Native American mascots challenged in Washington
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SEATTLE (AP) — The state Board of Education is making another attempt at encouraging Washington schools to replace their Native American mascots.
In the past decade, about 10 schools have given up their Indian mascots. But another 50, including tribal schools, are holding fast to their nicknames as warriors, braves, redskins and red devils.
The state board passed a resolution on Wednesday urging districts to stop using Native American mascots, but as board spokesman Aaron Wyatt acknowledges, it does not have the authority to mandate this change.
There are no consequences for schools that do not voluntarily choose a new mascot, Wyatt said Friday.
Oregon's state Board of Education voted in May to ban Native American mascots, nicknames and logos. Schools in that state have five years to comply. Eight Oregon high schools are affected.
Washington's resolution, which is similar to resolution passed by the board in 1993, was inspired by research by the American Psychological Association citing the adverse effects of Native American mascots on students.
The resolution also mentions the widening achievement gap between Native American and other students and the call by a number of national organizations and tribes for this change.
"We are in the business of educating students," Board member Bernal Baca said in a statement. "We need to remove any barrier that will impede student success."
Marcus Morgan, superintendent of the Reardan-Edwall School District near Spokane, said the issued hadn't been raised during his tenure with the school district but was open to the idea of discussing now.
All of Reardan's sports teams are the Indians and about a quarter of the district population are Native American or Alaskan Native students.
"I think it's maybe time to ask the questions," Morgan said Friday.
He said he would probably make some calls to tribal leaders as well as the school board and other community leaders to see if this is an issue the community wants to tackle.
Reardan schools have a long tradition of Native American students, as well as having enthusiastic sports fans, Morgan said. He doesn't think the Indian mascot has been seen as derogatory, but he added that the issue deserved more research.
Other Washington communities have had acrimonious battles over retiring a Native American mascot, including some districts close to Reardan. The Colville Indians asked the Colville High School Indians to find a new name in 1997, but they're still the Indians today.
Ten schools have changed their names in the past decade, including Eatonville Middle School, which went from the Warriors to the Eagles; Eisenhower Middle School in Everett, which went from the Warriors to the Patriots and Issaquah High School, which changed from the Indians to the Eagles.
About 10 tribal schools or those on Washington reservations also have Native American mascots, but the majority of schools in the state with Indian mascots are part of their community's long-standing history.
In the past decade, about 10 schools have given up their Indian mascots. But another 50, including tribal schools, are holding fast to their nicknames as warriors, braves, redskins and red devils.
The state board passed a resolution on Wednesday urging districts to stop using Native American mascots, but as board spokesman Aaron Wyatt acknowledges, it does not have the authority to mandate this change.
There are no consequences for schools that do not voluntarily choose a new mascot, Wyatt said Friday.
Oregon's state Board of Education voted in May to ban Native American mascots, nicknames and logos. Schools in that state have five years to comply. Eight Oregon high schools are affected.
Washington's resolution, which is similar to resolution passed by the board in 1993, was inspired by research by the American Psychological Association citing the adverse effects of Native American mascots on students.
The resolution also mentions the widening achievement gap between Native American and other students and the call by a number of national organizations and tribes for this change.
"We are in the business of educating students," Board member Bernal Baca said in a statement. "We need to remove any barrier that will impede student success."
Marcus Morgan, superintendent of the Reardan-Edwall School District near Spokane, said the issued hadn't been raised during his tenure with the school district but was open to the idea of discussing now.
All of Reardan's sports teams are the Indians and about a quarter of the district population are Native American or Alaskan Native students.
"I think it's maybe time to ask the questions," Morgan said Friday.
He said he would probably make some calls to tribal leaders as well as the school board and other community leaders to see if this is an issue the community wants to tackle.
Reardan schools have a long tradition of Native American students, as well as having enthusiastic sports fans, Morgan said. He doesn't think the Indian mascot has been seen as derogatory, but he added that the issue deserved more research.
Other Washington communities have had acrimonious battles over retiring a Native American mascot, including some districts close to Reardan. The Colville Indians asked the Colville High School Indians to find a new name in 1997, but they're still the Indians today.
