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Student Endorsements "Before Taking Zendejas' Native Studies Class" "After Taking Zendejas' Native Studies Class"

2011

Posted on October 7, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 10/6/2011

Guests: Brady DeSanti- Professor, UNO

James Bollinger, Pastor of Native Assembly

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 09/29/2011

Posted on October 3, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 9/29/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 09/22/2011

Posted on September 22, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 9/22/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 09/15/2011

Posted on September 16, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 9/15/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 09/08/2011

Posted on September 8, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 9/8/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 09/01/11

Posted on September 6, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 9/1/2011

Guest Co-host:

Brady DeSanti

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 08/25/2011

Posted on August 28, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired:8/25/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 08/01/2011

Posted on August 2, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired:8/1/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 07/25/2011

Posted on August 1, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired:7/25/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 07/18/2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired:7/18/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 07/11/2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 7/11/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 06/27/2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 6/27/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 06/20/2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 6/20/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 06/06/2011

Posted on June 9, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 6/6/2011

Guest Co-host: Jordan Zendejas, Adjunct, Native American Studies Dept.

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 5/23/2011

Posted on May 29, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 5/23/2011

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 5/16/2011

Posted on May 16, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 5/16/2011

Guests:

Rebecca Lee, (Vice President, InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 05/09/2011

Posted on May 10, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 5/9/2011

Guests:

Terrell Rooks, (InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 05/04/2011

Posted on May 10, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 5/4/2011

Guests:

Lucy Garza Westbrook, UNOmaha Service Learning Program

Jordan Zendejas, Adjunct, Native American Studies Dept.

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 4/27/2011

Posted on April 27, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 4/27/2011

Guests:

Dr. Beth Ritter, Professor, Native American Studies Dept.

Jordan Zendejas, Adjunct, Native American Studies Dept.

Mario Zendejas, UNO Pow-wow Emcee

Jessica Locke (InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 4/20/11

Posted on April 21, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 4/20/2011

Guests:

Mario Zendejas (Emcee, UNOmaha Pow-wow 2011)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 04/13/2011

Posted on April 13, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 4/13/2011

Guests:

Mario Zendejas, UNO Pow-wow Emcee

Siska Parker (InterTribal Student Council)

Tara Thomas (InterTribal Student Council, Treasurer)

2011 UNO POWWOW T-SHIRTS

Posted on April 13, 2011 - Filed Under Pow-wow | Comments Off

ORDER YOUR UNO 2011

POW-WOW T-SHIRT

NOW!

Pre-orders - $12.00*

Day of pow-wow - $15.00*

sizes come in adult size S, M, L, XL

*(size 2XL add $2.00)

To pre-order, email your ordering information to

honorindians@gmail.com

Please put T-SHIRTS in the subject line

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 04/06/2011

Posted on April 7, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 4/6/2011

Guests:

Juan Quevado (InterTribal Student Council)

Liz Brown (InterTribal Student Council President)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 03/30/2011

Posted on April 7, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 3/30/2011

Guest Co-hosts:

Brady DeSanti and Jordan Zendejas

Guests:

Michael Murphy, Native American Flute Player

Terrell Rooks (InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 03/16/2011

Posted on March 17, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 3/16/2011

Guests:

Leanne Pretends Eagle (Ho-Chunk Inc.)

Soulie Kearnes (InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 03/09/2011

Posted on March 9, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Comments Off

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 3/9/2011

Guests:

Randall G. Evans –CONAH (Council of Native American Heritage-Union Pacific)

Discussing partnership with UNOmaha, scholarships and internships.

Check back with us for the links to CONAH

*************************

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 02/09/11

Posted on March 3, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Leave a Comment

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 2/9/2011

Guests:

Cathi Warren (US Army Corps of Engineers Native American Consultation Specialist)

Liz Brown (InterTribal Student Council President)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 03/02/2011

Posted on March 2, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | 1 Comment

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 03/02/2011

Who’s Your Favorite Indian? And Why?

Guests:

Toni Tamayo (InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 02/23/2011

Posted on February 23, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Leave a Comment

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 2/23/2011

Guests:

Tami Maldonado-Mancebo (OPS Director of Native American Indian Education)

Michael LeadingHorse (InterTribal Student Council)

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 02/16/11

Posted on February 14, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Leave a Comment

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 2/16/2011

Guest:

Monica Zendejas (Family History Consultant)

Click here to print out some basic forms that will be useful in your Family History research.

