RESOLUTION OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA COMMISSION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
JUNE 9, 2000 Raleigh, North Carolina

TITLE: A Resolution in Support of Eliminating the Use of American Indian Descriptions Naming Mascots, Logos, and Sports Team Nicknames for North Carolina Public Schools and, North Carolina Institutions of Higher Education

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs is a state agency created by the North Carolina General Assembly under NCGS 143B-404, and

WHEREAS, the general purpose of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs is to advocate for the needs and concerns of North Carolina's American Indian population; to provide aid and protection; to prevent undue hardships; and to assist Indian communities in social and economic development, etc., and

WHEREAS, the use of American Indian descriptions naming mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames are considered offensive, disrespectful, demeaning, and they make a mockery of Indian people, their culture, their heritage, and their traditions, and

WHEREAS, the use of American Indian descriptions naming mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames contribute to poor race relations because they are viewed as racist, oppressive, and are harmful to harmonious relationships between American Indians and non-Indian citizens; and

WHEREAS, the use of American Indian descriptions naming mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames contribute to a negative leaming environment in our public schools and Institutions of Higher Education, and perpetuates a continuum of negative stereotypes about American Indians, their culture, their heritage, and their traditions, and

WHEREAS, the self image of American Indian students are negatively impacted by the use of American Indian mascots and creates low self-esteem which is detrimental to the academic achievement of American Indian students, and

WHEREAS, the membership of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs have expressed concern about the use of American Indian descriptions naming mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames in North Carolina's Public Schools, North Carolina Institutions of Higher Education, and agencies of state and local government, their consultants, contractors, etc., and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the membership of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs consider the use of American Indian descriptions naming mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames as offensive and disrespectful to American Indians, their culture, their heritage, and their traditions, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, by this Resolution, request and urge the Governor of North Carolina to issue an Executive Order directing all state government and county agencies, all County Boards or Commissions, and all Boards of Education of each county in the state, to discontinue the use, and remove all references to, American Indian descriptions naming mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames from their policies, publications, instructional materials, signage, etc., by June 3 0, 2003.

CERTIFICATION

The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs adopted this Resolution by a unanimous vote of the membership during the June 9, 2000, Commission meeting.

Paul Brooks, Chairman

Lila Spaulding, Secretary/Treasurer

See N.C. Governor's Letter Regarding This Resolution