Ten schools have changed their names in the past decade, including Eatonville Middle School, which went from the Warriors to the Eagles; Eisenhower Middle School in Everett, which went from the Warriors to the Patriots and Issaquah High School, which changed from the Indians to the Eagles.
About 10 tribal schools or those on Washington reservations also have Native American mascots, but the majority of schools in the state with Indian mascots are part of their community's long-standing history.
This is a great article that I hope continues to spur good discussion about this topic. I, for one, support banning the practice of using Native Americans as a mascot unless express written consent is obtained from the specific tribe in question (ie- FSU Seminoles and Utah Utes). I truly believe that this issue is one that goes against the Golden Rule. Think about it, wouldnât teams called the Washington Whiteskins , Boston Black People, or Memphis Mexicans be offensive? Using an ethnic group as your teamâs icon has an objectifying effect and reduces the ethnic group in question to cartoonish caricatures. The only way that this is acceptable is if the group in question expressly consents to the practice or originated the mascot themselves.
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Here is an interesting article that delves into this issue a little further if anyone is interested: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/12057/time-to-rethink-native-american-imagery
The Washington State Ferry system names the ferries after local tribes. Please "suggest" they re-name all the ferries.
 It is a tribute to the American Indian to have sport teams named after the American Indians. I was proud of Jim Thorpe an American indian who made himself an Icon in the Olympics.
 I am of Indian Heritage and proud of those teams who represent the Indians, The Chiefs and others who have given tribute.
 The Board of Education is a sloven group of losers that need to be disbanded and shown the door.
How do you feel about the term "Redskins"? I am of mixed Mexican and Comanche heritage and I find the practice offensive. I also have a problem with it because no other ethnic group is used as mascots as widely as Natives are. I am curious to hear what your thoughts are on this.Â
 @Cliff Trudeau Definitely will agree with this statement. There is nothing derogatory about this, it is a tribute and nothing more. Thanks Cliff
I have to respectfully disagree with you. I don't think that it can be called a tribute because the people in question had nothing to do with the decision of being used as a mascot. It would be different if the schools went to the Native community and asked for their input, but that doesn't happen. It's just a group of non-Natives who decide to take another people's heritage and imagery and do with it as they please without the input or consent of the people in question.
the tribes are not the ones making an issue out of this .its one of the idiots of the school board!!!
 @fishlady Well, sure....they are seated front row on the ship of fools. Its makes them feel soooooo good to be good.
For the record I am politically INCORRECT and all those left wing nutjobs and bolts can take that and shove it up their.....bleeding heart nose.
 @alildifferent I sure ain't left wing, but I'm all for natives doing what they can to save their traditions and cultures while seeing their rights honored. So for the record then; how's about you tell me your full name and the actual product or service that you hate most on this world, and I'll form a non profit and make you pay some of my taxes and costs so I can put out that product you hate with your name on it and not give you one damn thing in exchange?
This isn't anything new. I believe PETA and the ACLU are representing various species of animals in court to have the mascots changed for several teams across the nation. Â The bird community is urging the NFL and MLB to force the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Toronto Blue Jays, etc, to change their names to inanimate objects such as the Baltimore Couches or the Philadelphia Sandwiches. Â Birds across the nation plan a peaceful anit-flying protest until action is taken. Â Canines and Reptiles are also involved.
It seems to me that there are a lot of self-loathing knee-jerk liberals in our school systems. If the tribes are going to use the names, why bother? Or is it a grand plan to make "redskin" just as "offensive" as the "n" word? Tradition (a loathsome word to the easily offended) is not lightly trifled with.
Of course, shooting for equality in educational outcome is something that school boards SHOULD work on and is a noble goal indeed!
But the solution is NOT to stop calling a team mascot by a politically correct name.
 @nkroadcaptain I think you're mistaking respecting others and loathing yourself. What's the harm in changing the names? What grand tradition are we endangering here? They're just HS Mascots! What High Schooler in the world is going to care if their mascot gets changed? We'd certainly never allow the Tacoma Jews, or the Puyallup Japs, and yet for some reason calling a team the Redskins isn't offensive?I get that it's not offensive to you personally, but you've never had to put yourself in the shoes of Indians who see their race and cultures getting treated as a caricature or a joke.
