Speaker raises awareness about Native American stereotypes

It was as a student at the University of Illinois that Charlene Teeters began her battle against derogatory stereotypes of American Indians.

One of three Native American students at the school, she challenged the university the university to reconsider its mascot, Chief Illiwinek.

"I was all alone, and I went out there and held up my little homemade sign that said, 'American Indians are human beings, not mascots,'" Teeters said.

On Wednesday night, Teeters spoke to a crowed auditorium in Barnum about the dehumanization of indigenous peoples in the United States. The speech was part of the the third annual Native American Speaker Series sponsored by the diversity fund.

An activist, artist, professor, and member of the Spokane tribe of the Northwest, Teeters lectured on the racist stereotypes perpetuated by sports mascots and other American icons, which portray Native Americas as savages -- often with a tomahawk in hand.

Dehumanization of minorities has occurred throughout history, albeit sometimes with more of an agenda than other times. Teeters spoke of the Nazi regime's strategy of dehumanizing other races. However, she stressed that "it is important to make the connection between dehumanization and the holocaust." Teeters stressed the importance of being aware of how we portray others.

Many years after her battle started, Teeters' determination has begun to pay off. She started the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media and stereotyped icons have become a polemic topic. Now, significant controversy surrounds college and professional mascots, including those of the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Redskins. The debate about the mascot at the University of Illinois continues.

Despite progress on expunging stereotypes, Teeters said there still exists racial inequality and a view that American Indians are less human than the rest of society. "To boy scouts, we are campfire tales," Teeters said. "To new ages, we are spiritual giants. To Southwestern states like New Mexico and Arizona, we are tourist attractions."