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TechnographAmerican Indian denounces University's Chief decision
By Erika Strebel
Posted: 3/12/07 Section: News
Dr. David A. Yeagley is pro-Chief and an American Indian. His great-great grandfather was a Comanche warrior.
When he heard the news that Dan Maloney performed his final dance as the Chief, Yeagley said he was disappointed.
"I felt it was a mistake - that the University had caved in," he said. "It was weak, like somebody had given up."
He also wrote an article about the retirement of the Chief entitled "Another Indian Gone" on his Web site, www.badeagle.com. Yeagley resides in Oklahoma City, where he is a composer and freelance journalist.
Yeagley fully supports the use of American Indian mascots to represent athletic teams.
Richard Poe, colleague of Yeagley as well as New York Times best-selling author, said Yeagley is one of the strongest, influential voices on the American Indian mascot debate.
"For the first time, he has raised the question: is it something Indians want or whether white liberals are just using them as pawns," Poe said.
Yeagley said he had no objection to Maloney's half-time performances. He encourages the practice.
"It's not the rendition of an authentic war dance, it's not intended to be that," Yeagley said. "It's a gesture of the pride and the strength of the Indian warrior image. It celebrates power, rigor, vigor - the power of bravery and courage. Indians share the honor of representing that."
He said he blames University administration for giving in to the NCAA demands.
"It's the administration that doesn't want to deal with the issue," he said. "If they really cared, they would uphold the Indian warrior image," Yeagley said.
He also said that NCAA has no authority to control school mascots. He researched the origins of the NCAA and found no information about the organization that merited official authority.
"Athletics has nothing to do with politics," he said. "The NCAA is making it into a political showdown."
Yeagley said that mascots preserve the presence of American Indians in American society and serve as a visual reminder of their place in American history.
When he heard the news that Dan Maloney performed his final dance as the Chief, Yeagley said he was disappointed.
"I felt it was a mistake - that the University had caved in," he said. "It was weak, like somebody had given up."
He also wrote an article about the retirement of the Chief entitled "Another Indian Gone" on his Web site, www.badeagle.com. Yeagley resides in Oklahoma City, where he is a composer and freelance journalist.
Yeagley fully supports the use of American Indian mascots to represent athletic teams.
Richard Poe, colleague of Yeagley as well as New York Times best-selling author, said Yeagley is one of the strongest, influential voices on the American Indian mascot debate.
"For the first time, he has raised the question: is it something Indians want or whether white liberals are just using them as pawns," Poe said.
Yeagley said he had no objection to Maloney's half-time performances. He encourages the practice.
"It's not the rendition of an authentic war dance, it's not intended to be that," Yeagley said. "It's a gesture of the pride and the strength of the Indian warrior image. It celebrates power, rigor, vigor - the power of bravery and courage. Indians share the honor of representing that."
He said he blames University administration for giving in to the NCAA demands.
"It's the administration that doesn't want to deal with the issue," he said. "If they really cared, they would uphold the Indian warrior image," Yeagley said.
He also said that NCAA has no authority to control school mascots. He researched the origins of the NCAA and found no information about the organization that merited official authority.
"Athletics has nothing to do with politics," he said. "The NCAA is making it into a political showdown."
Yeagley said that mascots preserve the presence of American Indians in American society and serve as a visual reminder of their place in American history.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
Johnny FactChecker
posted 3/12/07 @ 1:45 AM CST
Here's a quote from the web-site of the "source" of this story, Mr. Yeagley:
"There will never be a black president. There will never be a brown president. (Continued…)
upbeatdad
RegularGuy
posted 3/12/07 @ 2:57 AM CST
To Johnny FactChecker:
You need to change your name to 'Johnny Out-Of-Context'. Yeagley is only acknowledging what ultra-liberals, radical feminists, and the PC-crowd refuse to acknowledge. (Continued…)
Jimmy Yellowhorse
posted 3/12/07 @ 10:32 AM CST
OUOTE: "Richard Poe, colleague of Yeagley as well as New York Times best-selling author, said Yeagley is one of the strongest, influential voices on the American Indian mascot debate. (Continued…)
David Velarde Jr.
posted 3/12/07 @ 10:33 AM CST
David A Yeagley is a bozo and if the term enemy scout comes to mind then it's apt. Native Americans throughout our history have had their leaders killed by their own people and Mr. (Continued…)
glenda deer
posted 3/12/07 @ 12:20 PM CST
more ramblings from idiot David Yeagley...? If someone punched ya in the nose, and it bled. You wouldn't be Indian anymore, Yeagley...Just a thought.. (Continued…)
Itazurakko!
posted 3/12/07 @ 1:17 PM CST
Wow.
All I can say is, do a google search on this guy. Make sure you include "groups," to get the various USENET archive content.
He's quite a character, to put it mildly. (Continued…)
Lisa Boucher
posted 3/12/07 @ 3:31 PM CST
Wow, you guys gave this doofus press? Have you even looked at his site?
I can't wait to see whose lunatic ramblings you'll print next. Maybe the Time Cube guy should get wider coverage!
StopYourCrying
posted 3/12/07 @ 11:48 PM CST
You guys are nothing but a bunch of ultra-liberal hippies. I commend Yeagly and his comments, and they are welcome in my eyes. The whole Chief debate is nothing but a bunch of ultra-liberals crying about issues that doesn't even affect them personally. (Continued…)
Locklear
posted 3/13/07 @ 8:51 AM CST
This guys is not even really Native. He is a total idiot and knows nothing about Native American Dance and Culture. As others have said - this guys is nuts and not to be trusted at all. (Continued…)
David Yeagley
posted 3/13/07 @ 3:53 PM CST
Donna, your information is false. I don't know where exactly you obtained it, but there has been much libel posted on me, and I assume that is your source. (Continued…)
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