IN HONOR OF HALLOWEEN:

THE INDIAN MASCOTS THAT JUST WON’T DIE

In honor of Halloween, the Indian mascot you thought was dead, rears its Jasonesque head. And just when you thought it was safe to attend the homecoming parade and game free of the fake feathered, tomahawk chopping, jingle dress dancing, Mary Kay face painted, beta pi pledging Indian mascot, the past week saw the following occur:

CHIEF ILLINIWEK RESURRECTED FOR HOMECOMING: Last Friday, the University of Illinois Chancellor approved the resurrection of Chief Illiniwek for the homecoming parade. The Chief had been retired by the University of Illinois within this last year, but apparently the coffin wasn’t nailed all the way shut!

DARTMOUTH ALUMNI YEARNS FOR THE RETURN OF THE INDIANS: Upon hearing of the “Return of Illiniwek” Dartmouth College alumnus, Laura Ingraham, a nationally syndicated talk show host, yearned, on air, for the good ol’ days of the Darmouth College Indian mascot. She asked for listener response to the “Return of Illiniwek” and Indian mascots in general. I called in, and was put on hold. She discussed a couple of other topics, and when the call screener finally answered, he asked for my topic. I responded, “Indian mascots.” He promptly replied, “We are done with that topic” and hung up. Probably regretted even mentioning the topic.

TO LAURA: Honor Indians Institute is a big fan of yours. BUT, (butt monkey) we respectfully disagree with your position on Indian mascots. We also agree that the current “Big Green” and “Keggy the Keg” is pretty lame. Dartmouth retired their Indian mascot in the 70’s. In an effort to moderate, we will be introducing a couple of “Alternative Indian Mascots” for Dartmouth College. Maybe you could get the word out to your alma mater and put them up for a vote. Better yet, this would be a great topic for discussion for Native American Heritage Month at Dartmouth College!

FIGHTING SIOUX ON LIFE SUPPORT: Finally, as posted here on HonorIndians.com, the NCAA and the University of North Dakota reached a settlement on their Indian mascot lawsuit. The University is looking for a suitable tribal donor to keep their mascot alive. Time to give up the ghost!!!

HONORED INDIAN(S): ISABELLA AND CHARLENE

Isabella (Bella) and Charlene (Charley) are affiliated with the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. Both cuties are the granddaughters of Ed and Monica Zendejas of Honor Indians Institute. Bella is 5 years old and Charley is 10 months old. This is really our way of showing off our cute granddaughters during Halloween. We really LOVE our granddaughters!!! We can’t wait for MORE grandchildren!

INDIAN ALERT!!!

FREE TACOS THANKS TO

JACOBY ELLSBURY

Taco Bell will be giving out FREE tacos today between 2-5 p.m., all thanks to Jacoby Ellsbury!  Taco Bell ran a promotion during the World Series called “Steal a base, steal a taco.”  Jacoby Ellsbury stole a base during the World Series, and now it is time for Taco Bell to pay up!  So, load up the rezmobile and hit the as many Taco Bells as possible.  Lets us know how many tacos you were able to eat before getting banned.  Enjoy what one Boston fan dubbed as Tacoby Bellsbury day!!!

Indian Mural Poll

Polls

NCAA AND U. NORTH DAKOTA SETTLE INDIAN MASCOT LAWSUIT

The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the NCAA announced on Friday that they have agreed to settle their mascot lawsuit. Under the terms of the deal, The Fighting Sioux will have three years to woo, court, or bribe a Sioux tribe into agreeing to allow North Dakota to use the “Fighting Sioux” mascot. The University will be allowed to use the mascot during the 3 year period. If the University is unable to convince a Sioux tribe to agree, the mascot will have to be retired. The University of North Dakota has already spent close to a million dollars in legal fees bringing the lawsuit. Honor Indians Institute can only imagine what the University will offer a Sioux tribe for their blessing and permission to use the “Fighting Sioux” mascot.

INDIAN IN THE WORLD SERIES:

JACOBY ELLSBURY LEADS RED SOX TO WORLD SERIES TITLE

Jacoby Ellsbury was moved to the top of the Boston Red Sox hitting line-up for games 3 and 4 of the World Series. He responded by getting 6 hits in 9 at bats, leading the Red Sox to a four game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series. In game 3, Ellsbury became the first rookie in over 60 years to get 4 hits in one game of the World Series, going 4-5. In the World Series clinching game 4, he went 2-4. Ellsbury batted an amazing .438 overall for the Red Sox in the four game series. Honor Indians Institute once again honors the Boston Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsbury, this time for their historic World Series victory!

