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[source: NativeNews; Wed, 26 Jan 2000 18:41:20]

From: "Advocates for American Indian Children" <aaic@hotmail.com>

Dear Advocates,

Below please find, reprinted with permission, the words of the Apache
students and administrators of Alchesay High School (White Mountain Apache
Reservation, Arizona) in regards to the "Apache" mascot of Arcadia High
School (Arcadia, California).  Note especially the eloquent words of
Alchesay student Dhanielle Declay.  This information needs to be shared.
Unfortunately the Arcadia students and the Arcadia community are unaware of
this turn of events because the Arcadia administration has only told them
that their visit was successful.  We are trying to raise funds to print this
information in an ad in a local Arcadia newspaper.  Please help spread the
word.  Thank you,

Advocates for American Indian Children
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WHITERIVER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT No.20
Alchesay High School
P.O. Box 190
Whiteriver, AZ 85941-0190
(520) 338-4848
Fax (520) 338-4840
 

December 7, 1999

To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept the following information as clarification in a matter
concerning Arcadia High School.  One of the teachers at Alchesay High School
was “surfing the net” at some time last year and came across Arcadia High
School’s web page.  She noted that Arcadia used the name “Apaches” as their
logo/mascot, and took it upon herself to make contact with Arcadia.  This
teacher acted purely on her own initiative ­ she did NOT have any official
authority to speak for Alchesay High School, its students, or
administration.  She has informed me that Arcadia High School never
responded to her inquiry.  Therefore, there was NEVER a “sister school”
relationship between Arcadia High School and Alchesay High School.

A delegation from Arcadia High School, comprised of their principal and two
staff members, visited Alchesay High School on Wednesday, December 1.  They
spent the day visiting our school and were guided by Jandi Hernandez, our
Student Council President, and by Mr. Curtis Suttle, Administrative
Assistant for Student Affairs.  Both Jandi and Mr. Suttle are members of the
White Mountain Apache Tribe.  During the last period of the day, the Arcadia
delegation met with members of our Student Council and members of Mr. David
Edgar’s Honors Government class.  Alchesay students at that meeting were
invited to speak honestly and frankly tot he visitors about the use of the
name “Apaches” by Arcadia High School.  When all who wished to do so had
spoken, the consensus of the Alchesay students was that Arcadia High School
should NOT use the name “Apaches.”  The Alchesay students were also
distressed that a student publication at Arcadia was entitled “The Stupid
Indian.”  One of our young ladies, Dhanielle Declay, spoke especially
eloquently.  She has permitted me to attach a copy of her statement.

As a result of the visitation and meeting with the Arcadia representatives,
our students indicated that they would welcome a visit by Arcadia students,
and that they would be most willing to have a dialog with them.  However,
they do NOT wish to be a “sister school” to Arcadia High as long as Arcadia
continues to use the name “Apaches.”

Yours truly,

Madeline E. Palmer
Associate Principal

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dhanielle Declay
12-1-99

APACHE

        The blood that runs through these veins of mine is full of life and I live
because of this blood and by it I invoke the strength of my ancestors to
speak to you today.  My ancestors are present by me, their representative.
I come not to battle, fight or argue for the concept of mine is well known
that to win against hate in what ever form, and in this case racism, one has
to use love.

        It is because of my ancestors’ fight, their faith, and their hope that our
people, “N’dee,” the Native American people, live today.  Our generation has
well earned the absolute right to live through the existence of time.

        As they have done in the past, these whites again clasp hold unto something
of ours that they don’t understand.  Again these whites endeavor to rob us
of more.  They took our land, they took our language, and now they dare to
take the name that has represented our people through history.

        The name of our people, the APACHES, is a name that wasn’t made for any
other people, any other kind but us.  Our name has truly been defined by our
people and we have well earned the very right for the word to be said with
true dignity.

        By using our name, APACHE, for your school’s logo, the action directly
takes from us.  It pleases you well and you are said to be satisfied and
unable to rectify your actions of changing your logo.  Yet, how can
non-Native Americans ever begin to think that they’ve somehow earned the
right to be called by a name that is ours?  Look into the past and you will
see much of my ancestors’ blood has been shed because of this great name.

        Not now, not ever can a non-Native American truly define and represent what
a Native American is.  What we were born to be is not of a choice we could
decide, we did not have the choice of choosing the color of our skin.  So
you cannot blame us for what we are, like we cannot blame you.  But to make
profits, to make cheers, to make student newspapers robs us from a dignity
and respect that we’ve well earned.  Our skin and our religion means nothing
in your hands.  And you cannot understand as truly as we do.  For each day
we live with the color of our skin to represent what’s beyond our flesh.
You could wear chicken feathers, you could display so-called war paint, but
instead of respecting and representing us, instead you disgrace us.

        The war between the cowboy and Indians will never be over.  For in our
lives we now have to fight each day to live.  We have to endeavor to be
something that is not a choice.  For if we choose not to adapt to the ways
of the white, again we will be killed.  You have taken much from us, and the
whites are in debt to the Indians for the country that is ours.

