(Name-mce) ListServ Using Native American Folktales in the Classroom

[Debbie Reese]

This has been a busy week. I worked intensely over several days, providing 
assistance to the Executive Committee of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, 
as they developed a resolution calling on the University of Illinois to 
return the regalia worn by its "Chief Illiniwek." My post on Thursday 
provides the background on this regalia and a link to the resolution.

Racial issues continue to escalate on the UIUC campus. The week prior to 
the one just over was consumed with response to a Facebook group called "If 
they retire the mascot, I'm becoming a racist" at which a student stated 
they should "throw a tomahawk" in the face of a Native student who is 
active in the Native community here. This incident is under investigation. 
If I were the parent of the student who posted that remark, I would hold 
the UIUC Board of Trustees and Administration responsible for a status quo 
that is, in fact, hostile and abuse towards Native Americans and others who 
work towards the end of the use of Native imagery in sports programs. If 
you read INSIDE HIGHER ED, you may have seen their article about this incident.

Below are posts this week to my blog:
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Marlene Carvell's SWEETGRASS BASKET

Thursday, January 18, 2007
Representation, Stereotypes of American Indians, "Chief Illiniwek"

Saturday, January 20, 2007
"Proceed with Caution: Using Native American Folktales in the Classroom"

Have a good week,
Debbie



Debbie A. Reese (Nambé Pueblo)
Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Native American House, Room 2005
1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138
Urbana, Illinois 61801

Email: debreese at uiuc.edu
Internet Resource & Blog: 
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
Native American House: http://www.nah.uiuc.edu

TEL 217-265-9885
FAX 217-265-9880