I have to admit I’ve never been to Stillwater’s somewhat famous Eskimo Joe’s, a college-town eatery best known for their burgers, their cheese-fries and, especially, their wholly damaging mascot, a caricature of a snowbound Indigenous man that has given many mindful Oklahomans second-thoughts about wearing that ever-popular shirt.
Since my article about the Indigenous slur that makes up the restaurant’s name was published last July, I’ve grown curious about the food and, as it turns out, so did fist-raising activist Tati Hayton, the filmmaker behind Dear Esk*mo Joe’s, We Are Not Your Mascots as well as the mastermind behind the trouble-causing petition asking Joe’s to change their name.