October 15, 2010

Trans-Bridge Lines' Chief Hi-Yo

Adrienne Keene notes the following stereotypical figure in her Native Appropriations blog:

Trans-Bridge Bus Lines Mascot, "Hi-Yo"Trans-Bridge Lines and Trans-Bridge Tours Fun Fact

If you have ever driven behind a Trans-Bridge Lines' bus, then you must have seen painted on the rear window, a picture of HI-YO in all his splendor. HI-YO, an Indian Chief, has been adopted as the mascot of Trans-Bridge Lines. He is also the Mascot of the Fugowees Jazz Club founded in 1962, who gave Trans-Bridge permission to use Hi-Yo over 25 years ago. And so it is said, Trans-Bridge drivers are never lost, as long as they have Chief HI-YO to guide them.
As Adrienne put it, Chief Hi-Yo has the Indian's "natural and expert abilities of navigation and tracking." She then rewrote the "Fun Fact" as follows:If you have ever driven behind a Trans-Bridge Lines' bus, then you must have seen painted on the rear window, a picture of a hurtful, stereotypical "Indian Chief" who we have named "Hi-Yo," because we think that all Indians have strange, nonsensical, syllabic names. HI-YO has been adopted as the mascot of Trans-Bridge Lines, because we all know that Indians make great mascots, since they aren't real people, don't exist anymore, and are just like animals. He is also the Mascot of the Fugowees Jazz Club founded in 1962, who are a misogynist and racist club, but don't worry, they gave us permission to use the image (though we didn't think to talk to any actual Indians, lol!). And so it is said, Trans-Bridge drivers are never lost, as long as they can look through their rear-view mirror and see this awesome image that forces all drivers on the road to forget that Indians actually exist, and think of them only as cartoons and mascots!Comment:  Hi-Yo also has a big nose. And the name may come from the Lone Ranger's call to his horse Silver. Or from Ed McMahon's call to Johnny Carson.

For more on the subject, see Indian Trails Bus Line and Hiawatha Trains and Logo.

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