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FLORIDA - The American Indian Movement of Florida has filed state and federal civil rights complaints against the Chasco Fiesta of New Port Richey, FL citing the festivals disgraceful, shameful and racist depiction of American Indian culture and spirituality in the festival and in particular in the Pageant in which Indian people are referred to as "savages" (a depiction included on the Chasco Festival web site) and the spirituality as "heathen". Additionally Florida state statutes regarding intolerance towards or creating hostility towards religions were also cited in the complaints filed.

The Chasco festival centers around the mythical "Queen Chasco" of the Calusa. The Calusa were decimated by the genocidal invasions of Colonialist conquistadors, principally Hernando De Soto. 'Queen Calusa" is venerated because she abandoned her "savage heathen" ways and guided the colonialist invaders in their quest to commit genocide and steal from the Indigenous peoples. Throughout the pageant Indian peoples are referred to as savages and heathen and the main theme is the greater value of the dominant society over the Indigenous culture and the fortitude of Queen Calusa in making the choice.

There is no "Sambo" Festival, no "Frito Bandito" festival. Yet as we move into the 21st century such racist depictions of Indigenous peoples and cultures are accepted and glorified.

Florida AIM has patiently waited for five years for substantive change to occur. There has been no substantive change and our patience is at an end. We now file these complaints as a symbolic shot across the bow of the Chasco organizers. Florida AIM always prefers the dialogue of cooperation to the rhetoric of confrontation. But we can no longer tolerate or allow the Chaso Fiasco to continue its degradation and trivialization of Indigenous culture and spirituality in a circus like atmosphere. We call upon the Chasco Committee to make change or suffer the consequences.