Remove Indian Names & Mascots from Schools
Take Indian Names & Mascots Out of Public Schools, Unless Tribes Approve
The Seattle Times published an editorial this week endorsing House Bill 1356, banning native mascots, logos and symbols in Washington’s public schools, with limited exceptions. Substitute House Bill 1356 received overwhelming support in the House, passing by a vote of 92 to 5. The bill is now in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. It deserves prompt approval in the Senate.
Our country has been debating this issue for years. Many professional teams have changed their names and mascots. Our Washington State Board of Education has twice adopted resolutions related to mascots. A 2012 resolution directed Washington school districts to discontinue the use of Native American mascots. Back in 1993, the Board of Education asked local school districts to review names of buildings, mascots, logos, activities, events, portrayal of caricatures and behaviors to ensure they were free from bias and derogatory connotations associated with race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. According to the Seattle Times, 35 Washington high schools still have native-themed names, the most common of which are Warriors, Indians, Braves, Raiders, Thunderbirds, and Totems. Rather than directives from the Board of Education, we apparently need a law to get compliance from local school boards.
The proposed legislation makes an exception for teams which follow a procedure similar to the one used by the Spokane Indians, a minor league baseball team. The baseball team consulted with their local Spokane Tribe and worked out an agreement in which the team acknowledged they would only continue using the name with the permission of the tribe. Native culture is now highlighted throughout their baseball park. The use of the name Spokane Indians is accompanied by educational displays which promote respect and understanding.
While some people may feel the use of Indian names and symbols is a way of honoring the tribes, in practice that is rarely the case. Instead, use of Indian names and symbols, without permission, commonly results in negative stereotypes in chants, logos, souvenirs, and publicity. This is viewed as cultural appropriation and contributes to the myth that American Indians have all died out, such as extinct animals displayed as stuffed specimens in a museum. In fact, there are 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington and many more that have not been officially recognized, such as the Duwamish Tribe in the Seattle area. Contact your State Senator to urge adoption of Substitute House Bill 1356.
Note: The illustration shown above is entitled Thunderbird & Sun, created by Canadian native artist Patrick Amos. It is a signed limited edition print created in 1977 and a beloved part of the art displayed in my home, originally purchased at the Provincial Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, now known as the Royal British Columbia Museum.