Alexander Cox

The Wounded Knee Massacre

October 28, 2014

F Block History

    The massacred Native Americans at Wounded Knee were more terrified than angry; they felt lost and hurt and did not want any trouble. But because what seemed to be a simple misunderstanding between a tribesman and a soldier it caused the deaths of about 350 Native Americans and 230 of them were women and children.

Before the Sioux were massacred at Wounded Knee their chief, named Big Foot, wanted to flee from the white soldiers, especially since he found out that Sitting Bull had been assassinated. They wanted to flee to Pine Ride in hope of gaining some type of protection by red cloud’s troops from the white soldiers. But while they were fleeing to Pine Ridge Big Foot was struck with pneumonia. His pneumonia slowed the tribe down greatly because they always had to look after him. So while the Sioux were traveling they saw scouts from a US cavalry, when this got to Big Foot he immediately told them to put a white flag up. He put the white flag up because he knew that the majority of his people were children and women and that they would all be killed if they were to try and fight.

After Big Foot sent up his flag, Major Samuel Whitside came up to the tribe with his cavalry. Samuel Whitside had said that he had orders to bring them to a camp at Wounded Knee Creek. But before they were to move to Wounded Knee Creek, the Native Americans were to be disarmed and dismounted, well one of  the Major’s subordinates who was a half breed named Shangreau said that it would not be wise to take their weapons and horses, because it would surely cause fighting and all the children and women would die. Even though Whitside knew this, he said that he had orders to disarm and dismount, but it had gotten too late for him to do it so he decided to wait until the next day. When Samuel Whitside had noticed that Big Foot had pneumonia he sent for his ambulance to take care of Big Foot. This showed that he did care for the Native Americans but that he was just following orders.  Later on that night, the rest of the 7th cavalry came in and added two more Hotchkiss guns to the two that Major Whitside already had. All four of these guns were placed on top of a hill at the creek and were positioned to cut through the rows of teepees that were there for the Native Americans.

On the next day December 29, 1890 Samuel Whitside thought it was time to disarm all the Native Americans, now while they were disarming, the other white soldiers were terrified of the Native Americans and were on guard the entire time. During the disarming Black Coyote, who was considered to be a bad influence amongst the tribe did not immediately put his gun with the pile of other guns; this freaked out the soldiers so they attacked him and forced him to drop the gun. But in the process of doing this something had made a loud noise and it startled all of the soldiers. When they heard this noise they started shooting indiscriminately. The soldiers on the Hotchkiss Guns started shooting killing friends and foes alike. The Native Americans had started to flee from Wounded Knee and those that weren't killed at camp were killed while fleeing. The ones that made out of camp felt that they were being “hunted like buffalo” and thought that the white man is mean because they killed women and children and even the Native Americans don’t do that.

    Works Cited

Brown, Dee. "19." Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee; an Indian History of the American West. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1971. 413-17. Print.

Wilson, James. "Wounded Knee." The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America. New York: Atlantic Monthly, 1999. 284-85. Print.

Indians being buried after Wounded Knee Massacre.

This is the medicine man who told the Native Americans that they would be okay and no harm would come to them. 

                                                   

Sitting Bull was assassinated when he was confronted by the police at his home.

                                               

This is Red Cloud that Big Foot wanted to flee to. 

                                                   

Most of those that were killed were frozen before they were even buried. Some of the positions were grotesque and disturbing.                                                    

Big Foot a.k.a. Spotted Elk laying dead in the snow after the Wounded Knee Massacre

Jim Thorpe

William Monroe

10/28/14

Mr. Ward

Jim Thorpe and his remains

            Jim Thorpe was noted as the “best athlete in the world” by the king of Sweden during the 1912 Olympics.  This is because Mr. Thorpe was successful at over twenty different sports.  Mr. Thorpe was a sac and fox Indian. There has been controversy over Jim Thorpe because of who he was, his athletic abilities, and because of where he was buried.

