the “Fighting Sioux” nickname since this is a case where “a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name”.
In other words, Josh’s very valid argument is that a school should use a tribal nickname only if no surviving tribe with that name objects. Josh’s conclusion is that any surviving tribe should be able to veto the use of its tribal name as an athletic nickname. Any school that would use a tribal name as an athletic nickname over the objection of “a surviving tribe” is acting inappropriately because it is against the wishes of “a surviving tribe”.
Based on Josh’s reasoning, it is therefore highly inappropriate for Central Michigan University to use their current race-based ‘Chippewas’ nickname. CMU bases its justification for calling its teams the “Chippewas” on the basis of approval from one tribe, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation. However, that tribe is only one of fifteen tribes sharing the “Chippewa” tribal name. I doubt that the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation would claim authority to speak for any other Chippewa band. In fact, many other Chippewa tribes oppose race-based ‘Indian’ nicknames and logos and have clearly and repeatedly expressed such objections. For example, the following seven Chippewa tribes as members of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council have registered their objection to such nickname/logos:
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians,
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
Sokaogon Chippewa Community – Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
All are cases where (as Josh wrote) “a surviving tribe asks a school or franchise to stop using its name.” None have changed their declared opposition to such ‘Indioan’ nicknames. Accordingly, based on his analysis, to be consistent, Josh must oppose Central Michigan University’s ‘Chippewas’ nickname.
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