        Unlike many other Minority groups, our is of the few that has ever really
been recognized.  Educated but isolated, our reservations have become homes
that we have trouble leaving.  We were forced to live on lands that were so
small while whites continued their journey of manifest destiny.  We are a
humble people and our hearts are pure; although some of our people don’t see
what opportunities lie beyond the reservation borders, many are coming to
realize that we’ve been too quiet.  Education is a tool we’ve adapted from
the whites, like many other tools.  And with that same tool, along with our
hearts, our blood and wisdom combined, we now have power, we now can have a
fair game, and we will.

        You’ve taken almost everything from us, in the very least I ask that you
leave us our name.  Leave our heritage, our religion, our language, our
ways, and our name alone.  Like a flower in the spring we have yet to bloom
fully.  Let us represent our selves.  The name Apache has a price that at
whatever extent can never be sold or borrowed.  Our name’s richness is what
we work everyday of our lives to uphold.  No other can compare to how we
define the word APACHE as much as we do every single day.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

P.O. Box 190
Whiteriver, AZ 85941

December 9, 1999

Dear Sir or Madam:

On December 1, 1999, Mr. Martin J. Plourde, Principal, and two teachers,
from Arcadia High School, visited Alchesay High School in an attempt to
comprehend the name Apache.  Alchesay High School, which is 98% White
Mountain Apache, must have looked like the perfect place to discern such a
meaning, especially in a time when Arcadia’s school symbol was turning into
such a controversy.  Mr. Plourde clarified that he had been approached
already by the American Indian Movement, as well as other Native American
organizations that the name Apache was inappropriate in this day and age.
His motivation to drive 10 hours from California was to hear the opinion of
real Apaches, because until December 1, he hadn’t.

Mr. Plourde and the two teachers met with the Alchesay High School Student
Council, the Honors Government Class, two teachers from the Apache Language
and Culture class (both Apache), two social studies teachers, Mrs. Palmer,
Assistant Principal, and Mr. Suttle, Disciplinary Administrator (Apache).
My discernment is that the majority of the students were opposed to the use
of the Apache as a mere symbol of a school that lacks the knowledge of who
the Apache are.  Many students did not appreciate the fact that this
controversy was what sparked a sudden interest in the Apache culture.  An
informal vote at the end of the meeting indicated that all students in
attendance with the exception of 3 preferred that the Arcadia High School
change their symbol/mascot.

This was an informal meeting, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion
of all Alchesay High School Students.  However, this matter will be set on
the agenda for the next Student Council meeting, which will be held on
Wednesday, December 15.  At that time, the student body will be given the
chance to voice their opinion on this issue, and a formal vote will take
place.

Respectfully submitted,

Jandi Hernandez
Alchesay High School Student Body President

12/15/99 ­ The student council has appointed Kim Harvey, sophomore, as
chairperson of a committee, which will look over this matter, and present it
to the student body in order to gain an opinion of the whole.  This was
approved at today’s student council meeting.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WHITERIVER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT No.20
Alchesay High School
P.O. Box 190
Whiteriver, AZ 85941-0190
(520) 338-4848
Fax (520) 338-4840

December 14, 1999

Martin J. Plourde, Principal
Arcadia High School
180 Campus Drive
Arcadia, California 91007

Dear Mr. Plourde:

It had been two weeks since you and two of your faculty members visited
Alchesay High School.  This visit was made at your request with your
expressed purpose of “learning about” our White Mountain Apache students and
their culture.  Jandi Hernandez and Mr. Curtis Suttle gave up their entire
day to serve as your guides.  At the end of the day, you met with members of
our Student Council and Mr. Edgar’s Honors Government class to hear their
views on your school’s use of the term “Apaches” for your mascot/logo.  You
made much of the fact that as an educator, you wanted to hear from the
students themselves.  Our students took the time to speak with you with
respect, and often eloquence, about their feelings and beliefs.  They
afforded you the courtesy of listening to your opinions about the matter at
hand.  They concluded by telling you they did NOT want your school to use
the name “Apaches” when it was so very obvious that you had no concept of
who the Apaches are.  You told our students that you would be leaving early
the next morning to return to California.  As our meeting broke up, one of
our Apache parents invited you to her home for supper.

Since your departure I have noted that our students and staff have received
no communication from you thanking them for their hospitality.  I have also
been informed that you did not depart for home first thing the next morning.
   Instead, you and your colleagues went to the Tribal Council and asked them
to approve your use of the Apache name.  The Council gave their approval.
However, it must be noted that they had no other information or background
knowledge of the controversy which prompted your visit.  In any case, I must
tell you that I feel you treated our students with disrespect and a total
lack of honesty.  After all your words about valuing what students feel and
want to see accomplished, you chose to ignore everything they told you.  It
is my opinion that your actions were at the very least unethical.  I do not
care to have any more dealings with you or your administration.

Madeline E. Palmer
Associate Principal

--------------------------------------
Advocates for American Indian Children
Electronic Information Network
Visit our website at http://www.oocities.org/interethnic_icc/aaic.htm

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