Mascot Origin Myths

In this day-long symposium sports writers, scholars, authors, and representatives from sports organizations engaged in lively panel discussions on racist stereotypes and cultural appropriation in American sports.

The symposium explores the mythology and psychology of sports stereotypes and mascots, and examines the retirement of "Native American" sports references and collegiate efforts to revive them despite the NCAA's policy against "hostile and abusive" nicknames and symbols.

In this first session Kevin Gover, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, gives an introduction to the symposium. Following his talk, a panel explores the origins of mascots in American sports. The panelists for this session are:

Dr. Manley A. Begay, Jr., Moderator. Associate Social Scientist/Senior Lecturer, American Indian Studies Program, The University of Arizona; and Co-Director, Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Dr. E. Newton Jackson, Associate Provost and Professor of Sport Management, University of North Florida

Dr. C. Richard King, Co-Editor, "Team Spirits, Native Athletes in Sport and Society" and "Encyclopedia of Native Americans in Sports" and Professor and Chair, Department of Critical Gender & Race Studies, Washington State University

Dr. Ellen Staurowsky, Professor, Department of Sport Management, Goodwin School of Professional Studies, Drexel University

Ms. Linda M. Waggoner, Author, "Fire Light: The Life of Angel De Cora, Winnebago Artist" and "Playing Indian, Dreaming Indian: The Trial of William 'Lone Star' Dietz" (Montana: The History Magazine, Spring 2013); and lecturer, Multicultural Studies, Sonoma State University

The symposium was webcast on February 7, 2013 from the Rasmuson Theater.