There has been controversy over the Ute mascot at the U in recent years, targeting everything from how fans dress at football games to the name itself. Dennis Banks, Ojibwe leader and co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM) counseled U supporters not to hurt anyone’s feelings, whether the mascot stays or goes.
“Indigenous Activism: Past and Present” was an event organized by ASUU and the Indigenous Students and Allies for Change and was planned to create awareness and discuss the Ute name and mascot. Banks spoke about his experiences in the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan and in the American Indian Movement and the importance of confronting racism wherever we see it, including at the football stadium.
AIM has been fighting racism on many fronts, and has actively and continually taken a stand against the use of Native American names as mascots since 1968.
“They say they’re honoring native people … I’ve heard that one in every school and university that I’ve been to,” Banks said. “But they’re not honoring you. I’ve never witnessed any kind of honoring ceremony.”
Although many Ute Indians have said the U’s mascot doesn’t bother them, Banks suggested the conduct of Ute fans bothers Native Americans of other tribes, specifically the use of face paint.
“To me, those are spiritual markings,” he said. “The fact is, if somebody is hurt, if one person in this room is hurt from all that — I think, racism — then we have to listen. We have to listen to that one person.”
Enrique Alemán, assistant vice president for Student Equity and Diversity, agreed that the conduct and attire of some fans is an issue that disrupts the learning environment at the U.
“When you give students the license to dress up, it affects everybody … And I think we have to think about it that way … You’re giving the space for students to take it and make it their own,” Alemán said.
Larry Cesspooch, a Ute spiritual leader emphasized the importance of using the Ute name with respect.
He reflected on the tribe’s relations with the U: his son is an alumnus, and the campus is built on Ute land. The tribe did approve the use of the name, but Cesspooch encouraged students to honor the name and use it carefully and suggested that the U’s agreement with the tribe doesn’t go far enough.
“When our council met with the University of Utah, they needed to put conditions on the name,” Cesspooch said. “There are so many other things that could be done.”
For example, the U doesn’t offer any scholarships to Native American students.
Alemán said if there’s an agreement in place, it seems that there should also be a system in place for recruiting, educating, supporting and graduating Ute students. In fact, there are only four Ute students enrolled at the U, according to the Office of Student Equity and Diversity’s records.
“It’s really disheartening to see the lack of representation of Native Americans on campus, especially since we benefit so much from the use of the nickname,” Alemán said.
Donna Eldridge, a master’s student in the College of Social Work, helped found Indigenous Students and Allies for Change to address the mascot and logo issue at the U, as well as other problems. She devotes a lot of time to raising awareness about the mascot issue because the issue means a lot to her.
“This issue affects me every day. Every day there’s stereotypes about us … there’s racism,” Eldridge said. “As students, we’re in a learning environment. It’s hard when we’re fighting this issue, and our main attention should be on school … But my main attention is on this issue.”
AIM presses issue of Ute mascot
March 21, 2013
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Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm
“No matter what they do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not react out of hatred against those who have no sense.” – John Trudell
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm
“No matter what they do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not react out of hatred against those who have no sense.” – John Trudell
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 1:35 pm
“AIM is not an organization. AIM, as its name clearly says, is a movement. Within that movement organizations come and go. No one person or special group of people runs AIM. Don’t confuse AIM with any particular individual or individual who march under its banner, however worthy or unworthy they may be. AIM is the people. AIM will be there when everyone of us living is gone. AIM will raise new leaders in every new generation. Crazy Horse belonged to AIM. Sitting Bull belonged to AIM. They belonged to us still, and we belong to them. There are no followers in AIM. We are all leaders. We are each an army of one. Working for the survival of our people and the Earth, our Mother. This isn’t rhetoric. This is commitment. This is who we are. In the spirit of Crazy Horse” – Leonard Peltier
I’ve been an AIM member/support/activist for 38 years…..opened my eyes, opened my heart and I gave my soul to AIM…That is how much AIM means to me… Sharee Tso…!