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT: WEEKEND INDIAN SPORTS REPORT

BASEBALL:

INDIAN IN THE WORLD SERIES:

The Boston Red Sox named Jacoby Ellsbury as their starting center fielder for games 1 and 2 of the World Series. Ellsbury, enrolled with the Colorado River Indian Tribes/Navajo, has one hit in 7 at bats. He has scored a run, and he has 1 RBI for those two games in which the Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies. The series returns to Colorado for 3 scheduled games on Saturday, Sunday, and if necessary, Monday. Honor Indians Institute Athletic Department predicts Ellsbury will soon be wearing some World Series jewelry.

INDIANS NOT IN THE WORLD SERIES:

The Cleveland Indians still have not contacted the Penobscot Tribe about retiring the racist Chief Wahoo mascot, seven years and counting. This would be a good weekend to give them a call since you will not be working.

INDIAN MASCOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Our predictions

TEAM vs.                                         TEAM                                             Prediction

Central Michigan Chippewas          Kent State                                  41-7 Kent State

Utah Utes                                      Colorado State                          28-7 Co. State

Florida State Seminoles              Duke                                             14-7 Duke

North Dakota Fighting Sioux         Minn-Duluth                              21-7 Minn-Duluth

Illinois Fighting Illini                      Ball State                                      35-7 Ball State

Indian mascot schools are all losers.

INDIAN MASCOT PRO FOOTBALL: Our predictions

TEAM vs.                                         TEAM                                          Prediction

Kansas City Chiefs                          Bye                                             41-7 Bye

Washington R-words                  New England                             49-7 New England

Indian mascot professional teams are all losers.

INDIAN MASCOT HOCKEY: Our predictions

We really don’t care, but Indian mascot hockey teams are losers.

MASCOT NEWS:

BREAKING NEWS: The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the NCAA announced today that they have agreed to settle their mascot lawsuit. Under the terms of the deal, The Fighting Sioux will have three years to woo, court, or bribe a Sioux tribe into agreeing to allow North Dakota to use the “Fighting Sioux” mascot. The University will be allowed to use the mascot during the 3 year period. If the University is unable to convince a Sioux tribe to agree, the mascot will be retired.

TO THE SIOUX TRIBES OF NORTH DAKOTA: A word of caution, remember what happened the last time white men came bearing gifts and making promises and asking you to sign a paper!!!

TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA: If you are unable to buy or persuade a Sioux Tribe to consent to the deal, Honor Indians Institute is ready, willing and able to negotiate a licensing deal for the Honor Indians Institute’s “Fighting Sue” mascot. The University has already spent close to a MILLION dollars just on attorney fees bringing this lawsuit. SO, we know where the bidding begins.

NEW “WOULD YOU BE HONORED” MASCOT INTRODUCED:

Honor Indians Institute would like to introduce a new “Would You Be Honored” mascot. We previously introduced the Cleveland Negroes and the Washington Blackskins. Now, we offer the Los Angeles I.C.E. Dodgers.

To Latino ballplayers: Would you be honored?

IDAHO INDIAN LYNCHING MURALS TO GET OFFICIAL “INTERPRETIVE SIGNS”

Honor Indians Institute read yesterday that murals, which are displayed on a Boise, Idaho, courthouse, which depict an Indian being lynched, are to get official “interpretive signs” to explain the historical context behind them. The murals were deemed so offensive by one Idaho judge, that he ordered them to be covered up with U.S. and Idaho flags. The murals are again causing a stir because the Idaho legislature is temporarily meeting in the old courthouse while the Idaho State Capitol is being renovated.

Idaho Indian tribes and advocacy groups wanted the murals removed. The murals are embedded in concrete, and cannot be removed. Apparently, paint that sticks to concrete is not sold or available in Idaho. Also, the Idaho State Historical Society believes that the murals have some sort of historical value, and don’t want the murals destroyed. The State’s solution to the problem was to hire a consultant to work with the Idaho tribes to come up with an adequate historical interpretation of the murals. Hopefully, the official “interpretative signs” will be completed sometime in 2008.

