Contact:
Angel Heart
Public Relations Officer
707~712~7038
sspandrit@yahoo.com
November 13, 2013
VALLEJO, CA. – Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSP&RIT) has advised the Vallejo City Unified School District, Board of Education to remove the Vallejo High School mascot (Apache), as it is offensive to Native Americans.
On November 6, 2013, although the mascot was not on the agenda for the VCUSD Board of Education meeting, SSP&RIT/CEO, Norman “Wounded Knee” DeOcampo, members, & supporters, as well as citizens of Vallejo spoke before the Vallejo School Board of Education in opposition of the mascots use.
A formal request to have the mascot placed on the next School Boards agenda was made by Antonio Gonzalez of the American Indian Movement (West). Kathi Hill of the (Vallejo) NAACP, announced publicly that the organization supports SSP&RIT in its fight to have the mascot removed.
Sacred Site Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes is concerned about the continued use of Vallejo High School mascot (Apache). The use of Indians as symbols and mascots is incongruous with promoting respect for inclusiveness and diversity.
Native mascots perpetuate the myth that Native America is purely historical and devoid of any contemporary relevance. The issue of ethnic mascots is not one of being politically correct; it is a problem of ignorance, ignorance of history and ignorance of respect. These images hide the fact that Native American cultures ARE living cultures. SSP&RIT strongly supports and encourages the Vallejo Unified School District to stop the use of the Apache as a mascot.
Sacred Sites Protection and Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSP&RIT) is an organization of Indigenous and Earth Peoples dedicated to preserving traditional Native American cultural and spiritual freedom. This mission includes the protection of Sacred Sites and Places (cemeteries and churches), preserving the right to practice traditional spiritual (religious) ceremonies, and respect for the traditional cultural customs (behavior) of Native Americans.
Our goal is to educate the public of the moral and legal obligation to preserve and protect the sacred sites, and to uphold the civil and human rights of all Indigenous Peoples.
Learn more about SSP&RIT and sacred places by visiting
www.sspandrit.host56.com
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