            Jim Thorpe was an incredible man, not only was he an athlete but he was also a family man and full of kindness. Jim was born on March 28, 1888. Jim was always exercising as a young boy. Jim would go out on these huge long hunts with his father when he was only eight years old. Jim was also wrangling horses out on the prairie by the time that he had turned ten years old. Many people wrote about Jim and called him a “failure at school”, this is less than accurate because he was a B+ student. The reason that some writers and historians could have come to this conclusion is because when he was young and off at school his father became ill and Jim asked the school if he could leave and go visit his father. The school quickly said no to Jim’s idea of leaving school. Then Jim took matters into his own hands and took what was known as “French Leave” and then set out on his journey to see his extremely ill father. This journey consisted of hundreds of miles of walking and hiking to get home, but even at a young age Jim knew the value of family and did what he knew it was going to have to take to see his father. Jim’s fathers name was Hiram Thorpe, and his mother’s name was Charlottevieux Thorpe. Jim stayed with his family until his father could survive no more. Jim had his career as being a star in sports, and once Jim’s Olympic days were over he decided to start a family. Jim married a woman named patsy Thorpe and they had multiple children together. The children said that their father (Jim Thorpe) always instilled the idea in them that exercise is key. The children also said that their father consistently said to them “Let’s go outside and play ball!” Jim was traumatized when one of his sons died at the age of three from the terrible disease of polio. Jim was very close to his son and had a hard time getting over the loss of his son. When Jim was fifty-seven, he decided to join the navy and he went overseas to fight for the United States during world war two. It was nearly unheard of for a fifty-seven year old man to enlist in any branch of the armed forces but Jim was so fit and agile that it was no problem for him. Jim was also a great actor and stared in seventy-six different movies throughout his career. Jim was also very athletic.

            The Man named Jim Thorpe was an incredible athlete. The difference between Jim and all of the other great athletes out there is that Jim didn’t train like crazy to get into the Olympics, he just did what he loved and that was to play sports. Jim played football at a school titled “Carlisle” and he played just about every sport that they had to offer. Jim was such a leader in sports that he was the captain of the football team, the basketball team, the track team, and the list just goes on and on. Jim was breaking records and creating a name for himself in college. When Jim played for Carlisle he became the first college football player to ever have more than three thousand rushing yards in a career. Jim was also a fantastic kicker in football, his personal best for the longest drop kick field goal was eighty seven yards. He could also punt the football over one hundred yards. The officials that were taking the measurements couldn’t measure to Jims full potential because Jim could kick the ball farther than the football field was long. Jim was such a good football player that he could play any position. President Eisenhower played football against Jim Thorpe when he played college ball and he said “he could do anything” when he was referring to Jim Thorpe. President Eisenhower also said “he was the whole team” when talking about Jim. One day someone told Jim that he should try out for the Olympics, so Jim said okay. Then Jim tried out for the Olympics and he tried some things that he had never even done in his life. One thing that Jim tried and was good at was the javelin. Jim didn’t do anything close to the proper technique and on his first throw beat all of the competition except one for second place. After Jim had learned the proper technique he could throw the javelin further than anyone else there at the Olympics. The crazy thing about Jim is that he didn’t train for the Olympics like all of the others did, he just showed up and did what he loved, and still beat out most of the competition.  After qualifying for the Olympics, Jim went on to compete in the Olympics of 1912 in Stockholm Sweden. This is the place that Jim gained the title of “the greatest athlete in the world” from the king of Sweden. At these Olympics, Jim acquired two gold medals. These gold medals were taken from Jim to be given to the athletes in second place. This is because the Olympics were for amateurs only and Jim was considered a professional because he was given a few dollars a game to play baseball over the summer.  After Jim’s death, historians that loved him were in search for the 1912 Olympic rule book to try and dispute the taking of Jim’s medals. The historians searched for days on end and couldn’t find the rules, then finally one day the book was found and the historians, after reading the rule book, came to the conclusion that the medals were unrightfully taken from Jim Thorpe. Jim died on March 28, 1953. There was also a dispute over where Jim should have been buried.

