The use of terms and images referring to Native Americans/

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

as the name or

mascot A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...

for a sports team is a topic of public controversy in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

and in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, arising as part of the Native American/First Nations civil rights movements. The retirement of the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians has tipped public opinion in favor of eliminating Native mascots by public school, more states considering or passing legislation to do so, heeding tribal leaders who have advocating for change for decades. Statewide laws or school board decisions mandating change have been passed in states with significant Native American population; other states also have official policies that encourage change in accordance with principles of establishing a proper environment for education. However, there has also been resistance and backlash, usually when statewide laws have been viewed as an intrusion into local communities, where no need for change has been established. The documents most often cited to justifying the trend for change are an advisory opinion by the

United States Commission on Civil Rights The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (CCR) is a bipartisan, independent commission of the United States federal government, created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during the Eisenhower administration, that is charged with the responsibility fo ...

in 2001 and a resolution by the

American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, with over 133,000 members, including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students. It ha ...

in 2005. Both support the views of Native American organizations and individuals that such mascots maintaining harmful stereotypes that are discriminatory and cause harm by distorting the past and preventing understanding of Native American/First Nations peoples in the present. Rex P. Shipp, the state representative for Cedar City, Utah, introduced in 2020 a joint resolution supporting "the appropriate use of names, images, and symbols of Native Americans and other indigenous people by schools or places" and discouraging "removing names, images, and symbols of Native Americans and other indigenous people from schools or places". Although not having the force of law, the resolution failed on party lines in 2021, with only a few Republicans voting in support. A similar resolution may be introduced in Idaho. Following the name change of the Cleveland Indians, two Ohio state representatives have introduced a resolution encouraging Ohio schools to eliminate Native American mascots.

Arizona

A Native American legislator proposed a bill in 2018 that would have ban the use of a sports team name or logo at a publicly funded stadium if any Arizona tribe found it to be disparaging. While primarily aimed at the Washington Redskins, the ban could affect other professional and amateur teams.

California

Upon introducing a bill to ban, as of January 2017, the Redskins name used by high schools in the state of

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, Assemblyman

Luis Alejo Luis Angel Alejo (born March 27, 1974) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly representing the California's 30th State Assembly district, 30th Assembly District, encompassing the Pajaro Valley, Pajaro and Salinas Val ...

stated that there is "no reason why we can't ... phase out that particular derogatory term from our public high schools". The four affected high schools were

Tulare Union High School Tulare Union High School () is a public school for secondary education in Tulare, Tulare County, California, United States. This high school is part of the Tulare Joint Union High School District, along with Tulare Western High School and Missio ...

, Gustine High School, Calaveras High School, and

Chowchilla Union High School Chowchilla Union High School is a public high school located in Chowchilla, California. It is within the Chowchilla Union High School District. Statistics Demographics In the 2016–2017 school year, the high school had a total of 1,051 stud ...

. Governor

Jerry Brown Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. (born April 7, 1938) is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected Secretary of ...

signed the bill into law on October 11, 2015. While specifically targeting only the name "Redskins", the California Racial Mascot Act states "The use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames in California public schools is antithetical to the California school mission of providing an equal education to all." In response, the