 @nkroadcaptain Oh, yeah. Solution time. This would be nowhere near the issue it is if corporations weren't being allowed to stomp on the rights of natives. This would likewise be a very small issue if schoolkids and personnel that take on the artificial persona actually knew anything about the local tribes as PEOPLE other than what trickles out of the history books or their current occupations.
 @nkroadcaptain Uh, the historical and current use of the insult redskin is very much the same derogatory accusation as the insult nigger.
 @FreeCoffeeNow!  @nkroadcaptain Yes, redskin is insulting.  I can see a case for that.Â
People gotta get with what's real for Native Americans who started this issue because their culture is being crushed by economic exploitation from outside their culture base and long tradition. While on some PC issues I don't mind raining hell down, but this isn't one of them. Case in point. This whole national movement started with Natives looking at the Washington Redskins making billions they would never see, and would never be able to participate in from their birthplace on a reservation, none of which had casinos at that time. They saw enforced poverty on themselves and celebrated exploitation sanctioned by our people and government who tell them that all men are created equal, that they will be treated with equality under our law, and have all the benefits of due process. They reacted, and THIS is the logical result today. Our nation is very particular about who owns what name for what, as it must be. These CITIZENS have their rights too. You want me to take YOUR name and put it on a product that's directly detrimental to your life and market it nationally? As a non profit, where you also pay my losses and some of my operating costs while relieving me of my tax burden? That's the issue here. Just a clue for those that still don't get it. Do you think there would be a Garfield name on a public school if that President had been known to be against it? Think on that while you rip Reardan for finding out the facts from the only opinions that matter in our local context. While I can claim rightful kinship with one of the nations and put totem and artifacts around my house if I want, that still gives me nothing but the names in my own bloodline in the eyes of that nation. With native tribes, the routine is that you give before you receive, not depend on someone being decent and altruistic in the first place.
 @FreeCoffeeNow! "own a name"? Wasn't it a native american, who said who can own the land, the air the water etc, much less a name. Using a native name isn't crushing the culture, if anything its emphasizing it.  I'm also not sure how the washington redskins for instance could be exploiting the natives. Its simply using a name, one that is actually considered derogatory. I understand what you are saying but it seems that they are making a lot more out of this than there really is.
School mascots, or so I thought, were used to reflect pride, strength, and resolve. Any Native American would be a fool to think otherwise. Take these mascot names away, what's left? The only legacy they're known for today are casinos, smoke shops, firework stands, and plugging up the Columbia with fishing nets from Portland to Biggs.
 @Evergreen What other avenues should those that live on reservations pursue, and who other than you gets to make that choice for them? Right now , there's a topic in the national news where the Navajos are saying the Atlanta Braves are so uneducated in what a brave is supposed to be that it's laughable in that they are trying to implement a gimmick called the tomahawk chop.  A brave is a caretaker of a tribe, that may never pick up a weapon in life. It reduces the concept of what a brave really is in the eyes of the public, and helps destroy native culture.Â
And lets just give everyone a trophy for showing up. Don't keep score, everyone is a winner.
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What are we teaching our kids using this mentality? Once they graduate high school/college, the world is a very different place. Teach them there are winners and losers.
Just the grievance industry striking again. The infuriating part about this is submission of the Board. Time to kick them all off and appoint new members who have their heads on straight.
 @LockesChild So...you have no problem with "redskins" as a team name - in spite of the fact that the word is well recognized as as much a racial insult as the "n" word is? Assuming that you DO see the "n" word as an insult...
 @OrcasThunder  @LockesChild   RG3 + Washington Redskins.Go skins !!  lol lol !
We had better not use any animal mascots either or the society for the prevention of cruilty to animals will file a complaint to the state dept of education
As a person of Irish descent, it's never even occurred to me to be offended by Notre Dame's nickname. When someone starts in about "The Fighting Irish" being offensive to European-Americans, then maybe I'll jump on board with this PC crap.