            Two towns were combined to create the city called “Jim Thorpe, PA”. These two towns were called “Mauch chunk” and “East Mauch Chunk”. The birth of Jim Thorpe, PA was because of Jim’s wife named patsy Thorpe. Patsy made the decision of Jim being buried here without the consult of family, and potentially against Jims will. The only problem is that Jim didn’t not have a living will that addressed where he wanted to be buried. Jim’s children said that Jim had told them that he wanted to be buried in his native land of the sac and fox Indians. There has been law suit after lawsuit addressing where Jim should be buried. All of the sac and fox Indians say that until you are buried in native land then your body isn’t properly laid to rest and their soul is not at peace. The town fights for Jim by starting a slogan of “Keep Jim Thorpe in Jim Thorpe”. Jim Thorpe’s Grandson is about the only family member of Jims that is okay with him being in PA. Jim’s grandson said “the town has done nothing but honor and respect and love my grandpa”. This is a true statement and all of the citizens of Jim Thorpe say that the town “wouldn’t be the same” if Jim was taken away and brought back to tribal land. A “medicine man” was said to have made contact with Jim’s spirit and Jim said “I am at peace and I want no more pain created in my name”.  Even though this medicine man channeled Jim, all of the native sac and fox members still want Jim back in his native land. Sac and fox members say “all of this time we’ve wanted his body back because of the way that it was taken away from us.” Because of the way that the body was taken away, all of the natives feel that Jim’s body was, in a way, stolen from them. To this day Jim is still buried in Jim Thorpe, PA.

            Jim Thorpe is obviously a great man, athlete, and was cared about because of all of the points listed above. Everyone who ever met Jim loved him and respected him. Not only did they love him for his athletic abilities, but they also loved him for his personal virtues. Love and respect is one thing that no one can buy, it is something you must earn and Jim did exactly that. Regardless of where Jim’s body was buried he was still an incredible person. 

 

united states postal service stamp of Jim Thorpe 

Jim Thorpe receiving his gold medals from the king of Sweden at the 1912 Olympics

 
Jim Thorpe, doing what he loved the most, playing football with his children

Jim Thorpe dressed in his Carlisle uniform
 
Jim Thorpe with some of his fellow Sac and Fox tribe members

Works cited

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Mv1iZtBug

Smithsonian. "Jim Thorpe: World's Greatest Athlete." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/02/jim-thorpe-pennsylvania-football-hall-fame

"Jim Thorpe Sleeps on - for Now - in Town Where Everyone Knows His Name." TheGuardian. N.p., 02 Aug. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2F2013%2Faug%2F02%2Fjim-thorpe-pennsylvania-football-hall-fame>.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/05/pa-town-where-jim-thorpe-is-buried-fights-to-keep-his-body/

"Pa. Town Where Jim Thorpe Is Buried Fights to Keep His Body." Fox News. FOX News Network, 05 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. <http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/05/pa-town-where-jim-thorpe-is-buried-fights-to-keep-his-body/>.

www.jimthorperestinpeace.com/Burial.HTM

"Jim Thorpe Rest In Peace - Burial." Jim Thorpe Rest In Peace - Burial. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. <http://www.jimthorperestinpeace.com/Burial.HTM>.

www.latimes.com/.../la-na-jim-thorpe-body-2013101...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/jim-thorpe-town-body-family_n_3875897.html

Angelo, Jason St. "Jim Thorpe's Body Subject Of Dispute Between Pennsylvania Town, Family Of Olympic Icon." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/jim-thorpe-town-body-family_n_3875897.html>.

http://sports.jrank.org/pages/4845/Thorpe-Jim-Awards-Accomplishments.html

"Jim Thorpe - Awards And Accomplishments." - Named, Oklahoma, Football, and Hall. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. <http://sports.jrank.org/pages/4845/Thorpe-Jim-Awards-Accomplishments.html>.

http://primarysourcenexus.org/2013/05/today-in-history-jim-thorpe/

"Today in History: Jim Thorpe - TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus." TPSBarat Primary Source Nexus. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014. <http://primarysourcenexus.org/2013/05/today-in-history-jim-thorpe/>. 

Photography of Native Americans

Elle Noller

10/28/14

In class essay

Photography: Native Americans

            There are people that take their time out of their lives to take the art of photography. They catch an image that is meaningful and full of beauty or inspiration. Two very famous photographers, for taking pictures of Native Americans and their way of living, are Edward Curtis and Matika Wilbur.