*************************************************

As promised, here is the information that Monica, promised to post:

Yesterday, I was a guest on NATIVE HONOR HOURS at the UNOmaha MavRadio station which is heard every Wednesday 3-5 p.m. (CST). I was there in my capacity as a Family History Consultant and Volunteer at the Family History Center, of which I have been volunteering for over 10 years. I have also been researching my own family history for over 30 years, as well as the Family History of my husband, who is an enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. The purpose on the radio show was to direct those people interested in searching out their Native American Roots.

You start Native American Genealogy like you would any other family history. Start with yourself and work your way back. I always recommend you start by filling out a pedigree chart with you and your direct line ancenstors, and then filling out Family Group Charts for each set of grandparents on the pedigree chart. You can dowload some free charts here. Ask parents, grandparents or any other relatives any and all information they have that will help you trace your family back. Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates will have lots of information on them.

The next step that I recommend is finding your families on the census records. This is a good way to add siblings and birth dates. It can also help in the migration of families, as you can see from the place of birth of the children where they lived. The US Federal census start in 1790 and are taken every 10 years. We can view the census records up until the 1930 census. The 1940 census will be available in 2012. The US Government won’t release the census records until 72 years from the time they were taken because of privacy laws. 1850 is the first census that actually listed everyone in the family. Prior to that, they just listed the heads of households with a tally for males and females in different age groups. 1860 was the first federal census that included Native Americans. Enumerators were instructed as follows:

“Indians not taxed are not to be enumerated. The families of Indians who have renounced tribal rule, and who under state or territory laws exercise the rights of citizens, are not to bae enumerated.”

Even though their race or “color” was not noted as “Indian”, there were more than 40,000 Indians recorded in 1860. The 1870 census was the first census to list “Indian” as a choice of race or “color”. By 1900 all Native Americans were included on the Federal census.

Because of the allotments of land the Indian peoples received from the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which started with the Southeastern Indians, the government needed to keep track of the them. The government kept track of them by creating Indian census rolls. These were kept on a yearly basis for each tribe. These rolls are not unlike the US Federal census in that they keep track of them by listing head of households, and other members of the household and their ages. But in addition to that, you may also find listed on them the blood quantum, and their roll numbers. Because of the births and deaths during the year, which date they would record on the census, their roll number changed each year and they would sometimes also put the previous years number. This comes in handy as sometimes they were listed by their Indian name, their translated Indian name, or the new name and surname given to them. The number helps to verify that you have the right family. If you know your grandparents names, but do not know your grandmother’s maiden name, this is extremely helpful, as you just keep searching year by year, working your way backwards. If they have listed the previous enrollment number by her name the first year they were married, then you can find her with her family the year before by searching for her previous years enrollment. But you have to know who your ancestors are, which tribe they belonged to and where they resided for these rolls to be of any value for you. BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) Land Records are also a good source to use to search your Native American Family History.

The Dawes Rolls, are the 1896-1904 enrollment applications of the Five Civilized Tribes. This is the Index of the Cherokees, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cree, and Seminole people who were NOT recognized by the tribes and had to make application to be considered for thier tribal citizenship. If your ancestor was on the Indian census in 1896 the will NOT be on this index. Also, if your ancestor was NOT living in Indian Territory during 1898-1914, they will NOT be listed on the Dawes Rolls. Only those Indians who RECEIVED LAND under the Dawes Act provisions are listed. The Cherokee people are a very well documented group of people. There are over thirty rolls of the Cherokee people dating back to before the forced removal. Some full bloods refused to enroll, and some of those were later found and arrested and then forced to enroll. Some were rejected because of residency requirements and there were some non-Indians, trying to pass themselves off as Indians, enticed by the land allotments, who were also rejected.