Honor Indians Institute would like to save the State of Idaho the time and expense of a consultant, and offer our own interpretations of the murals. We have developed 3 historical versions of the Indian lynching murals. We unveil the first today:

Idaho Indian Lynching Mural Interpretation #1

We will unveil the other two over the next 2 days. We invite your comments and votes as to which one we should present to the Idaho State Legislature as the “Official Interpretive Sign” for the Idaho Lynching Mural. Please share this with your friends and invite them to let their voices be heard. Hopefully, we can get this matter behind us now, rather than wait until sometime next year!

Idaho Indian Lynching Mural Interpretation #2

Idaho Indian Lynching Mural Interpretation #3

HONORED INDIAN: BROOKTYNN ZENDEJAS

<p align="center"> <a href="http://honorindians.com/honored-indian-brooktynn-zendejas/brooktynn-zendejas/" title="Brooktynn Zendejas" rel="attachment wp-att-90"><img src="http://honorindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/copy-of-dsc_2907.JPG" width="200" height="262" alt="Brooktynn Zendejas" /></a></p>
<span style="font-family: Arial">Brooktynn Zendejas is a member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.<span>  </span>She is currently in her third year of law school at <st1:placename w:st="on">Brigham</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Young</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Provo</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Utah</st1:state></st1:place>.<span>  </span>Brooktynn is the Managing Editor of BYU Law School’s Journal of Public Law.<span>  </span>She is also the Student Bar Association’s Vice President of Activities.<span>  </span>Brooktynn has been an intern for the <st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">D.C.</st1:state> law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer &amp; Feld, and this past summer she clerked for the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> firm of Lewis &amp; Roca.<span>  </span>She was extended, and accepted, an offer of associate at Lewis and Rocca after graduation.<span>  </span>In her spare time, she serves on the Board of Directors for Utah Legal Services, and as Director/Treasurer for </span><span style="font-family: Arial"><a href="http://honorindians.com" target="_blank" title="Honor Indians Institute">Honor Indian Institute</a>.<span>  </span>Brooktynn looks forward to taking care of her parents in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Phoenix </st1:place></st1:city>during their retirement years.</span>

CHEROKEE TRIBE REMOVES FREEDMEN FROM TRIBAL ROLLS

Honor Indians Institute calls on the Cherokee Nation to do the honorable thing, and rescind their March 2007, vote to remove approximately 2,800 black descendants of Freedmen slaves from their tribal rolls.  At issue is whether an 1866 treaty granted Cherokee citizenship to freed black slaves.  The Freedmen descendants have challenged the vote, and the courts are reviewing the action.  It should not be left to the courts to decide this issue.  The Cherokee Nation as a people, should take the honorable road, and rescind their vote. 

HONORABLE MENTION: HO-CHUNK INC., ALL NATIVE SYSTEMS

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Ho-Chunk Inc.’s, All Native Systems a corporation owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, for receiving the United States Department of State’s Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year award. All Native Systems won the award for their work to help the Mexican government improve their technology capacity. Ho-Chunk Inc. reports government contracts valued between $20-30 Million dollars. Congratulations HCI for your example to other Indian tribes and their members.

ALTERNATIVE INDIAN MARKETING: RESERVATION FRIED CHICKEN

Honor Indians Institute was inspired by Nike’s introduction of the Air Native N7, which was developed specifically for the Indian market. The Air Native was developed with the intent of encouraging tribal members to live a healthier lifestyle. Part of our mission is to encourage tribal members to live better lives. As a result, we are developing a marketing strategy for other corporations to tap into the Indian market. However, with our help, they will not have to spend two years of market research, like Nike, to develop their product line. As Nike would say, just run with it.

THE PROBLEM: Obesity is a problem that is permeating our entire society, but is a greater problem on Indian reservations because of the compounded effects of diabetes. Our fast fried food lifestyle has accelerated the problems with obesity. Many fast food companies have eliminated the trans fat from their products as a way to address concerns with their products. Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC is currently marketing the fact that their product is now “trans fat free.”

THE SOLUTION: Honor Indians Institute would like to encourage KFC to develop a marketing campaign specifically for the Indian market. Therefore, we offer RESERVATION FRIED CHICKEN or RFC! Instead of Colonel Sanders, we introduce CHAIRMAN SANDERS! We propose the marketing slogan “LESS TRANS FAT MEANS LESS FAT INDIANS!’

You’re welcome KFC! You can make that marketing consulting check out directly to Honor Indians Institute Scholarship Fund.