            With Edward Curtis’ devotion on his work, it has and continues to effect on the Indians and non-Indians. His work appeals to the general public and it is cast makes it not only intelligible. It also is “vastly interesting even to those uninstructed in the methods of ethology.” (jstor.org) He dealt with the customs and habits of the Native Americans and by doing so he is able to show a true picture of the life as a Native American. His pictures are of the young and old but he also had them sometimes in the picture doing something. Some picture showed their habitations, ceremonies, industries, games, and their everyday life style as a Native American. His pictures are said to show a glimpse into the past generations of the Indian people. Edward Curtis’ images show Native Americans “so close to the origins of their humanity.” (ewardcurtis.com) These people are photographed because their way of life is rapidly coming to an end. All of his photos are known as American treasures. Edward Curtis says, “While primarily a photographer, I do not see or think photographically; hence the story of Indian life will not be told in microscopic detail, but rather will be presented as a broad and luminous picture.” He wanted to help people overcome the perennial racism that is in our country. Art at his time was used as propaganda speed of the American government’s attack on the people of the region. Edward Curtis did a national survey of Native Americans and was based in Seattle.

            In Seattle Matika Wilbur had her first exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum and she also did a national survey of Native Americans. Wilbur goes against what art did during Curtis’ time. She went against the history of art for propaganda for killing. One of her pieces called Project 562 is an example of art that shows propaganda of living. Also she is a member of the Tulalip and Swinomish tribes. Those Native American tribes are of the Puget Sound. She did a three year campaign Project 562. The number 562 is the number of recognized tribes when she started. Wilbur’s images show more of the advancement and survival of the Native Americans than the extinction. When she was taking photos she visited more than two hundred and twenty tribal lands. Wilbur began in the Northwest and traveled more than eighty thousand miles around the Western United States. She wants these photographs to inspire other young Native Americans to expose their deepest anxieties about being a Native American, like she did. Also she wants them to open a window to the rest of us. She tried and did expose her work’s tenacity and richness of the contemporary native life. By doing this she seeks to encourage a shift in consciousness toward Native Americans. “She changed the perceptions about Native Americans from 1906.” (upworthy.com)

Matika Wilbur:

Edward Curtis:

Work Cited

Gordon, Review By: G. B. JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.jstor.org/stable/659863?seq=3&Search=yes&searchText=curtis&searchTe

xt=edward&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicResults%3FQuery%3Dedward%2Bcurtis%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bsi%3D26&prevSearch=&resultsServiceName=null>.

"Native Americans on Curtis - Edward Curtis Photography, Life & Work."Edward Curtis

Photography, Life & Work. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014  

<http://www.edwardcurtis.com/native-americans-on-curtis/>.

"With a Camera, Matika Wilbur Aims to Bring Indian History to the Here and Now." The Seattle

Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

<http://seattletimes.com/html/pacificnw/2024031215_0727matikawilburxml.html>.

"Tacoma Art Museum - Photographic Presence and Contempoarary Indians: Matika Wilbur's

Project 562." Tacoma Art Museum - Photographic Presence and Contempoarary

Indians: Matika Wilbur's Project 562. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/Page.aspx?nid=513>.

"Photographer Matika Wilbur's Three-Year, 562-Tribe Adventure." Indian Country Today Media

Network.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

<http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/01/15/photographer-matika-wilburs-th

ree-year-562-tribe-adventure-146982>.

"It's Been Over 100 Years Since An Artist Has Done This In America. About Time Someone Did

It Again." Upworthy. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.upworthy.com/its-been-over-100-years-since-an-artist-has-done-this-in-america-

about-time-someone-did-it-again>.

The issue with Native American appropriation in fashion

Gabrielle Williams

October 28, 2014

Mr. Ward

U.S. History

                          

                          The issue with Native American  appropriation in fashion

Each years, the fashion industry makes billions of dollars selling clothing to eager buyers. While the majority of the clothing sold is everyday, run of the mill items such as jeans and t-shirts and tennis shoes, a growing number of said clothing is comprised of clothing and patterns that are distinctly Native American. Although this may not seem to be an issue to the average buyer, it is beyond troubling to the group of people who used to claim these items as their own.