I did find a few websites devoted to Cherokee that I thought were interesting reading. My favorite one to read was a blog called Pollysgranddaughter and I found another article on the myth of the Cherokee Princess at Allthingscherokee. Which leads me to finding other websites on Native American Ancestry. A search engine like google is a great source to find records and resources available online. There are a good number of web sites to help you find more information on the various specific tribes and their records. I have listed a few of them here. Even though some of them are paid subscription sites, all the ones I have listed are available for the public to use free at a Family History Center (FHC). Also, I have to say, that all FHC branches have available to order from Salt Lake’s big Family History Library catalog, various records from BIA agencies, including the Indian Censuses. The National Archives is another valuable source for Native American Heritage.

Familysearch.org is a free site by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They are in the process of digitizing all of their millions of records from their big mountain vault and putting them online for anyone to use, free of charge. There are a mix of both searchable and browsable records. You can find most of the US Federal Census records here. Because the process of digitizing and transcribing their records are ongoing, this site is constantly being updated with new records.

Accessgenealogy.com is a free site that has indexes for the Dawes and Guion-Miller rolls. It has tons of information on different tribes. This is a great site to be informed about Native American Ancestry.

Ancestry.com is a paid subscription site has not only all the available US Federal census, but also the U.S. Indian Census Schedules for 1885-1940 , U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, and more. This site is available at most public libraries and FHC’s.

Footnote.com is also a paid subscription site available at the FHC’s. They have stories and events for various tribes, as well as the Indian Census Rolls for 1885-1940, Dawes Packets, Dawes Enrollment Cards (1898–1914), Eastern Cherokee Applications (1906–1909), Enrollment of Eastern Cherokee by Guion Miller (1908-1910) and more, including some photos.

There are many resources available to us now than there were even a few years ago. The internet is a wonderful thing and allows for more doors to be opened up. But with this door, comes some inaccuracies. My best advice to anyone researching their family history is to document and source their findings. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being weak and 5 being strong, I would say that any any record you find of actual documents are a strong source, or a 5. Birth, marriage and death certificates fall under this category. (Although a death certificate is a strong source for the death date, it is only a good source for the birth date. Other than the death information, the birth, and parents information are as only good as the person providing the information knows.) Census records are a good source, 3 or 4, and again, are only as good as the person giving the information to the census taker. That person could have been any family member, or even a neighbor. Then there is the additional possibility of errors as the census taker made the handwritten extra copies for the different levels of government). Finding an individual’s family tree on the internet that has your ancestor on it is not the strongest source to prove your ancestry. I would give it a 1 or a 2. If they have their family history documented, it is a little stronger, maybe 3 or 4. But I have seen instances where someone, trying to prove their Indian Ancestry, cited a family on a census record as theirs, even though the last name was totally different. The daughter’s first name and age were correct, and this family was recorded as “Indian” in the race column. But that is where the similarities stopped. When finding an actual birth record for this daughter, I found that her mother and father, listed on the birth record was not the same names as on this census. I did find her on the same year’s census, and under her correct surname, but as “white”. This person wanted to prove that their ancestor was “Indian” that they “forced” that document as proof. So, use other people’s submission of their family history as a point of reference, but don’t accept it as truth until you verify it. I received someone’s genealogy of my great great grandfather in the mail years ago. I started to verify it all and got back a few generations and everything was matching up to the actual records I was finding as a result of her work. I decided not to verify the last 2 generations she gave me, because the rest of it had been matching up perfectly so far. Years later, as I was searching on the internet, I ran across a marriage record of the one that I stopped at verifying. The parents names did not match to that of which I had been given in that family history to the marriage records online. I ordered the film for the actual marriage records that were available for that area, and discovered, that I should have kept verifying and not assumed they were all correct after only verifying a few. I had do delete and correct a lot of information in my family file. It was an important lesson learned. Basing your family history on anything that you cannot verify means you are writing a work of fiction. As the old adage goes, “Genealogy without proof is mythology”.

NATIVE HONOR HOURS 02/02/2011

Posted on February 9, 2011 - Filed Under NATIVE HONOR HOURS | Leave a Comment

NATIVE HONOR HOURS

Date aired: 2/2/2011

Guests:

Antoine Edwards family (Native Drum group and singers)

Juan Quevedo (InterTribal Student Council)

U.N.O. POW WOW 2010

Posted on April 5, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

SILENT AUCTION

These items are currently up for auction…

**Donnell Keeler Framed Print**

**Granite Counter Top**

One 4’ Bathroom Granite counter top*

*Does not include sink or fixtures

with 10 colors to choose from (Installation Included)

A $560 value

Bidding ends April 23, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

Please submit your bids in the comment section below.

