SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Native Americans across Illinois headed to Springfield Wednesday to celebrate recent laws and promote a new bill to ban stereotyped school mascots.
State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) alongside Native American supporters.
In the state capitol building they performed a song and dance to celebrate receiving some of their former land back. They also celebrated a 2023 law that requires all Illinois schools to teach Native American history.
Their policy goal this year is to ban Native American school mascots. Advocates say that the mascots are a damaging stereotype that are seen in schools more often than their own native history.
"There is a mountain of evidence over the last twenty years demonstrating that native logos and mascots harm native children," said Dr. Megan Bang, a Native American and professor at Northwestern University. "There are consequential links between the presence of mascots and things like youth anxiety, suicidal ideation and an increase in the amount of stereotyping of native people."
State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) was emotional throughout the whole press conference. He said when he went on a trip with his daughter to see the Potawatomi tribe, he was moved when they acknowledged the American flag.
"In spite of history, there is still a respect for our country," West said. "I bring that up because most people think otherwise based on what we've been conditioned to believe."
The proposal is now in the rules committee where it waits to be assigned to a committee.
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