 Native American appropriation in fashion is a relatively new occurrence, with many fashion companies and designers jumping on the “Native American culture is a way to make money” bandwagon. The struggling Native American community is not pleased with these actions; it is extremely difficult to be joyous when someone is making countless sums of money off of your culture, while you sit, destitute  on reservations tucked neatly away, out of sight so that your cries for justice are not clearly heard. Reservations are not known for their immaculate looks and pristine lawns, nor are they known for their ideal educational opportunities. Many, many reservations have problems that are beyond unacceptable, with mold being very common and healthy food, not so much. When this is added to the fact that gargantuan corporations such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 pull in huge amounts of money by yanking Native American culture from the hands of  it’s owner, and  sticking a thirty dollar price tag on it, the issue becomes clear; Native American appropriation is a growing problem.

 Traditional fashion to Native Americans is much more than lines connecting to other lines and intricate feathery things called headdresses. To the Native people, it is about religion. The patterns and designs spilled across a Forever 21 t-shirt may not mean anything to most people, but Native Americans see a different story. The typical “Native American designs” come from a very religious place. They are used to show the mountains and the clouds, the sun and the sky; they are meant to worship and praise the earth that brings forth life. The headdresses are seen as honorable and meaningful as they were used when going to war. By plastering these things across shoes and pants and sticking headdresses onto non Natives, it conveys a patronizing tone. It says “we as a country do not respect your wishes enough to actually listen.” At the end of the day, it is not at all about what the average, desperate to seem cool, white, American hipster has to say about how Native American culture and fashion should be regarded in the fashion industry; it should be decided by the people to whom it means the most. Native Americans were already subjugated to immoral treatment at the arrival of the settlers. Their land was unjustly taken, diseases were passed to them, they were forced to go onto reservations in a land they once called home.

What many Natives want, is for a say. A say in the way they are portrayed, a say in how they are treated. It is extremely difficult for the few designers the Native American community has to get noticed, to be able to create a fashion line for the cultural aspects rather than for the money involved. Although they desperately desire to show the world the true meaning of Native American fashion, their voices often go unheard in a sea of discrimination and pure ignorance. Just like years and years ago when they were forced into places and situations they did not desire, they are again being stifled. The only problem with the, justified,  anger expressed by the Native Americans and supporters concerning the appropriation, is that often other, more pressing needs go overlooked. Poverty levels in reservations are appalling and health and chemical dependency problems are much too high. It is very important to respect all people and there is more than one way to do this. With Native Americans, when the settlers ripped their and from them and proceeded to throw them to the bottom of the totem pole, it acted as a catalyst for the problems they face today. Out of respect, helping to lift them to their upright position once more would not be doing them a favour; it would be repaying a debt.

Despite the urge to turn the other way when it comes to issues concerning Native Americans in hopes that those issues will simply dissipate, it is important that this not be done. The blatant disregard for the desires and opinions of the Native community is the show of complete and utter lack of respect and compassion alike. Although there are other, perhaps more pressing issues running rampant within reservations, the issue of cultural appropriation is still an important one. Making money off of portraying a group of people in a particular way while said people live in horrible conditions if just that; horrible. Throughout the years, Native Americans have had a difficult time caused by the people who now call this land their own. it is our job to let them know that they are not alone and that they we recognize them as the proud people they are.

 

Sources:

beyondthebuckskin.com

thegaurdian.com

academia.edu

culturalsurvival.org

indiancountrytodaymediannetwork.com

thedailybeast.com

time.com

Native American Mascots

JR

10/28/14

Native American Mascots

The Native American mascot has been used in sports for years, from tribe names to nicknames such as Redskins. Recently there has been a push to rid sports of these team names because they are considered to be disrespectful and even racist. In the end what Americans think of the names really does not matter, the Native Americans have the last say in whether a name is offensive, or racist.

Since 1970 23 teams have dropped either Native American mascots, or their team name, some both. These teams include Oklahoma University, Marquette University, Syracuse University, along with others. Central Michigan University has kept its name, the Chippewas, but have dropped their mascot in favor of not having one at all. Utah University has also kept its name, the Utes, but have replaced it instead with a Red-Tailed Hawk. Knowing how their mascots made some people, most importantly Native Americans, feel they have opted to drop their names and mascots out of respect.

