Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights Announces Study:
Civil Rights and the Impact of Native American Names, Symbols, and Images in Nebraska School Mascots
The Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will convene a series of public, web-based meetings to discuss the impact of the continued use of Native American names, images, and symbols as school mascots in Nebraska. The Committee will consider the extent to which this use may perpetuate or exacerbate harassment, or a racially hostile learning environment for native students in the state. The Committee will hear testimony from tribal leaders, students, advocates, academics, and school and government officials. Members of the public will be invited to speak during an open comment period near the end of each meeting. The Committee will also accept written testimony submitted to mwojnaroski@usccr.gov by Friday February 5, 2021.
The meetings will take place:
Panel I: Monday December 14, 2020 from 9:00am – 10:30 am CST
- Online registration at: https://bit.ly/37v22RG (Click to register)
- Telephone access (audio only): 800-360-9505; Access code: 199 788 6470
Panel II: Wednesday December 16, 2020 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am CST
- Online registration at: https://bit.ly/36ANsc0
- Telephone access (audio only): 800-360-9505; Access code: 199 786 9990
Panel III: Thursday January 7, 2021 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am CST
- Online registration at: https://bit.ly/3ooumMq
- Telephone access (audio only): 800-360-9505; Access code: 199 680 1018
People who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing may follow the proceedings by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 and providing the Service with the above listed conference call number and access code. Individuals requiring other accommodations should contact the regional program unit at (202) 618-4158 five business days prior to the meeting to make their request.
Committee Chair Dr. Jonathan Benjamin Alvarado said, “The Nebraska State Advisory Committee is extremely proud of hosting these hearings because assessing the impact of the uses of Native American mascots, images and names on our Native community is long, long overdue. Our hope is to gain information, insights and reflections on these important matters that can be instrumental in charting a course toward deepening our understanding and crafting responsive solutions to this pressing concern in Nebraska.”
The Nebraska Committee will issue findings and recommendations in a report to the Commission after all testimony has been received.
Panel I: Monday December 14, 2020; 9:00-10:30am Central
· Chairman Larry Wright, Ponca Tribe
· Chairwoman Tori Kitcheyan, Winnebago Tribe
· Chairman Everett Baxter, Omaha Tribe
· President Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee), The Morning Star Institute
· Alexandrea Flanders, President of Intertribal Student Council, Member of the Winnebago Tribe
Panel II: Wednesday December 16, 2020; 9:00-10:30am Central
· Professor Edouardo Zendejas, University of Nebraska Omaha
· Senator Anna Wishart, Nebraska State Legislature
· Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt, Nebraska Department of Education
· Jay Bellar, Executive Director, Nebraska School Activities Association
Panel III: Thursday January 7, 2021; 9:00-10:30am Central
· Pending confirmation