Indigenous Peoples in Maine are Not Mascots | Maulian Dana | TEDxDirigo

In this personal talk, Maulian Dana shares how she channels her energy address the misuse of Indigenous people, stereotypes, and slurs in schools and sports.
Maulian Dana serves as the appointed Ambassador for the Penobscot Nation. She works as the government relations arm for the tribe in local, state, and federal arenas. Her focus in this work is advocacy for tribal sovereignty and self determination. Prior to this she has
served as an elected member of the Tribal Council. Maulian brings to her role a twenty year career in activism around changing stereotypical Indian sports teams mascots and replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. She is the proud mother of two daughters.
In this personal talk, Maulian Dana shares how she channels her energy address the misuse of Indigenous people, stereotypes, and slurs in schools and sports.
Maulian Dana serves as the appointed Ambassador for the Penobscot Nation. She works as the government relations arm for the tribe in local, state, and federal arenas. Her focus in this work is advocacy for tribal sovereignty and self determination. Prior to this she has
served as an elected member of the Tribal Council. Maulian brings to her role a twenty year career in activism around changing stereotypical Indian sports teams mascots and replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. She is the proud mother of two daughters. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@Nelz459]

Well done, Maulian. Bless you. A long time coming in Maine. Fight the good fight.

[@sadiemarisa8839]

It was so awesome to meet her when she visited my school.

[@perfectsims]

I couldn’t be more proud of you. And sending love to all nations and native peoples everywhere. 💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️🙏 My love should not be taking as weakness or forgiveness. You will pay what you owe

[@chimakalu41]

4:53 Amen. Indigenous people are still here.👍🏾❤️❤️

[@Angiesays13]

Miigwech!!❤️ Sadly our little Michigan town just went through this school mascot issue.😔 And it doesn't honor our Culture or our Heritage and doesn't make me proud as a Native America! It teaches stereotypes in institutions. And that is NOT ok! It's like playing re colonization with the conquerors all over again. Multi educational programs is a very much needed in all schools. This was a very powerful message!!❤️

[@richardpare3538]

It is pathetic. Keep this up, and pretty soon no one will even know that Native Americans exist.

[@breedermei3220]

If there is any schools named after native Americans they should change it as well. Cause if the school is named after a Native American, they’ll need a Native American mascot. If not, people like her will call out the school named after a Native American, for not having a mascot that represents it proper. Good luck and have fun with that in the future

[@breedermei3220]

@@richardpare3538 within 20 years, barely anyone is gonna know Native Americans exist at this rate. Over time textbooks might not mention they exist. When people wonder why they barely knew Native American existed, Maulian’s name will show up in articles.

[@crosstatt7441]

I appreciate you, Maulian.

[@veheeo720]

Thank You, YES if it is felt it should be HONORED !! 😁❤💥🌹🥨⚡🔥🎃💎🎩

[@JennyYasi]

This was wonderful and courageous.

[@amandaslamm5703]

Thank you Maulian

[@lorindafontaine-farris9712]

Thank you so much for sharing all your truth, your work, and your true being. I can so relate to the anxiety, the anxious little girl who remains, despite accomplishments, accolades, and power. I greatly appreciate you being raw and real. It is so helpful for women, especially, to share our real, raw truth!

[@paulawhite9922]

Thank you for your patient truthful teaching.

[@eileeninmaine333]

Thank you Maulian!

[@chimakalu41]

6:39 wow. Good.

[@chimakalu41]

9:52 fact.

[@CROSSTATT]

You're fantastic!

[@truthmatters4654]

Pirates aren't make believe things

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

I caught that mistake too.

[@crosstatt7441]

@@Warrior_Resisting_ColonialismYou’re right about that. Even in a venerable speech, mistakes can be made.

[@LifeonEarth-vc6mi]

Wow... when she talks about watching the movie, 'Peter Pan'...

[@brianthomason5022]

Do you do you realize really what people would think of your culture if there wasn't first things like Peter Pan to soften the blow? Though I have much respect for those people I'd have to say that American propaganda was teaching savages and that image long befoe disney portrait of such things.

[@jakubgruszczynski4069]

Go Redskins!!!!

[@BobTheBob647]

Right. Because changing the sports mascot will solve their problems.

[@BobTheBob647]

@UCDMhd58uQGOpyv42T3j7oOw Remember Rhodes Must Fall movement? They brought down statues of Rhodes around the world. Flash forward 5 years and I don’t think it did anything but cause more racial tension. If you want to continue fighting over symbols and totems then so be it. It won’t save any hungry children. It won’t lift anyone out of poverty. It won’t pay anyone’s bills. But hey, no concrete statue. So, yay?

[@CROSSTATT]

Also, there will be more knowledge about their tribal nations, languages, and seeing more of them in modern US society. Why not learning how to speak and understand their different languages? How about being able to tell the different tribes apart such how to tell a Penobscot and a Tlingit? Also, bringing forth more of them in modern day society? Oh, yes and "honoring them". I mean, honoring them by recognizing that they are still here. Honoring them by seeing that they get clean water. Honoring them by seeing what their wants, needs, and desires. No, I'm not of Native American ancestry. However, I'm an outsider that believes that they should be listened to.

[@kjames1414]

It does, acknowledge the fact that people who are not indeginous can say as their words, and keep nonsense. Understanding this, as a Navajo speaking English as my second language.

[@mrwonderful2142]

Lmfao my elementary school mascot was an indian

[@CROSSTATT]

That will be changing.

[@fawnmullinary4004]

Thank you, Maulian!