The Florida State Seminoles have been able to keep their name and mascot with very little controversy during a time when a team like the Washington Redskins have been under constant pressure by many to change their name. The Seminoles have been able to stay controversy because they are have gained the backing of the Florida Seminole tribe. “We the Seminoles embrace that mascot,” Chief James Billie, Tribe Chairman. “They honor us,” Chief Billie. The support of the tribe has allowed the team to avoid the controversy that can come with having a Native American mascot. The school does not take the tribe’s endorsement for granted, in fact they considered changing the name until the tribe endorsed the name in meetings. “Had Chief Billie and his leadership gone in another direction we might have changed it,” Dale W. Lick. The school greatly appreciates the tribes support of the name, they offer scholarships and cut-rates to Native Americans. They have even allowed the tribe to help with the famous pre game ritual, the tribe altered Osceola’s make-up and clothing to make it more authentic.

Florida State University Pregame ritual.
http://cdn.breitbart.com/mediaserver/Breitbart/Breitbart-Sports/2014/01/08/Florida%20State%20Seminole.jpg

The tribe is considered a second family with the school and team. They attend school events such as Homecoming, graduation, and other school events including football games. Other Seminole tribes such as the Oklahoma Seminole tribe do not endorse the name, “We tell them to go back to their own territory,” Chief Bille. “As far as I’m concerned that mascot will be here forever,” Chief Billie. The backing of the mascot is crucial to the mascot surviving through these controversial times when teams such as the Washington Redskins are facing monumental pressure to change the team name.

Disparaging, offensive, these are words that are used to define the term Redskin. The nickname Redskin is a racist name considered by some to be equal to the N-word. The Washington Redskins are under an incredible amount of pressure to change their team name. The reason they face more pressure than other teams with Native American mascots is because where other teams are named after tribes, such as the Florida State Seminoles, or positive nicknames, Atlanta Braves, is because the name Redskin is a racist term. On June 18, 2014 the TTAB of USPTO again voted to cancel the Redskins federal trademark registrations, considering them “disparaging to Native Americans” . Co-Star of ESPN’s First Take, Skip Bayless says the name is, “Blatantly racist,” and that “there is no pride, to me, in the nickname Redskins.” There are 23 Native American tribes along with 50 groups that represent tribes that officially want the name changed. “If I were the owner of the team and I knew that there was a name of my team - even if it had a storied history - that was offending a sizeable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” President Obama. Along with the enormous group of people against the name there is a sizeable amount of people who support the name. The majority of the fans, which include some Native Americans, have great pride and support for the name. In 2004 90% of people said the name did not bother them, that number dropped in 2014 when only 60% said they supported the name. Two SportsNation  polls also provide some evidence. When asked: Should Redskins change their name? 78% said No. When asked: Will the Redskins change

their name in your lifetime? 62% said No. Perhaps the most vocal and outspoken supporter of the name has been team owner, Dan Snyder. “... the name really means honor, respect.” Dan Snyder. When asked: What is a Redskin, Snyder replied, “A Redskin is a football player. A Redskin is our fans.” When asked if he would ever change team name, “We will never change the name. Its that simple. NEVER. You can use caps,” Dan Snyder.

The issue of the use of Native American mascots is highly controversial, and may soon be resolved. The names are on a fast track out as pressure mounts up on them. Teams like Florida State have no worries because they are backed by the tribe they represent, whereas the Redskins and other teams do not have the same luxury. It is not what the teams, or fans think of these names, it is the Native Americans, the people being represented think of these names. Other people cannot determine what is offensive to them, if the Native Americans find it offensive it is for no one else to say that it is not. It is their opinion that matters.

Works Cited

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/9689150/should-redskins-change-their-name

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2014/05/04/redskins-mascot-nickname-indians-wahoo-chiefs-blackhawks-braves/8705159/   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Redskins_name_controversy  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjaSPjNJJFc   http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/redskins/2013/05/09/washington-redskins-daniel-snyder/2148127/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytKCnfW_beA  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6wfLdCUTNE http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/native-americans-seek-dismissal-of-redskins-lawsuit-in-trademark-case/2014/09/22/fc9fc362-418e-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/us/washington-redskins-osage-nation-fedex/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/24/sports/ncaafootball/amid-rising-discord-over-indian-images-florida-state-has-harmony.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/41219755?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=Use&searchText=of&searchText=Native&searchText=American&searchText=Mascots&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DUse%2Bof%2BNative%2BAmerican%2BMascots%26amp%3Bprq%3DUse%2Bof%2BNative%2BAmerican%2BMasocts%26amp%3Bhp%3D25%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bso%3Drel

http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/267158?terms=Native%20American%20Mascot&webSiteCode=SLN_AMHIST&returnToPage=%2fSearch%2fDisplay%2f267158%3fterms%3dNative+American+Mascot&token=AC01DCCCA246E667DAFC20AEDFA7A246&casError=False