***COMING SOON***

**STAR QUILT**

Indians In Jeopardy

Posted on February 18, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Indians In Jeopardy Power Point For Web

Indians In Jeopardy Double Jeopardy For Web

Indians In Jeopardy Final Jeopardy For Web

INDIANS IN JEOPARDY

Posted on February 18, 2010 - Filed Under Education | Leave a Comment

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYING INDIAN JEOPARDY: Click on link under the picture. It will open a new window with another link. Click on the link to open up the “Indians In Jeopardy” game. It will download to your computer so you can open it up. Click on the category/points button. Click on the page for the answer. Then click on the picture of the “Home” icon to go to the main page. Repeat for all the questions.

INDIANS IN JEOPARDY

Indians In Jeopardy DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Indians In Jeopardy FINAL JEOPARDY

GIVE THE GIFT OF LEARNING

Posted on December 9, 2009 - Filed Under MASCOTS THAT HONOR | Leave a Comment

GIVE THE GIFT OF LEARNING ABOUT INDIANS THIS CHRISTMAS!!!

Honor Indians Institute is pleased to announce a special opportunity for you to give high schools and their students the gift of learning more about Indians! We will present to high schools and/or their students a copy ofMASCOTS THAT HONOR INDIANS donated in your name, or the name of someone else as a Christmas present to them, when you donate$10 dollars to Honor Indians Institute. We ordinarily sellMASCOTS THAT HONOR INDIANS for $30 dollars, and it retails at some bookstores for over $40 dollars.

We will email to you a letter that you can present to your friend or loved one informing them that a copy of MASCOTS THAT HONOR INDIANS has been donated to a high school and/or their students in their name!

Our students have made the following comments:

“I’ve come to realize that our schools could do so much more to educate people about Indians and the history of our country.”

“School systems need to incorporate more classes regarding Native American studies.”

“I cannot recall a grade level when I actually studied them, because I never did. I should have learned about this in grade school or high school at the latest, so it’s kind of sad that I didn’t learn about it till college.”

“I hope that your book can educate people about actually honoring Indians. Starting with youth will hopefully give younger generations a better way of thinking about the history and tradition of different peoples.”

For $10 dollars, you can help us to provide the gift of learning more about Indian tribes and people! (Please donate in increments of $10.)

WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL

Posted on March 13, 2009 - Filed Under POLL | Leave a Comment

A Wisconsin legislator has proposed a bill that would require their state Department of Public Instruction to investigate Indian mascot complaints. Schools that still use Indian mascots would be given an opportunity to defend their mascot. The schools would have to argue that their mascot does not discriminate, harass or stereotype. If the State Superintendent believes the complaint against Indian mascot has merit, the school would have to retire the mascot or face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 each day it continues using the mascot.

Other state legislators have made attempts at legislating away Indian mascots, with not much success. In the past, California, Oklahoma, Kentucky, New Jersey and Vermont have tried to pass legislation aimed at banning Indian mascots. So far, no state has been successful at passing anti-Indian mascot legislation.

I can think of numerous flaws with proposed anti-Indian mascot legislation, but my intent is not to find fault with anti-Indian mascot legislation. My overall opinion is that legislation or litigation should not be the method of choice for retiring Indian mascots. However, after several class discussions, some students think legislation would be the only way to get schools to get rid of Indian mascots. My preference is education. Most schools teach very little about Indian tribes and people.

Another option that was discussed was legislation requiring schools to teach Indian history. I think that this option has merit. However, there would be some difficulty in crafting legislation to accomplish the desired objective. It would be much easier and preferred if schools took the initiative to address this issue on their own. However, that does not appear to be imminent.

What do you think?

“THE COWBOYS ALWAYS WIN” Thomas Builds-The-Fire

Posted on March 5, 2009 - Filed Under Political | Leave a Comment

I am sure most Indians will remember the scene from the movie Smoke Signals when Thomas uttered those words to Victor upon getting evicted from their seats on the bus by two white guys. We laugh because as tribal members, we have experienced and witnessed that scene in our own lives. We know that it is still true today; the cowboys still take shots at us today. Like Victor and Thomas, we look for our spots to fight back, but most times we grudgingly pick up our things and find another seat. I’m tired of the cowboys still taking shots at us.