HONORABLE MENTION: BOSTON RED SOX

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor the Boston Red Sox for defeating the Cleveland Indians, 4 games to 3 in the American League Championship Series. As a general rule, I could care less who wins the World Series. The only exception is that it NOT be either the Cleveland Indians or the Atlanta Braves! Their tomahawk chopping, face painting, fake feather wearing, drum beating, Chief Wahoo loving fans don’t deserve the glory of a professional championship. It would only encourage their racist mascot loving addiction.

This year I was rooting for the New York Yankees only because of their pitcher, Joba Chamberlain. He is a tribal member and he is from Nebraska. My next favorite team this year is the Boston Red Sox, and only because of Jacoby Elsberry, another tribal member who plays for them. Both have been an inspiration to tribal members throughout the country. We honor their teams, especially the Boston Red Sox, for Jacoby Elsberry and beating the Cleveland Indians!

Since the Cleveland Indians have some available time, now maybe they can meet with the Penobscot tribal leaders about their racist mascot, Chief Wahoo.

TO: THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ATHLETE YOU ARE EITHER WITH US, OR AGAINST US

Honor Indians Institute recently honored LeBron James for refusing to wear the racist Cleveland Indians cap at a recent playoff game in Cleveland. We also called upon him to join us in calling for education and hopefully change, leading to the elimination of Indian mascots. We now make that invitation to all African American athletes, especially those who are currently playing for teams that continue to perpetuate racial ignorance and stereotypes through the use of Indian mascots.

Why do I make this invitation? Because we, as individual Indians and Tribes, are invisible to the non-Indian people and institutions that continue to perpetuate the ignorance. We are either ignored, told to get over it, or go to counseling, or just shut up and be “honored.” I read an editorial yesterday that stated that to truly honor Indians, tribes should be consulted with, in order to change Indian mascot names. Also, just yesterday, I read an article where the Penobscot tribe is waiting for a response from the Cleveland Indians to the tribal government’s resolution calling for the team to get rid of the racist “Chief Wahoo” logo. The Penobscot tribe sent that resolution to the Cleveland Indians 7 YEARS AGO! The spokesman for the Cleveland Indians said that the team had no intention to address the tribe’s resolution. I am sure that they will rely on their fans to stick up for their position, and we will again get shouted down. However, they will at least listen to you!

We are not asking you to quit playing for your team, or call for a boycott of Indian team related apparel. Just tell people to listen, and maybe educate themselves about Indian tribes and members before they “honor” us with their racist Indian mascots. Tell the Cleveland Indians to, at the very least, give the Penobscot Tribal leaders the respect they deserve and sit down and meet with them. Just something to consider:

Would you be “honored” to play for the Cleveland Negroes?

Would you even consider putting on the jersey of the Washington Blackskins?

If you continue to say nothing, you are against us, and support with your tacit approval those that continue to ignore us and perpetuate racial ignorance and stereotypes. Please JOIN US!!!

ALTERNATIVE INDIAN MARKETING: “I am NOT an Indian Mascot…I am an athlete.”

Honor Indians Institute honored Nike for their introduction of the Air Native N7 shoe designed especially for the Indian foot. We are now offering to Nike a marketing campaign with a purpose. Our mission at Honor Indians Institute is to fight ignorance perpetuated by Indian mascots. Nike could market the shoe while also addressing the emotionally charged Indian mascot issue to a Native and national market. We propose the following: “I am NOT an Indian Mascot…I am an athlete” marketing campaign.

There are several Indian athletes of note that Nike already has under contract, or could easily recruit for this campaign. Specifically, professional athletes such as Joba Chamberlain, pitcher for the New York Yankees, Jacoby Elsberry, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, and Notah Begay, PGA golfer, could be used for this campaign. Also, Sam Bradford, quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners could participate, if not forbidden by the NCAA. In addition, there are numerous high school Indian athletes that could be asked to participate in this campaign.

Picture this: each of the athletes are shown participating in their respective sport. Then, in a close up shot, the athlete looks into the camera and says, “I am NOT an Indian mascot…I am an athlete.” Could be powerful Nike, think about it. We are here to help.

