Arla Patch reported on the January 10, 2019 hearing:
The use of Native names, slurs, images and symbols is a stark reminder of how colonized our communities still are. Donna Fann-Boyle (Chocktaw/Cherokee) has persisted for over four years to educate the Neshaminy community about the true meaning of the R-word. The Conqueror Mentality: we took their land, we took their resources, we took their lives when they got in our way, we took their children and the latest version through the mascots – we take their identity and tell them what it means.
If there is a racist mascot in your community or you can support any CHANGE THE NAME effort, it is one way we can work on decolonizing.
HERE ARE SOME REMARKS FROM THE HEARINGS AT BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE LAST WEEK
Click here for good op ed from STEVE NOLAN
EMAIL FOR NESHAMINY SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH JONES III
EMAIL FOR NESHAMINY SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT MARTY SULLIVAN
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ELSEWHERE…
This mascot issue is going on in Maine right now as well. The indigenous Wabanaki peoples have been requesting for years now that Maine rid itself of these disparaging names. The last Redsk*ns team from Sanford HS changed in 2005. The Skowhegan “Indians” are hopefully on the verge of changing the name. If they do, Maine will be the first state in the country to be free of racist mascots.
Click HERE FOR THE FULL FOOTAGE OF THE TESTIMONIES GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN SKOWHEGAN LAST WEEK.(whole testimony is over 2 hours…Barry Dana is at 1:03:39 and his daughter Maulian Dana (Penobscot Ambassador) is at 1:15:01. The Legal Director of the MAINE ACLU speaks after Barry Dana.
Thank you for your caring, emotional support and any way you are willing to support this important aspect of decolonizing. THANK YOU to all who showed up for the hearings. Writing to the Neshaminy School District is another option.