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The American Indian Movement of Florida (Florida AIM) welcomes you and hopes that you have a beneficial time at this years Chasco Fiesta pow-wow.

As you may have heard the American Indian Movement objects to the Chasco Fiesta. The reasons are as follows

· The fiesta is based on a 1922 novella/play by Gerben Devries. The play describes Indigenous peoples as "heathens", "savages", "Barbarians" and attributes human sacrifice as a significant part of traditional Indigenous culture. The theme of Chasco, Queen of the Calusa's is that only through the Christianity way and the way of the dominant society can Indian people lead and find redemption. This is shown by the Calusa spiritual leader renouncing his previously "heathen barbaric" ways for the light of Christianity way. Further two non-Indian people-including Queen Chasco are chosen to be the new leaders of this band of Calusa because they are not 'heathen" savages. While there is nothing wrong with practicing Christianity way this kind of theme comes from its racist era of 1922, and has no place in twenty-first century America. It is offensive. Think of your relatives' back home. Are those who practice the traditional ways less worthy than those who practice the Christianity way. Think of the pain of the assimilationist practices upon your families. Is this something, and a way to celebrate? We hope that you agree this is not a good thing to be celebrating

· This fiesta encourages non-Indian people to "play Indian" for an entire week. To challenge the use of Indigenous peoples, spirituality and symbols among sports teams and not challenge their use for a week for a festival celebrating genocide (that's what the Spanish did) and assimilation would be hypocritical at best.

· For five years Florida AIM has quietly and respectfully asked the organizers of Chasco to make changes. They did ensure this pow-wow was run by an Indigenous person. And we are thankful that they contracted with Mr. Bobby Henry, a respected Seminole person to organize this event. However they have not made any other real changes to this offensive pageant.

· Florida AIM this year has targeted sponsors of the event, the offensive play, the parade and other events Chasco participates in as a method to force change.

· Florida AIM has not, and will not protest this pow-wow due to the fact that the pagent organizers are making a concerted effort to play Indian against Indian. AIM is being called the bad Indians, the renegades-while they are portraying the dancers, vendors, and organizers of the pow-wow as fully endorsing the festival-including the portrayl of traditional Indigenous peoples as heathen, barbarian, savages-and therefore the good Indians. We realize many of you are unaware of the legend of Chasco or the theme of this festival.

We encourage you to either visit our web site and check out the Chasco Novel. If you can not visit the web site write us at American Indian Movement of Florida Aaron Two Elk/David Goyette Memorial State Office 136 4th Street N Suite 308 Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 and we will gladly send you a copy of the real meaning behind this festival.

We ask all of you to read what you are here celebrating. We believe you will find this celebration as in need of change as we do. And we ask that you refuse to further participate and support this celebration until they make substantial changes.

Thank You.