Derena Tuell gives her opinion on the issue.
Submitted by RANDY’L TETON
Office of Public Affairs
DRIGGS — On Wednesday, June 5 members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes attended a community gathering in Driggs at Teton High School, home of the “Redskins,” to hear a presentation by Native American Guardians Association (NAGA).
NAGA is based out Washington D.C and was invited by a community member to promote keeping the Redskin mascot. The NAGA panel was comprised of five Native Americans that were Navajo, Sioux, and Apache that travel throughout the United States to “educate, not eradicate,” in support of Native American imagery and symbols for schools and sports teams.
The gathering was held inside the Teton High School auditorium for more than two hours. The high school student population is approximately 475 students, grades 9-12. The panel discussion attracted close to 100 local community members and 13 members from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, including Vice Chairman Ladd Edmo, Office of Public Affairs Randy’L Teton and Yvette Tuell, and Tribal Education Manager Jessica James. Tribal elders also attended included Larry Teton, Zelphia Towersap and Dr. LaNada War Jack with their grandchildren.
Vice Chairman Edmo spoke in opposition to the Redskins mascot and that the Fort Hall Business Council met with Teton School District Superintendent, Monte Woolstenhulme, in 2013 to offer opposition to the mascot then. Edmo also recommended opportunities for the school district to teach our Tribal history and culture of the Shoshone-Bannock homelands. “The newcomers (settlers/pioneers) forced our people out and displaced them to either the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho or the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.”
Randy’L Teton stated as a tribal member, “We are the original Teton family in this area and are named after the Grand Teton Mountains; we have direct ties to this land for generations. My ancestors hunted, gathered, camped in this area. I personally take offense to the Redskin name and do not find it as an honor to my people or my family.”
Yvette Tuell further stated the need to communicate with the Tribes and suggested the Tribes are available to assist the school with Tribal history for the staff and students. Tuell reiterated that Redskin is not a positive word. Derena Tuell shared her personal experiences as a veteran travelling the world, and experiencing racism as a young Native woman and mother.
The Fort Hall Business Council will be sending a letter of concern to Monte Woolstenhulme and the five member School Board in Teton School District 401. The Tribes will also be attending a community panel, “Native Perspectives on the Mascot” on Wednesday, June 26 at Teton High school auditorium at 7 p.m. The panel will include Shoshone-Bannock and national Native Americans. All are encouraged and invited to attend this gathering.
The Tribes plan to attend the Teton School Board meeting on July 8 at Teton High School Auditorium in Driggs. According to school website, the meeting is open to the public at 5:30 p.m. and is livestreamed on the School District Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/TCSD401/.
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