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 1:35 pm
“AIM is not an organization. AIM, as its name clearly says, is a movement. Within that movement organizations come and go. No one person or special group of people runs AIM. Don’t confuse AIM with any particular individual or individual who march under its banner, however worthy or unworthy they may be. AIM is the people. AIM will be there when everyone of us living is gone. AIM will raise new leaders in every new generation. Crazy Horse belonged to AIM. Sitting Bull belonged to AIM. They belonged to us still, and we belong to them. There are no followers in AIM. We are all leaders. We are each an army of one. Working for the survival of our people and the Earth, our Mother. This isn’t rhetoric. This is commitment. This is who we are. In the spirit of Crazy Horse” – Leonard Peltier
I’ve been an AIM member/support/activist for 38 years…..opened my eyes, opened my heart and I gave my soul to AIM…That is how much AIM means to me… Sharee Tso…!
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 11:54 am
It ways come down to “Us” and “Them”.
* “Us” there is nothing wrong, its only a symbol, we do this in honor of “Them”, why are “they” so sensitive, nothing wrong with face paint & feathers, we do it for school pride, the other schools do it we have the right to. I do not know why it makes any difference to anybody to have school spirit.
* “Them” – I was so embarrassed by the guy all dressed up beating on a drum acting like an Indian, It hurts to see my children embarrassed, when “they” know that the regalia is sacred, it has songs, prayers, & blessings from creator. It hurts to hear songs that are not traditional, it hurts to see the sacred drum being used without prayer or ceremony. It hurts to be made fun of when people paint their faces without knowing what it means. I cry when people cheer when the Ute mascot acts a fool. I cringe when the girls come out with hardly nothing on, when we were brought up to be modest, respectful, honorable to ourselves and our people. My heart hurts when people are blind to racism.
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 11:54 am
It ways come down to “Us” and “Them”.
* “Us” there is nothing wrong, its only a symbol, we do this in honor of “Them”, why are “they” so sensitive, nothing wrong with face paint & feathers, we do it for school pride, the other schools do it we have the right to. I do not know why it makes any difference to anybody to have school spirit.
* “Them” – I was so embarrassed by the guy all dressed up beating on a drum acting like an Indian, It hurts to see my children embarrassed, when “they” know that the regalia is sacred, it has songs, prayers, & blessings from creator. It hurts to hear songs that are not traditional, it hurts to see the sacred drum being used without prayer or ceremony. It hurts to be made fun of when people paint their faces without knowing what it means. I cry when people cheer when the Ute mascot acts a fool. I cringe when the girls come out with hardly nothing on, when we were brought up to be modest, respectful, honorable to ourselves and our people. My heart hurts when people are blind to racism.
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 11:33 am
Yes, I do have an entitled attitude….I’ve earned it by age, life experience, and the history of my people who are ALWAYS overlooked, under estimated & the target of “acceptable racism”. LOL “but your entitled attitude is offending mine.” If your so offended why are you “Anonymous,” Let see who you are! Racism is racism, whether is is capitalized or NOT! Case in point….Okay change the school name to……The University of Utah….Blacks, Asians, Morman’s, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders, Pacific Islanders…..? Something to think about “Anonymous”….stop hiding. If you can speak up show who you are! ENTITLED
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 11:33 am
Yes, I do have an entitled attitude….I’ve earned it by age, life experience, and the history of my people who are ALWAYS overlooked, under estimated & the target of “acceptable racism”. LOL “but your entitled attitude is offending mine.” If your so offended why are you “Anonymous,” Let see who you are! Racism is racism, whether is is capitalized or NOT! Case in point….Okay change the school name to……The University of Utah….Blacks, Asians, Morman’s, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders, Pacific Islanders…..? Something to think about “Anonymous”….stop hiding. If you can speak up show who you are! ENTITLED
Anonymous • Mar 21, 2013 at 9:07 am
“The fact is, if somebody is hurt, if one person in this room is hurt from all that — I think, racism — then we have to listen. We have to listen to that one person.”
I understand where sensitivity is important, but we need to draw a line in how much we accommodate to these accusations of racism. They have a problem with face paint at games? Why don’t they have a problem with every other school that does that. It’s ridiculous. They’re not the target here and this is a non-issue. Stop trying to infringe on this school’s character. I’m proud to be a Ute. I don’t want our logo to be a generic block U.
Angie Brown-Shavano (Ute) • Mar 25, 2013 at 1:47 am
I am proud to be Ute, too.