HONORED INDIAN - KATHY WARREN

Kathy Warren is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. She was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has also lived in El Paso and Ft. Worth Texas where she joined the Air Force. Kathy spent 8 years as an Intelligence Analyst, which is how she found her way to Omaha, Nebraska. She graduated in 1999, with a degree in History and minors in Native American Studies and Anthropology. Despite my warnings to get a “marketable” degree, Kathy obtained a Masters degree in History and a minor in Native American Studies. Kathy currently works as the Native American Outreach Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and she teaches part time for the Native American Studies Department. Kathy has three children, Emily-12, Colin-10 and Joey-3. She is married to Tony Pasley, another history major. Kathy has been the driving force in increasing tribal recruitment and retention of native students at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

HONORABLE MENTION: NIKE CORPORATION, for the AIR NATIVE N7

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor the Nike Corporation for their efforts to promote healthier Indian life habits by introducing the Nike Air Native N7. The Air Native shoe is the result of over 2 years of researching the Indian foot throughout Indian country. The shoe is wider and higher to better fit the Indian foot. Nike will offer the shoe to tribes at a reduced cost. Hopefully a better fitting shoe will encourage more Indians with health issues to exercise.

I laughed at first upon reading that Nike took two years to research Indian feet, only to conclude that we have “Flintstone” feet. I thought Nike could have come directly to me with one phone call and saved themselves a lot of research time and money. Personally, I have to buy New Balance shoes because they make a 4E wide shoe. Even then, I have to buy a shoe that is also at least 2 sizes bigger in order to comfortably fit my foot. In the past, I would never consider buying a Nike brand running shoe because it wouldn’t matter how much bigger the shoe was, it was still too tight! I might have to try on a pair of the Air Native N7, if they come in a 4E wide.

Nike has inspired Honor Indian Institute to encourage other corporations to market products to the Indian community that promote healthier life habits. In the coming days, we will be introducing our “ALTERNATIVE INDIAN MARKETING” project. As a public service, and maybe a marketing/consulting fee, we will save corporations the expense of two years of researching the Indian community.

HONORABLE MENTION: CONGRESSMAN JEFF FORTENBERRY

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry for his efforts to have Ponca Chief Standing Bear’s image placed on the new $1 Native American Coin. The Native American $1 Coin Act calls for the Sacagawea dollar coin to be redesigned. Sacagawea will remain on one side, and the opposite side should display “images celebrating the important contributions made by Indian Tribes and Individual Native Americans to the development of the United States and the history of the United States.”

Congressman Fortenberry, has requested that the Treasury Department honor Standing Bear with the first coin to be released in 2009. The honor for Standing Bear would be timely because next year marks the 100th anniversary of his death.

Standing Bear was born on Ponca land in what is now Nebraska. His son died during the tribe's forced relocation to Oklahoma. Standing Bear promised his son that he would bury him on their homeland, rather than in the Indian territory where they were being forcibly moved. Standing Bear, and some of his family, were arrested by the military upon their return to Nebraska.

When word of their arrest was publicized, a few prominent Omaha attorneys came to his defense. A writ of habeas corpus was filed in his behalf. A writ of habeas corpus is a constitutional protection made available to “any person” under the jurisdiction of the United States to challenge their incarceration. The threshold issue for the court to determine was whether or not Standing Bear, as an Indian, was to be considered a “person” for purposes of the U.S. Constitution.

Standing Bear's eloquent speech during the ensuing trial, and the judge's decision that Standing Bear, and therefore all Indians, should be considered “persons”, and had rights under the U.S. Constitution. This decision was a landmark decision in the Indian’s struggle for civil rights. Congressman Fortenberry is hopeful that this will happen, and he will send a letter to the Treasury Department within a week to make the request. He also plans to ask the rest of the Nebraska congressional delegation to support this request. Fortenberry said he has been looking for a way to honor the Ponca chief, but many other possibilities would take a long time. The new $1 coin law represents an opportunity to honor the chief now. "It's a story that needs to be told," Fortenberry said. Honor Indians Institute agrees that this is a story that needs to be told, and this would be an appropriate way to honor Chief Standing Bear.

HONORABLE MENTION:UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-OMAHA FOOTBALL TEAM

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor the University of Nebraska-Omaha football team for defeating the 2^nd ranked North Dakota Fighting Sioux, 28-17 on Saturday. It was probably the last meeting between the two schools as North Dakota is moving to division I next year.

The University of North Dakota has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, the last count was over $500,000 dollars, in legal fees fighting the NCAA in an attempt to maintain the “Fighting Sioux” mascot, which earned them the Alternative Indian Mascot name of “Fighting Sue.” Maybe the money would be better spent upgrading their athletic department if they expect to compete at the Division I level, or, better yet, purchasing Indian Mascot Offsets from Honor Indian Institute.

