"While I have the utmost respect for Dr. Madsen and I do see him as one of the intellectual leaders of this university I must respond to his comments in the recent Spectator. The sort of opinion that he has forwarded in the mascot issue is one that I fear too many people continue to foster.

The misguided idea that an Indian mascot is neither insensitive nor misguided and is intended to be respectful rests solidly on the sort of power and privilege that our violent colonial past assumes to be our right. That is, to claim the names and images of the people who suffered, and continue to suffer so grievously, is yet another instance of our complete misunderstanding of the cultures we abused.

While Dr. Madsen seems to be aware of Native American clothing, to some extent, he completely misses the point of Northwest Coast names. Most of us reared in the western tradition of property understand that I cannot claim Dr. Madsen's house, his car or his family simply because I think it would honor him.

To the People of the Northwest, as in many other places, names are property, and are sacred trusts to pass along according to inherited rights. To imply that the Chieftain stands for Chief Sealth, and war whoops and all, is an honor, is certainly far from the dignity and protocol that a Northwest Chief deserves."

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Ted Fortier: Chieftain mascot offensive, inappropriate (The Spectator 12/1)