THE NEWS CHICK BLOG

Ban of Indian mascots is ‘disrespectful’

May 23, 2012, 5:11 PM | Updated: May 24, 2012, 6:00 pm

It’s another form of disrespect.

Tribes in Oregon aren’t offended with schools using “Braves” “Warriors” and “Indians” as mascots. They are upset that state school leaders have voted to eliminate all Native mascots in public schools.

“It’s easier to ban Native American images than it is to deal with the real issue,” says Shiobhan Taylor, a spokesperson for Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Last week, on a 5-1 vote, the Oregon Board of Education banned public schools from using American Indian names and mascots for their athletic teams, out of a concern they disparage native people.

About a dozen Oregon schools have to change their names, and they will get no funding to make the change. The schools are threatened with losing state funds if they don’t change mascots and images by 2017.

Mohawk

AP file photo of the Mohawk High School girls basketball team in Marcola, Oregon

Washington hasn’t made a state-wide decision on Native American names. The discussion comes up frequently in schools districts across the United States. The National Congress of American Indians estimates that there are fewer than 1,000 such mascots left nationwide.

“The Board of Education needs to put their energy and their attention and their talent into making sure that the curriculum our children have in our school system teaches the accurate story of Oregon’s tribes. Our children unfortunately just don’t get that.”

Most of what students learn about Indigenous people begins and ends with the Plains Indians. They’re an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.

There are nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon and 27 in Washington.

What do Oregon students know about the Umpqua, Klamath, or Molala tribes? Do Washington students understand who the Snoqualmie, Suquamish and other Northwest Indians were and are?

“Unless the teacher has the time – which God knows their schedules are so booked – and the resources to do their own research, there’s no curriculum that the school system is providing to them,” says Taylor. “We would honored and excited to teach students about our culture and that we are still a part of the community. We didn’t go anywhere.”

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde hope state school leaders will reconsider their decision. They’d prefer working with schools to come up with a respectful portrayal of a mascot.

“We certainly wouldn’t want caricatures, we wouldn’t want disrespectful things like the tomahawk chop or a war dance, those would not be respectful, nor are they appropriate to Native American culture,” she says.

Taylor says she’s never been personally offended by the look of an Oregon school mascot.

By LINDA THOMAS

The News Chick Blog

The wife of Seattle attorney Danford Grant moved his car away from one of the alleged crime scenes ...

No Author

Equal justice for Seattle lawyer accused of several rapes?

Has accused serial rapist Danford Grant gotten preferential treatment because both he and his wife are Seattle attorneys?

12 years ago

The Seattle-based I Can Has Cheezburger network now includes 60 humor sites. Many of their 90 emplo...

No Author

Seattle humor network, built with funny cat pictures, becomes a reality TV show

A small Internet empire with a funny name has billions of page views on its network of 60 humor websites based in Seattle. Now, I Can Has Cheezburger has a reality TV show too.

12 years ago

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney spent a combined $30.33 every second this election cycle. Wa...

No Author

Democracy and dollar signs – 2012 campaign spending

Washington initiative campaigns spent $34 million trying to win your vote, while President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney spent a combined $30.33 every second this election cycle.

12 years ago

Chef Tom Douglas says Seattle’s restaurants are ‘a little homemade’ compared with...

No Author

Chef Tom Douglas says ‘Seattle is a funny restaurant town’

Chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas, with 13 Seattle restaurants and more on the way, says Seattle is a "funny restaurant town."

12 years ago

Investigation continues into why a commander of the Bremerton-based Stennis carrier group was remov...

No Author

New ‘crazy’ conspiracy theory on Stennis Rear Admiral

The Pentagon shoots down theories about why the commander of the USS Stennis Carrier Group was removed from duty and sent back to the homeport in Bremerton.

12 years ago

Seattle photographer Paul Souders captures an adult polar bear up close in Hudson Bay in Churchill,...

No Author

Seattle photographer comes face to face with a polar bear

A wildlife photographer, who lives in Ballard, has taken thousands of stunning shots. None put him on "a razor's edge" more than a series of photos swimming with a polar bear.

12 years ago

Ban of Indian mascots is ‘disrespectful’