1. NATIVE AMERICANS: RACISM Business Ethics at the University
of Utah, April 30, 2015 Presented by: Natalie Vavrasek, Jonathan
Hamelin, Leslie Morrill, Ben Child & Steve Raguskus
2. QUOTES Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to
divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and deserves to
be met head-on and stamped out. - Pierre Berton A Native American
grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two
wolves inside him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf
of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and
hatred. Which wolf will win, grandfather? asks the young boy.
Whichever one I feed, is the reply. - Native American Proverb
3. QUIZ True or False The U.S. Government imprisoned Native
Americans wearing and using sacred tribal objects; the same
religious objects sports teams used in mockery. True In 2011, the
median wealth of Native Americans was equal to 8.7% of the median
wealth of all remaining U.S. citizens? True Despite all the efforts
to educate our young people on the importance of diversity, they
are being socialized in a system that has normalized racism against
Native peoples? True
4. RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION
5. RELIGIOUS HISTORY - AIRFA American Indian Religious Freedom
Act (AIRFA) Passed August 11, 1978 Prior to passing, the federal
government frequently violated Native American rights to three main
necessities in relation to their religion: 1. Access to and use of
sacred religious sites, 2. The use and possession of sacred objects
such as eagle feathers, bones, peyote, etc., 3. The freedom to
worship through their own ceremonial and traditional beliefs. In
order for a tribe to be covered under the AIRFA they must be
federally recognized. Currently 565 recognized tribes, and 460
unrecognized
6. RELIGIOUS HISTORY BLOOD QUANTUM LAWS Law states that in
order for someone to be a legal member of a tribe, they must
possess some degree of blood relation to the tribe or must be able
to provide document of descent from original tribal members. Came
into existence in 1700s Not truly enforced until the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934 Many tribes use their own methods for
determining tribal membership through traditional adoption methods,
trust in someones lineage claims, and through spiritual prompting
and guidance.
7. RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION United States v. Wilgus Samuel R.
Wilgus Jr., a Caucasian by birth, is adopted by Paiute spiritual
leader into the Paiute Tribe in accordance with tribal tradition.
Wilgus is recognized as a spiritual leader by the Native American
Church Given right to possess and use eagle feathers 1998 Wilgus is
arrested and charged with illegal possession of eagle feathers
under the Eagle Act. 2009 A U.S. District judge reverses conviction
2009 The Federal Government appeals to 10th District Court 2011 The
10th District Court overturns reinstating charges
8. UNITED STATES V. WILGUS The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection
Act (Eagle Act), 16 U.S.C. 668, prohibits possession of the
feathers or parts of eagles, but contains an exception to the ban
when the feathers are possessed for the religious purposes of
Indian tribes. Id. 668a. The regulations implementing the exception
limit its scope to members of federally-recognized tribes only, who
are allowed to apply to the government for permits. 50 C.F.R.
22.22. The Federal Government determines which tribe is or is not
federally-recognized. The Paiute Tribe IS Federally recognized
Federal Government does not recognize Wilgus adoption Wilgus does
not have a blood relation to the tribe
9. ROBERT SOTO Lipan Apache religious leader and Native
American by blood lineage Member of tribe not recognized by Federal
Government 2006: Eagle feathers seized during pow-wow 2014: Court
ruled confiscation was violation of his religious rights, even
though the tribe is not approved 2015: Eagle feathers returned to
Mr. Soto
10. SPORTS & RACISM Oh, you think Redskins isnt racist.
Tell me again how big of a supporter you are of the Spics and
Crackers Condescending Wonka
11. SPORTS & RACISM: THEN & NOW Name the
Organization
12. EDUCATION Push aside the defensive and dismissive feelings,
and realize that its not totally your fault. Youve been socialized
in a system that has normalized racism against Native people. Youve
been raised in a society that sugar-coats its colonial and
genocidal past, and ignores the modern presence of Native peoples.
Adrienne K.
13. CHANGE NCAA: 2005 Ruling 8 teams received exemption
14. COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION University of Utah - Memorandum of
Understanding Between the Ute Indian Tribe and the University of
Utah
15. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS 2006: Oregon Board of Education Issued
Ban 92% of the 2,129 Sports Teams in the U.S. with Native American
Mascots are High School Teams
16. Proud To Be https://youtu.be/mR-tbOxlhvE
17. DISCRIMINATION & ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
18. DISCRIMINATION (Varies by state with South Dakota being the
worst) 33% of elementary students but only 5% of high school
students Graduation Rate < 25% Dropout Rate up to 65% Arrest
Rate 300% higher than white counterparts 1 in 10 victim of violence
70% of violence resulted from other races American Indian
employment rate 64.7%, Whites: 78.1% With all things being equal,
odds of being employed is 31% lower than whites 12% achieve
Bachelor's Degree; White-22.4% Living on or near reservations
decreases chances of employment by 7%
19. DISCRIMINATION Kill the Indian, and Save the Man. Carlisle
Indian Industrial School 1900 I blame the Indians for much of what
happens to them; they refuse to blend in. They insist on keeping to
their old ways. After all, they are a conquered people. Birdie
Ward
20. DISCRIMINATION
21. ECONOMIC INEQUALITY In 2011, one out of every four Native
American Indians lived in povertycompared to the national average
of one in ten non-Hispanic whites. Homeownership is a key source of
wealth for the average American. Homeownership among Native
Americans is significantly lower than the ownership rates of non-
Hispanic whites, and the homes they do own are valued significantly
less. Native American Indian economic growth is stunted by an
extreme employment crisis. This crisis coincides with the disparity
in educational advancement among Native American tribes.
22. ECONOMIC INEQUALITY Government regulation and subsidization
of Native American reservations has been more of a cause than a
cure for economic inequality. Reservations covering millions of
acres, hold vast natural resources such as: timber, mineral
deposits, natural gas, and oil. Current laws and regulations
restrict tribes from developing these resources and using them for
commercial purposes. Rather than focusing on subsidies, the
government should focus on constructing an economic environment
that will enable Native American Indians to prosper on their
own.