When you go to a Saints’ football game “and a little
mascot dressed like the pope runs around and sprinkles holy water
on all the drunks, then you should start protesting. And us Indians
will be right there beside you,” says the director of the American
Indian Movement, Clyde Bellecourt. He makes the comparison in What
is the Point to all of this Protesting, a primer on stereotypes and
logos that are offensive to Native Americans. The brochure was
developed by HONOR, which stands for Honor Our Neighbors’ Origins
and Rights, a nonprofit coalition of more than 150 Indian and
non-Indian organizations nationwide. The coalition works to affirm
tribal sovereignty and treaty rights and protests racist images on
sports uniforms and labels. Currently, the group is involved in a
legal battle with G. Heileman and Hornell Brewing Companies, which
uses an image of Chief Crazy Horse to sell malt liquor. HONOR says
the chief was a crusader against alcoholism in Indian communities.
Honor also connects its members to an electronic bulletin board for
news about congressional actions and hearing schedules, and sends
Honor Digest, a bimonthly newsletter monitoring anti-Indian
activities. For a packet on the Crazy Horse campaign, a copy of
What is the Point …, or more information, write HONOR Inc. 2647
N. Stowell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414/963-1324).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Who are you calling redskin?.
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