Marysville School District to re-consider “Tomahawk” mascot

Totems and tomahawks are both Native American symbols. They’re also school mascots in the greater Seattle area.

Once again, the issue arises: Are the mascots biased or derogatory and should school districts remove them as school symbols?

The Marysville School District is among those planning to discuss the issue. The mascot at Marysville-Pilchuck High School is the “Tomahawks.”

The issue comes up, again, because the state Board of Education recently passed a resolution encouraging local districts to remove mascots that might have an “adverse affect on Washington students.”

The resolution does not require districts to change Native American mascots.

“The board left that door open, so I think part of the role that we play as a district is educating the community about why this might be offensive and why the state board would have passed such a resolution,” said Gail Miller, assistant superintendent with Marysville Schools.

In the past, students at Marysville-Pilchuck High have done the “Tomahawk Chop” during basketball and football games, something fans of other sports teams have done around the country.

“I did some checking to see if our students are doing that and the people who attend those games say they haven’t seen that for awhile,” said Miller.

In the Bellevue School District, the longtime Sammamish High School mascot is the “Totems.”

The district says there have been no recent complaints about that mascot, perhaps because it’s a Native American symbol rather than a human characterization. But a district spokeswoman is double-checking to see if the State Board of Education resolution might prompt a discussion in Bellevue.

Other schools, including Issaquah High and West Seattle High have abandoned their Native American mascots. Miller thinks the experience of other districts could be a factor in any decision to drop a mascot.

“I think so and there have been conversations in other communities where they have not,” said Miller.

She said she expects the Marysville School Board will want to take up the issue shortly.