Today's guest, Jacqueline Keeler, is a writer and activist of Dineh and Yankton Dakota heritage. She has written extensively on the racist appropriation of Native culture in costumes and sports mascotry, among many other topics. Through her writings and social media, she has helped re-ignite a national debate on cultural appropriation. Her alma mater, Dartmouth, has recently been embroiled in controversies surrounding a woman picked to head the Native American Studies department, who it turns out has no Native ancestry, and a vicious "prank" by conservative students ridiculing Indigenous Peoples' Day with a fake line of products with a Native caricature logo. Join us for a wide-ranging and informative discussion. The number to call in, as always, is 503-231-8187.
[from her Wikipedia entry]Keeler's articles have been widely quoted and published.
Much of her writing has coincided with her activism. Keeler is one of many of the founding members of Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry, which seeks to end the use of racial groups as mascots, as well as other stereotypical representations in popular culture, and cultural appropriation.Keeler wrote "'Native Mascotry' is a term I appropriated to describe the practices that surround a Native mascot. It’s not just about the static image of the mascot, be it somewhat noble and prosaic or an ugly caricature with a feather on top. It’s the creative license such mascots gives fans to reenact outdated stereotypes, to 'play Indian.' These practices include: the wearing of Redface, the misuse of Native regalia and the chanting of fake, hokey war chants and tomahawk chops." Keeler has been interviewed by various media outlets about the topics of racial stereotypes.
Her activism also extends to issues of abortion, traditional native values and Indigenous rights,
- KBOO