Bonnie Lioce

USH F block

October 28, 2014

Research Paper

Obesity and Diabetes in Native Americans Today

Today, there are 542 federally recognized Native American tribes in the U.S. These tribes are constantly fighting to maintain their traditional lifestyles and stay healthy even though the world around them is becoming revolved around processed and junk foods. The prevalence of diabetes and obesity in Native Americans today is due to the affects on the native communities from the world around them.

Obesity is the when someone is overweight and is at risk of heath issues. It is caused by the abundance of high-fat foods and the rapid change from active to sedentary life styles. Obesity in Native Americans is affected by environmental factors such as a high-energy intake and low levels of physical activity. Obesity rates for American Indian kids, adolescents, and adults are higher than the U.S. rates for all other races combined. 

This chart shows the trends in child and adolescent obesity rates in the United States.

This shows that the process of reaching obesity is starting at a younger age than it should. In a study done on the Navajo Indian tribe, 42.7% of kindergarteners were overweight or obese, and 49.7% of third graders were obese. This is due to a lack of resources to provide good data on the incidence of obesity. Risk factors of becoming obese are family medical history, high poverty rates, and cultural disintegration. To prevent the spread of obesity in the Navajo tribe, medical experts have recommended they should educate parents, improve the environment and community facilities, increase funding, and to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic in the tribal communities in the United States. Obesity puts a person at risk of getting diabetes, hypertension, CVD (cardiovascular disease), cancer, low cholesterol, and adverse pregnancy in American Indian women.

Diabetes is when an individual’s blood sugar is too high for their body to maintain anymore. The body needs sugar to run, but too much sugar is bad for your health. The first sign of getting diabetes is called pre-diabetes. This is when someone’s blood sugar is higher than normal but can be brought down through weight loss through healthy eating and increased physical activity. Pre-diabetes causes risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Type 2 diabetes is when the muscle, liver, and fate cells do not use insulin properly. Eventually the body does not make enough insulin, which causes high blood sugar. The signs of Type 2 diabetes are increased thirst, hunger and urination, fatigue, weight loss, and blurred vision. This can lead to eye, heart, kidney, and nerve issues if not managed very carefully.

            The obesity and diabetes rates are measure by BMI (body mass index). This is overall obesity, not centralize, meaning the fat is not located around the abdominal area of a person. The 39% of American Indians that are overweight are in the 85^th percentile or higher in the BMI. This results in the obesity and diabetes rates increasing, which makes CVD the leading cause of death for Native Americans in the U.S. 

This pie chart confirms that the leading cause of death is CVD. 

In Pima Indians, the sign of Type 2 diabetes in Native American women was confirmed by their waist to hip ratio (measure of centralized obesity). In women with a wait to hip ratio greater than 0.96, the rate of diabetes was much higher than women with active and healthy lifestyles. Men in the Pima Indian tribe with a waist to hip ratio greater than 0.98 were positively associated with diabetes. The diabetes epidemic that is taking over the Native American population in the United States is causing people to obtain the health risks that accompany type 2 diabetes: eye, heart, kidney, and nerve issues. Diabetes is becoming the leading cause of lower extremity amputation and end-stage renal disease in American Indians.

The Pima Indian population has the highest rates for diabetes caused from obesity. 

This chart shows the rates, by ethnicity, of people who have died from diabetes. 

The Native American tribes in the United States are coming together to stop the spread of diabetes and obesity in their populations. The Seminole Indian tribe in Florida has started cooking classes, health fairs, and nutritional classes to teach the Seminoles how small adjustments to their diets and lifestyles can make a huge impact on the outcome of their future. Rachel Buxton from the Seminole Tribune said, “Indians are twice as likely to die from diabetes complications as non-Indians”. This is due the American diet being filled with processed and junk foods causing obesity, and the transition of the Native American lifestyle from active to sedentary.

Indians are twice as likely to die from diabetes complications. 

