MUSCATINE, Iowa–At the end of the Muscatine Fourth of July parade, a pair of parade entrants depicted a Native American woman with her hands tied led by a woman on horseback. Both women appeared white.
Following a short statement issued by the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on July 5, Muscatine Mayor and Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Brad Bark read an apology letter at the July 5 Muscatine City Council meeting. In his letter, Bark identified the entrants as unaffiliated individuals. “This parade entrant was made up of a group of individuals not representing any group, business, or organization within our community,” he asserted.
After sharing the Chamber’s disgust with the display, he apologized for the distress the entry caused parade viewers in person and remotely: “We understand that this display was hurtful to many people. I’ve heard from many of them, and I am so sorry to learn of their pain.”
As he drew his letter to a close, Bark took responsibility, as a representative of the Chamber and City, for the situation and for preventing culturally disrespectful entries in the future. “Regardless of how this happened and the insensitive choices made by two individual parade participants, I acknowledge that as the parade organizers, we bear significant accountability for what happened and for making sure it never happens again.” He continued, “No words will fix what has already been done; all we can do now is not only apologize and learn but to do better and teach others also.”
During the citizens’ speak portion of the meeting, Muscatine resident Kelcey Brackett and Iowa City resident Daniel Valasquez read a letter from the Great Plains Action Society, a non-profit organization advocating for Native Americans in Iowa and the Midwest. In the letter, the Society spoke out against the parade entry, describing it as a, “racist act of colonial violence that was originally condoned by the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.” The Society elaborated on the concerns they saw with the entry, including individuals playing Indian (when people who are not Native Americans portray them, incorporating inaccurate depictions), Pretendianism (when a person who is not a Native American claims Native American heritage), whitewashing true Native American history and present-day issues, and continuing harmful and disturbing stereotypes surrounding Native Americans.
Founder and Director of the Great Plains Action Society Sikowis Nobiss speaking at the July 6 Muscatine City Council Meeting. Photo via the City of Muscatine YouTube Chanel.
The Society also outlined a, “plan of healing and justice in Muscatine,” with specific actions the City and Chamber could take to apologize and prevent future incidents. They included issuing a more thoughtful apology; meeting with indigenous people in Iowa; turning Facebook commenting back on for their original parade statement; investigating how the parade entry got approval and why no one stoped it; educating Chamber and City staff about Native American history and current issues; passing a city resolution denouncing any businesses, organizations, or individuals that culturally appropriate Native American cultures; consulting Native Americans about events that include Native Americans; providing more resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and making reparations by donating to Native American organizations, assisting Native American business owners, or holding an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration led by Native Americans; making a proclaimation for National Indiginous Peoples Day and the Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native American Women and Girls; promoting education about missing and murdered Native American Women and Girls and possibly attending the Relatives PowWow in Sioux City; and providing a timeline for addressing the actions they Society provided.
Following the letter reading, several representatives from the Great Plains Action Society and others from across the state and region spoke in person and via Go to Meeting about how the parade entry affected them and encouraged the City and Chamber to work with the Society to make amends. Founder and Director of the Great Plains Action Society Sikowis Nobiss spoke, urging the Chamber and City to collaborate with the Society for more positive outcomes. “It’s your job as officials of this city and of the Chamber of Commerce that things like this don’t become public spectacles and create very deep harm,” she said. “I know to most of you here that this might not be something that seems like a very big deal, but to folks like us that live with the colonial violence perpetuated by 500 years of genocide and colonization, this was a very shocking and disturbing scene to look at.”
She concluded, “I really, really want to work with you so that you can listen to us and hear what we have to say; please, take action on those steps that we put together.”
At the end of the citizens’ speaks portion, Bark seemed receptive to further work with the Great Plains Action Society. He directly addressed one member, saying, “Christine, we’ll be meeting.”