Anonymous • Mar 21, 2013 at 9:07 am
“The fact is, if somebody is hurt, if one person in this room is hurt from all that — I think, racism — then we have to listen. We have to listen to that one person.”
I understand where sensitivity is important, but we need to draw a line in how much we accommodate to these accusations of racism. They have a problem with face paint at games? Why don’t they have a problem with every other school that does that. It’s ridiculous. They’re not the target here and this is a non-issue. Stop trying to infringe on this school’s character. I’m proud to be a Ute. I don’t want our logo to be a generic block U.
Angie Brown-Shavano (Ute) • Mar 25, 2013 at 1:47 am
I am proud to be Ute, too.
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 8:43 am
Yes, we are a small group on campus….In fact we are a small population across the US. But that is not the issue. For years I have faced racism not only on CAMPUS but in the COMMUNITY. I have in fact witnessed TEA PARTY groups in UTAH, spew hateful comments to people walking on the street. I am full blooded AMERICAN INDIAN was told while standing in line for lunch to GO BACK TO MEXICO. I have witnessed FOOLS playing dress up before UTE GAMES…Yes, we are few….But what gives YOU the right to say its okay to have a mascot that represents CULTURE, LANGUAGE, HERITAGE, PRIDE, & HONOR…to make money? I hope you don’t believe, American Indian Students receive free money, education, & benefits from the US Gov’t. NOT TRUE. We took down the RED SKIN’s, the U of U shouldn’t be a problem… 🙂
Anonymous • Mar 21, 2013 at 10:00 am
First off, you don’t need to ‘all caps’ words to make a point. It just makes it annoying to read. Second, how exactly does the mascot make money? He’s just a part of the U Athletics as a cheering coordinator. And, correct me if I’m wrong, the U isn’t a for-profit institutions so any of the money the U Athletics makes goes back to other students or employee working. The mascot isn’t misrepresenting your culture, language, heritage, or pride & honor, but your entitled attitude is offending mine.
Sharee Tso • Mar 21, 2013 at 8:43 am
Yes, we are a small group on campus….In fact we are a small population across the US. But that is not the issue. For years I have faced racism not only on CAMPUS but in the COMMUNITY. I have in fact witnessed TEA PARTY groups in UTAH, spew hateful comments to people walking on the street. I am full blooded AMERICAN INDIAN was told while standing in line for lunch to GO BACK TO MEXICO. I have witnessed FOOLS playing dress up before UTE GAMES…Yes, we are few….But what gives YOU the right to say its okay to have a mascot that represents CULTURE, LANGUAGE, HERITAGE, PRIDE, & HONOR…to make money? I hope you don’t believe, American Indian Students receive free money, education, & benefits from the US Gov’t. NOT TRUE. We took down the RED SKIN’s, the U of U shouldn’t be a problem… 🙂
Anonymous • Mar 21, 2013 at 10:00 am
First off, you don’t need to ‘all caps’ words to make a point. It just makes it annoying to read. Second, how exactly does the mascot make money? He’s just a part of the U Athletics as a cheering coordinator. And, correct me if I’m wrong, the U isn’t a for-profit institutions so any of the money the U Athletics makes goes back to other students or employee working. The mascot isn’t misrepresenting your culture, language, heritage, or pride & honor, but your entitled attitude is offending mine.
Mitch • Mar 21, 2013 at 7:27 am
No matter what they do someone will be offended in the end you can’t please anyone. Doesn’t matter if they change the mascot or logo to something else; someone will be offended somewhere.
It’s too bad they may have to change it because of a small group.
Either way you can’t please everyone; someone will be offended no matter what they do or say out of this matter; someone is ought to be offended.
Mitch • Mar 21, 2013 at 7:29 am
Can’t Please everyone*
Mitch • Mar 21, 2013 at 7:27 am
No matter what they do someone will be offended in the end you can’t please anyone. Doesn’t matter if they change the mascot or logo to something else; someone will be offended somewhere.
It’s too bad they may have to change it because of a small group.
Either way you can’t please everyone; someone will be offended no matter what they do or say out of this matter; someone is ought to be offended.
Mitch • Mar 21, 2013 at 7:29 am
Can’t Please everyone*