It is wholly satisfying to know that so many Chicagoans, like Americans across the land, cherish warm feelings about the YMCA Indian Guide and Princesses programs (“YMCA program celebrated Native Americans,” “Guides, Princesses” and “YMCA and PC,” Voice of the people, Oct. 30).
The programs have a rich history going back more than 75 years and have created close bonds of friendship between millions of parents and their children.
In contrast to the alarmist headline to your front-page, Oct. 19 article, “The YMCA is ending a popular Indian-themed program to avoid perpetuating stereotypes,” these parent-child programs remain–and will work their same magic in the century to come. But, like all YMCA programs, they evolve.
In the winter 2000-2001, a task force of YMCA CEOs and Indian Guide volunteers from around the country judged that in the 21st Century, we could not consider it respectful to appropriate the guise, spiritual traditions and rituals of another people.
We understand that participants believe they were always respectful.
Our experience has taught us that it is not always possible to tell how the most earnest attempts at respect may be perceived by another culture.
Although YMCA of the USA issued frequent reminders over the years, we continued to hear accounts of YMCAs falling back into misconceptions and Hollywood stereotyping of Native Americans.
But the point is that to appropriate another people’s names, guise and rituals is not in keeping with the mission, values and diversity initiatives of this 150-year-old organization devoted to “caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.”
The core or our parent-child programs has always been about the relationships between parent and child. These programs can continue to thrive and develop and offer a new generation a great opportunity for growth and relationships without utilizing Native American themes and symbols.
Y Guides and Y Princesses remain as interim names. YMCA of the USA has recommended their use until new materials are offered to local YMCAs in 2003.
In the final analysis, those local Ys, all of them independent associations, make their own choices of programs.
This national resource organization believes they will choose an evolved set of programs that express our continued commitment to families–programs that remain entirely familiar, entirely family-friendly and in keeping with today’s understanding of American history, cultural diversity and American society in the 21st Century.