Recently a couple of highly respected and high achieving Indian men have been the targets of modern day cowboys. Larry Echohawk, Pawnee, and Tim Giago, Oglala, have recently been targeted by a couple of cowboys. Larry Echohawk was targeted by one cowboy as being unworthy of guiding Indian affairs because of his previous work as ATTORNEY GENERAL for the State of Idaho. This cowboy stated his “shock and dismay” to hear that Mr. Echohawk was being considered as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. He expressed his “great respect” for the Echohawk name, but not for this “specific” Echohawk. This cowboy had the great audacity to urge Indian people to call upon President Obama to choose someone other than Larry Echohawk for this position.

As for Mr. Giago, a highly respected and nationally syndicated journalist, another cowboy felt the need to call him out and described Mr. Giago as a “have” who is fighting to “keep the have-nots in their place.”

Certainly, Mr. Echohawk and Mr. Giago do not need my pathetic and pitiful voice to defend them against the words of both of these cowboys. Their work and accomplishments speak for themselves. My intent is not to offer a “defense” for either of these extremely accomplished men. My complaint and I guess my question is one of process. Who are these cowboys and why do we let them win?

I am sure that these two cowboys have been gracious to some group of Indians and have done good things for Indians. However, why do they feel that they earned the right to gain national attention to call out such accomplished men as Larry Echohawk and Tim Giago? What have they done to merit such authority and influence over Indian people and affairs? Why do nationally read Indian websites and publications give them voice to do this?

We let them “win” by letting them think that their opinion should matter to us. I certainly have complaints about certain Obama nominees and could issue a press release stating my outrage and objections. I would be lucky to receive a one paragraph blurb in my local newspaper editorial page. However, we allow cowboys that I have never heard of take their shots at these two nationally respected men and give them the time and space to do it! Don’t let the cowboys win next time.

POLL: I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. RESOLUTION

Posted on January 9, 2009 - Filed Under POLL | Leave a Comment

I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P

Posted on January 9, 2009 - Filed Under Indian Mascots | Leave a Comment

Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People

RESOLUTION REQUESTING PRESIDENT OBAMA TO TELL SCHOOLS AND OTHER SPORTING TEAMS TO STOP USING INDIAN MASCOTS

WHEREAS, I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. was established by Indian high school students participating in the Circle of Learning project sponsored by the Omaha Public School District, Office of Indian Education’s Native Indian Centered Education (N.I.C.E.) and in cooperation with Little Priest Tribal College and The Honor Indians Institute; and

WHEREAS, I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. was established to encourage students to learn more about tribes and tribal people and to stop perpetuating ignorance and negative stereotypes about our people by using Indian images as team mascots; and

WHEREAS, Numerous schools here in Nebraska and throughout the United States and professional sports teams use Indian images as team mascots, such as Redskins, Redmen, Red Raiders, Savages, Indians, Chiefs, Chieftains, Braves, Warriors, etc., claiming that such names and images are meant to honor Indians; and

WHEREAS, Numerous Tribal, Civil Rights and other professional organizations have condemned the use of Indian mascots as racist, offensive and harmful to Indian students, and that they perpetuate ignorance and negative stereotypes about Indian people; and

WHEREAS, Groups such as The National Congress of American Indians, Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, The United States Commission on Civil Rights, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), United Nations, Committee On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination and the American Psychological Association have called for the elimination of Indian mascots by schools and professional sporting teams; and

WHEREAS, The majority of schools here in Nebraska and throughout the United States and professional sporting teams have not listened to tribal leaders, people and educators and have continued to use Indian images as their team mascots; and

WHEREAS, We as students who are affected by the racism, offensiveness and ignorance perpetuated by Indian mascots add our voices to those speaking against Indian mascots and ask schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots; and

WHEREAS, We also call upon the newly elected President BARACK OBAMA, who received overwhelming support from the Indian community by promising change in Indian country, to join with us in calling for schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People (I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P.) denounce Indian images used as mascots as racist, offensive, degrading and that they perpetuate ignorance and negative stereotypes about our people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. adds our voices in calling for schools and sports teams to STOP using Indian images for their team mascot; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. encourages students to join our Circle of Learning and learn more about Indian tribes and peoples; and

FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED, that I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P. respectfully requests that President BARACK OBAMA join with us and add his voice in denouncing the use of racially offensive Indian mascots and by telling schools and sports teams, starting with the WASHINGTON REDSKINS, located in our National Capitol and his new home, to STOP using Indian images for their team mascots.