"In the past decade, about 10 schools have given up their Indian mascots. But another 50, including tribal schools, are holding fast to their nicknames as warriors, braves, redskins and red devils."
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Says it all.....
I was a Bethel Brave in high school. Never thought or heard of it as an issue before.
 @Tattooed_Angel Other than for PC idiots, it isn't an issue. Think of them like cockroaches--just have to keep cleaning and spraying to get rid of them
This comment has been deleted
 @Fiery Girl flagged for offensiveness. No flag for stupidity unfortunately
What a waste of time and money. Â What the hell is wrong with words like Brave, Indian and Warrior? Â They instill respectful thoughts in me when I hear them. Â I can't believe that some tribes have asked them to be banned. Â Maybe they are looking for a royalty or something.
I suggest the Board of Education focus on getting the pedophiles out of the school system, not just put on "paid adminstrative leave", then shuffled to the next school district. Is this mascot deal just a distraction from their shortcomings?
American Indians should be prideful of their heritage. The native Americans I know personally are VERY prideful and respectful people. They also have a keen and intelligent sense of humor. Is this mascot name issue really that provocative?
 @Rick4001CS Only to the permanently outraged over anything that the USA has done. Normal people don't care.
This is BEYOND stupid! You can never make everyone happy! This is total PC crap!!!! Don't like it? Live with it!Â
The kids are only affected by some of these things because the adults make an issue out of it. We are teaching one generation after the next to be intolerant of just about everything. These mascots have gone through generations without any problems long before political correctness and why make an issue out of it
now? If these kids are falling behind in school perhaps it's time to take a good look inside the classroom to
find out what's really going on.
Being 1/2 Native American myself while understanding everyone is affected in different ways, I still have never found NA mascot names to be derogatory or offensive to me. To me, there are much bigger things to worry about.
 @DMT Ditto.
 @SeattleJoe I mean, really...if the names were derogatory and cruel, or if they were made to make fun of us, then yes, I would have something to say. To be perfectly honest, I feel NA team names are more like HONORING the ones that have been here before them, and that I can dig! :)
This is all some beaurocrats have to worry about. Why don't the wizards at the Board of Education worry about funding, etc.? Just smoke and mirrors to keep from addressing teacher accountability.
Then we should eliminate schools objectifing other cultures too. Like the Hazen Highlanders in Renton. This is beyond silly. Pretty soon PETA will complain that we're making villans of animals by naming sport teams after them. As a Native American, I'm a bit flattered by being used as a mascot. Usually Mascots are made of people or creatures that are considered fierce and powerful. I don't see a problem with that.
 @kockatoo Ya, when I was a Hazen Highlander, 25 years ago, you didn't have this PC crap. Now you have people all worried about being PC. What happened to free speech shall not be infringed upon.Â
Wait ... Didnt we win? Why are we still apologizing?
 @thatsjarrod "Didnt we win?"
Nope...Sherman's genocide failed.
It is good to know that Washington State could save some money by eliminating this Board. After all, if they have enough time to make ridiculous recommendations like this then they are a waste of money.
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"The resolution also mentions the widening achievement gap between Native American and other students and the call by a number of national organizations and tribes for this change."
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Just amazing that they even try to claim that they are "doing this for the children". It makes one long for another old tradition--tar and feathers.
as an American Indian I can say that it doesnt bother most of us...but If we named a school mascot the "Kracker Killers", white people might get upset too.
 @ClickClackNW Arguing by analogy is hard. You should give it up unless you can pick apt analogies--which this is not.
 @LockesChild pull the stick out...It was a joke.
 @ClickClackNW Not the same...  I don't see any team names even close like Pale face Scalpers or Custer Killers.  Â
 @teahater OHH! I like Pale face scalpers! LOL it was a joke bro
 @ClickClackNW  @teahater I like the pale faced scalpers too. If I recall it was the French that taught native americans to scalp, which makes pale faced scalpers even better.
 @ClickClackNW You are right, most of us do not get upset over it but I have to say, how is "Braves", "Indians", "Warriors" etc the same as "Kracker Killers"? Â
 @SeattleJoe JOKE!
 @ClickClackNW Ah, clearly I missed the joke.