Munson has spent the last ten years talking to school officials, government officials and students trying to convince anyone who will listen that the logos, nicknames and mascots support and maintain stereotyping a race of people. To those who argue the issue is not that important, Munson counters, "if it's not that important, than why are school boards willing to take up their time and risk potential law suits rather than simply change the logo?" Stating that public educators need to teach "respect not racism" Munson believes the logos prevent Native children from forming a positive identity, in turn lowering self-esteem, creating a real problem in the classrooms in many public schools. She feels however that the problem goes far beyond seeing ancestors portrayed in less than favorable images.

Noting that "Indian" mascot and logos generally portray Native people as "warlike" or an image of the past, creating a mindset among young students "that all Indians looked like this", Munson fears that the images, particularly the caricatures, gives many young kids the idea that Native people were and are nothing else. They are often not told that Native people are currently lawyers, doctors or teachers. She added "because we don't look like the mascot, many kids believe we're extinct".

Munson and her daughter Christine, the Central Regional Director of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association joined Jon Greendeer, the Student Government Association's Director of Multi Cultural and Diversity Affairs at UW-Stevens Point for a discussion on the topic October 30, 2001 on the Stevens Point campus. Barbara Munson who chairs the Wisconsin Indian Education Association's "Indian Mascot and Logo Taskforce" questioned the belief that Native people "should be honored" by the mascots and logos. She added that, "if it's such an honor, why aren't other racial and ethnic groups also being 'honored'?"

Christine Munson read an e-mail that she recently received from Donna Brown, the Assistant Director of Native Services at North Dakota University, where the "Fighting Sioux" recently opened a new ice arena. Brown described being uncomfortable and upset as she watched non-Native people parading about in less than traditional "Indian" costumes. For her, the episode only magnified the misconception and falsehoods associated with "honoring" native people. Barbara Munson clarifies that "Indian people do not pay tribute to each other by the use of logos, mascots or statues, instead people are "honored" when they are given a feather or recognized with a song at a pow-wow". To her the "honor" associated with the logo or mascot is nothing but a form of racial stereotyping.

While some people argue that the name or mascot is part of the school's tradition, Barbara Munson stated that those schools that have changed have suffered no loss of tradition, memories of the past remain clear. She added that Stanford University kept alive its sports tradition when its "Indians" became the "Cardinals" and in fact, financial contributions to the school increased.

Christine Munson stated that though the issue has been taken before the Wisconsin Legislature, the Legislature has taken no action, leaving the decision to change up to the local school boards. While these school boards often state they are retaining the logos to preserve the Native culture, Barbara Munson believes that preserving the culture is the responsibility of Native people, not the schools. Besides she reasoned, cultures are passed on, not preserved.

Greendeer is confident that despite some communities not taking the issue seriously some progress is being made. Noting that 22 schools districts in Wisconsin have changed logos and mascots, he feels "changing the names will be part of history" as the voices of those hurt and offended gets louder.

Barbara Munson believes that the logo and mascot "stereotyping" in our educational system is a symptom of a larger problem facing Native people in education. Surprised that the issue did not go away in the 1960's when the country became more racially sensitive, she stressed the need for more Native leaders and teachers in public education, people with the willingness to eliminate what she termed the "hostile environment" present in some schools. She is convinced the time has come to teach students the rightful place that Native Americans warrant in our country's history. That place is not on gym floors and uniforms.

For more information Barbara Munson can be contacted at 1-715-693-6238.