DATED this 7^th day of January, 2009,

BY:

__________________________________________

Andre Fast Horse, President

HONORED INDIAN: ANDRE FAST HORSE

Posted on January 9, 2009 - Filed Under HONOR INDIANS | Leave a Comment

Andre Fast Horse: President of Indian Students Against Images Degrading Sacred Traditions of Our People (I. S.A.I.D. S.T.O.P.)

Andre is Oglala Sioux from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He is a senior at Central High School in Omaha, NE. He enjoys running, drawing and skateboarding in his free time. He runs track and cross-country for Central High School. He is also president of Central High School’s All Nations Club. Andre has been accepted to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He plans on becoming a surgeon.

NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL INDIAN MASCOT POLL

Posted on December 8, 2008 - Filed Under POLL, Indian Mascots | Leave a Comment

HONORED INDIAN: MARSHALL BASS

Posted on November 25, 2008 - Filed Under HONOR INDIANS | 1 Comment

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Marshall Bass. Marshall is a proud enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. He is the youngest child of Vincent and Karen Bass. He is 23 years of age and currently a junior at Haskell Indian Nations University located in Lawrence, Kansas. He is studying Business Administration. He plans to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in the fall of 2009. Upon graduation, he plans to attend graduate school and eventually incorporate his business skills with Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.)

He currently works in Haskell’s G.I.S. Laboratory where he is heading a project that is modeling wind power potential for almost all reservations across the United States. He actually created cartography using ESRI’s ArcView software to determine site suitability for the erection of wind turbines. He was given the opportunity to be employed with the G.I.S. program over the summer and after school hours by his G.I.S. instructor, Dave Mcdermott. They were able to create a foundation for Marshall to work from and based on that, he ran with it and now he has a huge information database that can be used for tribes that are interested in renewable energy. He enjoys attending Haskell Indian Nations University and his involvement with G.I.S., knowing that Tribes will benefit from his work.

TIMPVIEW DECIDES TO “HONOR INDIANS”

Posted on November 18, 2008 - Filed Under Indian Mascots | 4 Comments

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

Timpview High School, home of the Thunderbirds, is located along bench of the Wasatch Mountains in Provo, UT. What used to be a nice, quiet school has now caused an uproar among the local Native community.

A few months ago the school revealed the new outfit for the mascot. According to some students, the previous outfit was old and outdated, and may have resembled a chicken. The principal, Dr. Bayles, decided it was time for a change. Dr. Bayles formed a team of teachers to help create this new mascot, none of which were Native. The inspiration for his new mascot came from a kachina doll that was in his office. In an article written in the school districts newsletter, Dr. Bayles states that since the Thunderbird is of Native American origin, he wanted to honor that Heritage!

Well Dr. Bayles, is it honoring when the Kachina you call a Mascot is parading around doing those “stereotypical” Native acts? Or is it honoring when some of your Native students are uncomfortable being at the football game because of the actions of your mascot?

Your mascot is a BIRD, not a Native American Kachina!

This is one of the few, if not only Native mascot in the area. Many of the local Native American organizations have started to voice concerns. The Title VII, Indian Education, Program for the Provo City School District has decided to first bring their concerns of the Native Community to the attention of Dr. Bayles. We will be meeting with Dr. Bayles with letters from the local Natives. If you would like to voice your concerns, please comment on this post, or if you would like to write a letter, please email them to honorindians@gmail.com.

-Meredith Schramm

UPDATE!

It didn’t take much, but with everyone’s support, Timpview is stopping the use of their new mascot outfit immediately! We were able to pass along the letters and comments written by everyone. Dr. Bayles did not realize he was offending anyone and is deeply sorry. He has already started making plans to create a new one. The new one will be an actual Thunderbird, and he has asked the Native American advisor at Utah Valley University to oversee the project.

