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.”