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U.I. Dialogue narratives |
RetireTheChief
The following is the transcript of a Foellinger balcony narrative from April 14, 2000. It is an unedited excerpt from the original Chief dialogue document.
MR. DANIEL GREEN: Daniel Green, I am a, I am a member of the Ho-Chunk nation from Wisconsin. And my concern for the logo or mascot issue is the context in which America knows Native Americans and that context is always the same regardless of commercial film, textbook, generational knowledge. It's always the same. It's an archaic image. It's one of primitiveness. It's one of unaccomplishment.And my concern for that is that my children may grow up with the same low self-concept that I did, that my parents did and so on. And that results in a suicide rate that is four times, four times the national average.
If you take a look at the socioeconomic statistics in this country, you will find Native America at the bottom, as a rule. That is no accident. And I think that has to do with this context, this bombardment that all of us are subject to have this image that is always the same. I can't think of anything more antithetical for an institution of education or for anyone who has compassion for their fellow beings to perpetuate, to be a part of that that results in such dire consequences.
I appreciate the time. I appreciate the openness. Thanks.
See the U.I. Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek page for more transcripts and information.