The UNO football team also has at least 6 members that have taken classes from me! I only hope that they took a little extra satisfaction in beating the “Fighting Sioux.”

HONORED INDIAN - BRADY DeSANTI

BRADY DeSANTI

Brady DeSanti was born in 1978 in Grand Island, Nebraska. He is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa tribe in Hayward, Wisconsin. Brady was adopted as a child, and he was raised in a non-Indian family. He gained most of his knowledge about Native peoples and their diverse histories from books. In recent years, he has learned considerably more about his own heritage and Native history from Indian friends and relatives.

Brady graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2002. Just this past summer, he was fortunate enough to land a position teaching in Religious and Native American Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He is currently finishing his PhD work. Brady obtained his Masters degree in history at the University of Kansas in May 2006. He passed his doctoral oral exams on December 15, 2006. His research examines early American anthropology and the dialogues that ensued between scholar and Indian "informants" and the impact these exchanges had on both parties. Professor DeSanti is an avid baseball fan, and he has been a die hard Yankees supporter since the age of five. He also enjoys boxing and martial arts, Aikido specifically, where he has earned a “black belt.”

Brady DeSanti is former student of mine, and I consider him a friend. We look for great things from Professor DeSanti as he returns to his Alma Mater to with the new title of Professor DeSanti.

HONORABLE MENTION: LeBRON JAMES

Honor Indians Institute would like to honor LeBron James for showing up to the Cleveland v. New York Yankee’s playoff game, in Cleveland, wearing a Yankee cap. King James says that he did so because he is a Yankee fan, and his friendship with Yankee icon Derek Jeter. Whatever his motivation, we honor him for refusing to wear the racist Indian caricature.

It will take at least one African American athlete of courage to stand up and say with word and/or action that Indian mascots are wrong. Honor Indians Institute would like to invite arguably the most recognizable African American athlete, LeBron James, aka, “King James,” to be that voice! Join with us in calling for education and alternatives to Indian mascots. Non-Indians dismiss Indian calls for education and change as “politically correct” garbage, and tell us to get over it and be “honored” by Indian mascots. Non-Indians, especially in Cleveland, will at least listen to you LeBron! JOIN US, KING JAMES!!!

For all you Indian mascot athletic supporters who can’t wait to tell Honor Indians Institute to get over it, go to counseling, or just shut up and be honored, please READ our position on Indian mascots at www.honorindians.com before responding.

IN HONOR OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Today is Columbus Day, so Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Columbus, rather than protest him, which is generally the approach taken by most Indian groups or advocates. Also, since my children are equal parts Italian (my wife is half Italian) and Indian, I would like to take a higher road and pay tribute to their Italian culture and heritage. I have come up with my “Top 10 Reasons to Honor Columbus and his holiday.”

10. Federal Holiday, which means a holiday from the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs)

9. Federal Holiday from the mail, which means no bills or shut off notices today, and banks are closed, another day to float a check.

8. Tribal Holiday, Native American Day, created in protest of Columbus Day.

7. Named us “Indians” so now we can feel honored.

6. Columbus Day sale at the Super Walmarts.

5. 24 hour Sopranos marathon on the Lifetime Channel.

4. Godfather I, II and III marathon on Lifetime, Bravo, AMC, USA, TNT, TBS, & TCM cable channels.

3. Brought future Casino patrons.

2. Set the precedent for what can happen to governmental sovereignty with an open border policy.

1. Helped introduce Italian girls to Indian boys.

If you can think of any other reasons to honor Columbus Day, let us know at www.honorindians.com. Remember, take the high road!

HOW! Yes, this really happened

I have been walking quite a bit lately in an effort to try ward off type 2 diabetes and lose a little weight. My route takes me through a nice middle class, mostly non-Indian (white) neighborhood. About two weeks ago, I was walking down this nice tree lined boulevard, wearing an Indian designed tee-shirt, when I came across an older (I am guessing at least 70, probably closer to 80) white man. He was bending down doing some yard work. When he saw me approaching, he stood straight up. When I reached him, he put his right arm to the square and said quite stoically, “HOW!”

I have to admit, I was taken aback. I thought, “did he say what I thought he said?” Rather then take offense, I just waved back and said in my best clear and concise attorney voice, “HELLO.” I just continued my walk and thought about how far we have come, or not. Honor Indians Institute has much work to do!