[LM_NET] Children's books, mascots, intolerance, and ignorance

[Debbie Reese <debreese@UIUC.EDU>]

Good afternoon,

Updates to American Indians in Children's 
Literature are only two this week due to events on our campus in recent days.
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/

Sunday, Feb 18, 2007
Children's books and American Indians
--Some of my thoughts about children's books, 
mascots, intolerance, and ignorance.

Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
Kathy Jo Wargin's THE LEGEND OF THE PETOSKEY STONE
--A review by Lois Beardslee

-------

As many of you may have read in the national 
press, UIUC announced a decision to discontinue 
use of Chief Illiniwek. This was a surprise to us 
at UIUC's Native American House and American 
Indian Studies program. We have not been invited 
to any meetings to discuss the issue with campus 
leaders. According to UIUC statements, others 
involved in those conversations include former 
students who portrayed Chief Illiniwek (a group 
known as the "Council of Chiefs) and founders of 
various organizations that support keeping the 
mascot (e.g.: "Honor the Chief" society). 
Decisions not to talk with us are likely due to 
our firm statement regarding the issue. It is on our website:
http://www.nah.uiuc.edu/statement.htm

Our response to last Friday's announcement is here:
http://www.nah.uiuc.edu/mascot-news.htm

The issue has been in the national press, but 
also in THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER ED:
http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/02/2007021905n.htm 
(you may not be able to read this without a 
subscription) and in INSIDE HIGHER ED:
http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/19/chief

In short, "Chief Illiniwek" will no longer 
perform at halftime of sports events here, but 
there is great ambiguity with respect to what 
will happen next. The school will keep "Illini" 
as its team name, and it does not sound like the 
school intends to return the regalia to the 
Oglala people as they have requested. The most 
clear statement is that it is ending as a sports 
entity in order to comply with the NCAA. There is 
no mention of viewpoints of Native people, or of 
the racial and climate issues associated with it.

Debbie




Debbie A. Reese (Nambé Pueblo)
Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Native American House, Room 2005
1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138
Urbana, Illinois 61801

Email: debreese@uiuc.edu
Internet Resource & Blog: 
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
Native American House: http://www.nah.uiuc.edu

TEL 217-265-9885
FAX 217-265-9880

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------