Imagining the Indian

Imagine, imagine the daily struggle of preserving both your cultural heritage and personal identity. Each day begins with the unending task of educating those around you simply by existing. Imagine dreading the weekly act of grocery shopping, not because they do not carry your butter preference, but because your local market consistently supplies a brand that caricatures a Native man, who grossly fails to represent you accurately. You pass a schoolyard where children play ‘cowboys and Indians’ during recess, unknowingly perpetuating stereotypes you work tirelessly to dismantle. The local sports team is titled the most offensive and derogatory term against your culture, with a mascot that mocks your history, as if a Native Indian Chief were equivalent to a tiger or bear. There is even a parade where the entire town dresses up as someone like you? The teachers claim your people are extinct, and your families should be grateful for the forced removal from their homes. Again, you find yourself tirelessly advocating for rights in the very land your ancestors nurtured before it was unjustly taken from them. Yet, you are met with dismissive responses, told to assimilate, to ‘get over it’ and that these ignorant displays somehow honor Native heritage. Finally, you make it back home knowing that tomorrow, tomorrow you will do it all over again.  

For Native people across the country, these are not mere thoughts; this is their reality. 

I had the privilege of attending the film ‘Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting,’ featured at the DuSable Museum of African American History. There, I had the opportunity to both learn and unlearn about the plight of Native people throughout the country. The film delves into the intricate realities of Natives living in the United States, exploring both historical and contemporary aspects of their people, beautifully oscillating between the past and present. It sheds light on native cultures, their struggles and the proactive steps being taken today to reclaim and amplify their silenced heritage. The incredible film truly captures the complexities faced by Native people.  

Following our celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, let us remember that being an ally means actively supporting, collaborating with and advocating for communities or groups that face systemic discrimination, prejudice and underrepresentation. As people of faith, our mission aligns with the responsibility to recognize these challenges and injustices and act. This could be declining a ticket to a Chicago Blackhawks game because the team’s name is offensive, attending a movie screening to gain a deeper understanding of Native people or donating to local Native charities. Being an ally means actively supporting this crucial process of unlearning and relearning. It is about sticking together in the pursuit of a more accurate, respectful and inclusive understanding of Native culture and history.  

I would like to end by noting how crucial it is to acknowledge the profound impact of historical misrepresentations that have shaped our understanding of Native culture. For far too long, stories and narratives have been told through the eyes of those who saw themselves as saviors, crafting a skewed version of reality. Consequently, contemporary Native people navigate a society filled with inaccurate beliefs about their culture, deeply ingrained biases that resist change and offensive mascots that persist despite their objections. In this context, the daily life of a Native person becomes a continuous journey of teaching others to unlearn the distortions perpetuated by history; an ongoing process of revealing the truth, challenging the status quo and demanding the reevaluation of deeply ingrained misconceptions. In the field of resistance, remember that the movement to dismantle offensive stereotypes is not merely about symbols; it is about rectifying the narrative. It is about acknowledging that the stories we have been taught are incomplete and biased.  

The choice is yours, and the power to make a difference resides within us all.

Here are steps you can take to join me in turning awareness into action.  

• Support the City Council Ordinance proposed by Chicago’s Indigenous communities.  

• Learn more about the film and hold watch parties when it is released.  

• Share what you learn about Native American allyship with your friends and family.  

Together, We Win! 

Franchelle Brown   Manager of Development and Communications  

Many thanks to the Muslic Civic Coalition for hosting this awesome viewing of ‘Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting.’ Thank you for leading us in prayer and thank you for the education and insight I took away from this experience.