            The Traditional Foods Project was started by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in the Native American tribe in an effort to gain back the connection between health and land the Indian culture has. Their goals include reclaiming traditional foods and physical activity, preserve the stories of healthy traditional ways, and engage the community members to follow program progress. Each Native American tribe has taken part is starting projects in their tribes to follow the steps of the Traditional Foods Project. Cora Flute from the Cherokee Nation Traditional Foods Project said that their program will “continue to increase awareness that traditional foods are part of our past that has sustained us and kept us healthy.” She continued to say that “community and family gardens were essentials in access to fresh and healthy foods and physical activity was part of staying healthy.”

           

Works Cited

1.     Story, Mary, Marguerite Evans, Richard R. Fabsitz, Theresa E. Clay,   Bonnie Holy Rock, and Brenda Broussard. "The Epidemic of Obesity in American Indian Communites and the Need for Childhood Obesity-prevention Programs." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Apr. 1999. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fajcn.nutrition.org%2Fcontent%2F69%2F4%2F747S.full%3Fsid%3Daee1bbaa-bd9c-4716-9e42-64fa1c121f08>

a.     (Primary Source)This source provided me with statistical information about the obesity in the Native American communities through history and into present day and the ways to help and prevent the problem.

2.     "Traditional Foods Project." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::www.cdc.gov:diabetes:projects:ndwp:traditional-foods.htm>.The Traditional Foods Project has been launched in 17 different tribes.

a.     (Primary Source) This source tells me how each tribe individually implemented the project into their communities and what their goals are. It also addresses how the nation, as a whole, is trying to help with the issue.

3.     "Indian Health Service The Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives." Diabetes. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::www.ihs.gov:forpatients:healthtopics:Diabetes:>.

a.     This source informed me on what type 2 diabetes is and how it affects each person. This was important because I needed to know what disease I was talking about in the project.

4.     "Obesity Prevention/Strategies in Native Youth." National Indian Health Board. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::www.nihb.org:public_health:obesity_prevention_youth.php>.

a.     This source told me how people in the nation who are not suffering from this epidemic are putting forth the effort to help the Native American communities in the US.

5.     R, Crum. "Addressing Childhood Obesity and Diabetes in Tribal Communities in New Mexico." RWJF. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::www.rwjf.org:en:research-publications:find-rwjf-research:2013:01:addressing-childhood-obesity-and-diabetes-in-tribal-communities-.html>.

a.     This website gave the information about an individual study the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation conducted in New Mexico about eh childhood obesity and diabetes in Tribal Communities in New Mexico.

6.     Buxton, Rachael. "Diabetes No. 1 Health Problem among Native Americans." The Seminole Tribune. The Seminole Tribune, 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::seminoletribune.org:diabetes-no-1-health-problem-among-native-americans:>.

a.     (Primary source)This source provides me with information about obesity and diabetes in the third tribe, The Seminole Indians, I plan on using as an example in my essay.

7.     King, Gail. "Type II Diabetes, the Modern Epidemic of American Indians in the United States." Type II Diabetes, the Modern Epidemic of American Indians in the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::anthropology.ua.edu:bindon:ant570:Papers:King:king.htm>

a.     (Picture) This source gave me the general information on the obesity epidemic in Native American Indians and helped me understand how wide spread the problem is today.

8.     Broxmeyer, Dr. Lawrence. "Diabetes Mellitus, Tuberculosis And the Science of Denial by Dr. Lawrence Broxmeyer." Dr Lawrence Broxmeyer. US Library of Congress, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::lawrencebroxmeyer.wordpress.com:2011:01:26:diabetes-mellitus-tuberculosis-and-the-science-of-denial-by-dr-lawrence-broxmeyer:>

9.     "Cadi Topic Ethnicity and Heart Disease Native American Heart Disease." Cadi. CADI Research Foundation, 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::www.cadiresearch.org:topic:ethnicity-and-heart-disease:native-american-heart-disease>

a.     This picture shows the comparison of CVD and diabetes in all races. I am using it to focus on the Native American population.

10. "Native American Disease and Epidemics." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. file://localhost/<http/::en.wikipedia.org:wiki:Native_American_disease_and_epidemics>

a.     This site gave me a picture that visually captures the information I will summarize in my essay.