Chronology of American Indian History

similar issues can now look to Ho-Chunk as a
model for success.”

2002

February

Colorado students form the Fightin’ Whites.
As an ironic protest against American Indian mas-
cots, a group of Indian and non-Indian students at
the University of Northern Colorado name their in-

tramural basketball team the Fightin’ Whites. They

wear shirts with a logo of their mascot—a white

man pictured in the style of 1950s advertising art.

After the national media takes notice of the Fightin’

Whites, the team will begin selling their T-shirts

over the Internet, with the proceeds going to the

nonprofit Fightin’ Whites Scholarship Fund. The

fund will pay out more than $100,000 in scholar-

ships to American Indian students.

February 1

The American Indian exhibits open during

the 2002 Winter Olympics.

In downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, a large exhibi-

tion titled “Discover Navajo: People of the Fourth

World” opens as an attraction for people attending

the Winter Olympics. Displayed in an 11,000-

square-foot tent, the exhibit tells the story of the

Navajo (Dineh) from their creation to the present

day. In a neighboring facility is a second Indian-

themed display, “Festival of Nations.” This exhibit

showcases the arts and culture of tribes throughout

the country. It features an entertainment stage, a

trading post, and a fine arts show displaying the

works of one hundred native artists. Both exhibi-

tions are sponsored by the Navajo tribe, which

invested $1.75 million in the ventures.

Spring

The Comanche establish horse training

program for youths.

With a grant from the Department of Housing

and Urban Development, Comanche leader Don

Parker begins a program to teach young tribe mem-

bers from public housing how to ride and train a

herd of wild mustangs. The great-grandson of the

famous Comanche Quanah Parker (see entry for

MAY 1875), he hopes to help reconnect the Coman-

che with their traditional culture while also keeping

them away from illegal drugs. As Parker explains,

“The Comanche people are reintroducing the horse

for the Indian country to share in using the spirit of

the horse to fight drugs on the streets.”

University of Northern Colorado student Solomon
Little Owl displays a “Fightin’ Whites” shirt adorned
with his intramural basketball team’s tongue-in-cheek
mascot. (AP/Wide World Photos)