Racism compromises UND education

(Editor’s note: Monique L. Vondall, a senior at UND majoring in English, participated in the Midwest Summit on American Indian Mascots Wednesday. Vondall offers her perspective as an American Indian living and surviving in a culture saturated with the Sioux name and image.)

The Constitutional right to an equal education that is in a safe, learning and expressive environment is what most people regard to be natural. For those of us who have experienced the dehumanization of racism on the campus of UND, however, it is beyond that realm.

The support received at the summit and from the faculty and staff of UND has been outstanding. It is this dialogue that distinguishes education from greed or racism. It is this dialogue that gets things done. Although we are at a high point in our fight against the continued genocide of a race of people, we can not let our guard down for one moment.

Therefore, we continue to share our stories with people who wish to learn what it means to be the target of hatred and racism. We share because we hope for change and, with the help of a nationwide effort to uncover the wrongs that stereotypical mascots, logos and nicknames of sports teams perpetuates, that change can be made.

When we were received with a warm welcome of applause as we entered Atwood Mall, we were both shocked and amazed that people in scholarly positions were able to express their opinions.

The more we talked, the more people at SCSU and other institutions of higher learning listened and applauded our struggles.

We were not invited (to SCSU) to be heroes and we do not relish the task of being hated and targets of these injustices. We are at UND for an equal education. We pay our dues because nothing comes for free because we are Indian. Just like non-Indian students, we are bound and determine to make the most of our education. This, we believe, is what we are gaining by speaking out on this issue.

By now, most of my colleagues and I are use to the racial epitaphs, the threats and the constant feeling of having to watch our backs. What we are not use to, however, is the idea that we have not been given the honor that the University of North Dakota claims to be giving us. I don’t believe that the core group that attended the Midwest Summit on Indians as Mascots from UND will ever get use to that idea. For most of us, it runs deep within our veins to the very core of our every day lives to deal with this issue.

Being at the summit gave our group a whole new perspective on our issue. It showed that there are people out there who care about what we are doing and what we have accomplished with just our small group. The cohesiveness feeling and the attention to what experiences we had to share in our struggle to change the University of North Dakota nickname and logo was outstanding. On behalf of the faculty, staff and students who fight this very real battle every day, thank you.

Our stories range from being called a “prairie ni---r,” to our own children being harassed in the school yard across the street from UND property were felt, we believe, within this group of eloquent and inspiring people. There are so many stories that could be shared within this small space. It is more important, however, to stress the urgency of this issue and why it means so much to so many people.

Although we are not able to be there to share (for those who could not attend the summit) our true feelings on this issue with our gestures and expressions, it can be assured that, if you visited our campus someone will be willing to help educate you on our struggle.

For most of us, it is a struggle to achieve equity. It is our hope that this is just the beginning of a long relationship with those who attended the summit and those whom have not joined in the fight to eliminate racial injustices to Indian people. It shows, once again, that we are truly all related.