Honor Indians would like to Honor Dr. George Bayles for acting so swiftly to the concerns of the Native people, and for working with them to make sure things are better!

IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS

Posted on November 11, 2008 - Filed Under HONOR INDIANS | 1 Comment

Honor Indian Institute honors the approximately 169,000 American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Tribal members serve in the military at the highest rates per capita of any racial or ethnic group. There are about 23.7 million veterans overall in the U.S.

Anthony Zendejas, Jr

Click on link below to watch a power point in honor of

Natives American Veterans.

In Honor of Native American Veterans

HONOR INDIANS HOLIDAY?

Posted on September 18, 2008 - Filed Under POLL, Political | 3 Comments

A controversy has arisen in Nebraska’s Thurston County over their Native American Day set for September 26^th. Members of the County Board who are tribal members from the Omaha and Winnebago tribes championed the Native American Day holiday. Thurston County is home to both tribes. Tribal members make up approximately 52% of the county’s population.

Non-Indian Thurston County Board members opposed the holiday, and recently tried to repeal the holiday. However, the tribal members walked out of the meeting, leaving the Board without a quorum to transact business. Native American Day was spared, at least for now. The Non-Indian Board members are unsure of what will happen when September 26^th arrives.

Honor Indians Institutes says ENJOY THE DAY!!! We encourage Thurston County employees to fill your gas tanks at Omaha or Winnebago gas stations. You can then go to either CasinOmaha or WinnaVegas and enjoy the lunch buffet and drop some of your county paycheck into the one-armed bandits. You can celebrate the Dawes Act, which broke up both the Omaha and Winnebago reservations and opened land for settlement, which led to the creation of your towns located in the county, which initially was to be named “Blackbird County” in honor of an Omaha tribal leader. Instead, the Nebraska Governor John Thayer vetoed the name, and instead named in honor of Senator John Thurston. Thurston was a member of the Senate Indian Affairs committee that oversaw the implementation of the Dawes Act. Your County Board voted for and approved the holiday, so ENJOY!!!

HONOR INDIANS INSTITUTE POLL

HONORABLE MENTION: PHIL JACKSON

Posted on September 4, 2008 - Filed Under Honorable Mention, POLL, Indian Mascots | Leave a Comment

Phil Jackson, Head Coach for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, the University of North Dakota on August 25^th. Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Coach Jackson, not for his receipt of the honorary doctorate, but for his remarks to the UND community. Coach Jackson used his public appearance at UND to address the “Fighting Sioux” mascot controversy. He suggested that his alma mater “…do the right thing…” and they “…have to rethink probably our nickname and moniker.” Jackson also stated that the “Fighting Sioux” mascot was “not beneficial” to the Lakota people, and that “…objectification of people is limiting to ourselves… as well as to the people objectified.” Honor Indian Institute honors Coach Jackson for using his stature in the UND community for taking this opportunity to try to gracefully resolve the “Fighting Sioux” mascot controversy.

HONOR INDIANS INSTITUTE POLL

CHAMPIONS

Posted on August 9, 2008 - Filed Under Mascot League Baseball | Leave a Comment

JEWS CIRCUMCISE JOX: TAKE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP

In a spiritied nip and tuck final, the Jew Crew defeat the White Jox by a 52 to 48 percent margin. Congratulations to the Milwaukee Jew Crew 2008 Mascot League Baseball Most Honorable Mascot!

CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted on August 5, 2008 - Filed Under Mascot League Baseball, POLL | Leave a Comment

(5) Milwaukee Jew Crew vs. (15) Chicago White Jox

MASCOT LEAGUE BASEBALL: FINAL FOUR RESULTS

Posted on August 5, 2008 - Filed Under Mascot League Baseball | Leave a Comment

JEW CREW BANKRUPTS AMERICAN INDIANS

The 5^th seeded Milwaukee Jew Crew pull off the upset of the top seeded American Indians by a single vote! A last second surge by the Indians came up short, sending the Jew Crew into the CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND!

WHITE JOX EVICT RED NECKS FROM TOURNAMENT

The Chicago White Jox send the Red Necks back to the trailer park. A single vote once again separated these two mascots. The Jox look to upset the Jews in the finals.