The National Collegiate Athletic Association created some wiggle room yesterday in its recent decision to ban American Indian imagery, announcing that it would give latitude to universities whose "namesake" tribe supports the mascot.Not everyone is happy, of course. One Vernon Bellecourt, president of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media, a petty tyrant with letterhead, doesn't care what any tribal council thinks. All that matters is that he and few other racial hustlers are "offended" and he's looking for scalps.
A newly formed staff committee charged with reviewing appeals to the Aug. 5 ruling will take into account the university's relationship with the tribe as a "primary factor," according to a statement released yesterday by the NCAA.
The announcement was good news at the home of the Fighting Sioux -- the University of North Dakota, whose president fired off a letter last week announcing his intention to appeal the decision and, if necessary, take the matter to court.
Mr. Bellecourt called the Seminole council members "hang-around-the-fort Indians," a reference to American Indians who were friendly with the U.S. Army and set up camp near their forts during the 1800s.Mr. Bellecourt apparently believes it is he, and only he that has the right to speak for Native Americans. Only he is of sufficiently pure ideology to see the evil of the Pale Face and their Indian collaborators. But does he even speak for the Ojibwe, his own tribe?
"The tribal leaders don't speak for all Seminoles, and there are Seminoles who oppose the use of the Seminole name as a sports mascot," said Mr. Bellecourt, a member of the Objiwe Nation in Minnesota.
The Central Michigan Chippewas really demonstrate what having an Indian team nickname should be all about. Student atheletes are taught the heritage of the Chippewa, and their history as an Ojibwe tribe.
More than 400 Central Michigan University student-athletes learned about the history and cultural heritage of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe this past Sunday night.Bellecourt and his followers would rob the universitioes of their chance to teach the pride and the history of the tribes they take their names from. Rather than work with the universities to get rid of offensive mascots, Bellecourt would rob the university of any positive association with the tribaql names.
Joe Sowmick, Director of Public Relations for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, and Renee Dillard, Cultural Education Consultant for the Grand River Band of Ottawa, spoke to the student-athletes about the history of the Ojibwe people, the formation of the Chippewa name and the various cultural elements of their tribal heritage.
This marked the first time in school history that the entire group of CMU student-athletes were part of such an educational session.
"It was a great presentation," said CMU assistant athletic director Nick Williams. "It was an important message and it was an interesting evening for everyone involved.
"It was a real honor for CMU athletics to be a part of an educational opportunity like this. CMU athletics not only represents the university but the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe as well when we wear the Chippewa name on our jerseys.
"The more our administration, coaches and student-athletes know about Ojibwe history and culture the better we can represent the great partnership that we have with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe."
The event was one of many activities that take place between CMU athletics and the tribe. CMU is also involved with the Anishnabe Athlete Youth Association and works to promote education and athletics to tribal youth throughout mid-Michigan.
In it's place, what would we have left? A few tribal names attached to ugly casinos and bingo halls? If Bellecourt really wanted to clean up the image of the American Indian maybe, just maybe, he might want to end that rather seedy connection instead.