Bakersfield City School District Bakersfield City School District is a Pre-Kindergarten - 8th grade public school district in Bakersfield, California. The district has 45 schools, and serves just over 30,000 students in much of the city of Bakersfield. After a vote between four alternatives, Calaveras High School has selected to remove the Redskins name, but not replace it. The logo featuring a Native American will be retained. The Tulare school board began the process by surveying the public. The local Tule River Indian tribe was also consulted. The committee selected "The Tribe" as its top choice in April 2016. The school principal stated their intention to retain Native American imagery as much as possible. The Tulare Joint Union High School District board of trustees voted 3-2 for "Tribe" as the new mascot in June 2016. Chowchilla Union High School put off its decision until November 2016, after the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the school in October. The Chowchilla team name will be "Tribe", retaining their logo and Native American imagery. As of the January 2017 deadline, the four schools had complied with the letter of the law but not the spirit, retaining their Native American imagery and behavior, including a female student portraying an Indian Pricess in a floor length war bonnet and fans whopping and tomahawk chopping at games. With the agreement of the local government, Chowchilla has added "Redskins Way" signs to the streets leading to the school and insist they are maintaining a proud tradition that honors Native Americans, even as tribal members state that these practices trivialize and misrepresent the factual history of Native Americans in California. Calaveras, which has selected no official team name, is calling itself "the Mighty Reds" on its web site while retaining its prior logo. School alumni continue to use the name and wear their Redskins apparel at games, and cite the lack of Native American opposition to the name as justification. Such opposition exists, however. Joely Proudfit, chair of the American Indian Studies Department at California State University in San Marcos and member of the Luiseño/Payomkowishum tribe: "There's no redeeming quality of the word 'Redskin' but to try to soften the blow by using 'Tribe' or 'Indian' or 'Warrior' is nonsensical. It just shows that the proponents of keeping these types of words in there don't understand or refuse to understand the harmful effects of stereotyping one particular population."

Colorado

In 2014 State lawmakers in Colorado began considering a bill that rather than a complete ban, would deny state funding to schools on a case by case basis, depending upon the name, logo, and local Native American support. Getting ahead of any potential law, Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado, is "looking to a Lakota Sioux tribe for help creating a new mascot and a hands-on lesson in history and culture for the school." Although passed by the House by one vote, the bill failed in a Colorado Senate committee. Colorado Governor

John Hickenlooper John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. (; born February 7, 1952) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Colorado since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd governor of Colorado from 2011 to 20 ...

created by executive order a commission that held meetings where local community members, state agencies and Native Americans can seek to find common ground on the mascot issue. The commission issued a report in 2016 that advocated change, but only by local initiatives, not a statewide mandate. In 2021 a bill was passed to ban Native mascots statewide, allowing continued use only for schools that had an agreement with a recognized tribe prior to June 1, 2021. Schools must change their mascots before June 1, 2022 or face a $25,000 per month fine that would go to the state's education fund. The bill was signed into law on June 28, 2021. A group called the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) sued in the U.S. District Court to block implementation of the bill as violating the constitutional rights of those Native Americans who favor retaining Native names and imagery, asserting that there are culturally-sensitive uses. A member of the governor’s commission, Darius Smith (Navajo), says that NAGA does not have credibility or represent the way many American Indians feel about the issue. In May, 2022 the judge dismissed the suit on the basis of NAGA having failed to establish standing to bring the case.

Connecticut

The Speaker of the House

Joe Aresimowicz Joe Aresimowicz (born November 5, 1970) is a former American Democratic politician serving as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and former Speaker of the House. From 2013 to 2017, he served as Majority Leader. Early life, ed ...

announced the consideration of legislation to ban all Native American nicknames and logos in Connecticut. Aresimowicz cited the October 2019 decision of the

Killingly Killingly is a New England town, town in Windham County, Connecticut, Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,752 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It consists of the borough of Danielson, Connecticut, Dani ...

school board to change their "Redmen" mascot followed by the January 2020 reversion of that decision by newly elected Republican officials "a mockery of the process". A statewide ban would effect 19 high schools, including Killingly. Rather than passing a law directly banning mascots, there is a proposal in the Connecticut legislature, which is expected to pass, to withhold the portion of funding that comes to schools from the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes' slot machine revenue if they continue to use the names or images referring to any state or federally recognized tribe. Schools would have a year to change their mascots before losing funding. In June 2022 most schools had complied, but four school districts have decided to keep their mascots; the Derby Red Raiders, Killingly Redmen, Windsor Warriors and Nonnewaug High School Chiefs. Canton High School, Killingly High School and Windsor High School were ruled ineligible to receive grant funding in November 2022. Canton and Windsor do not receive grants, but Killingly will forfeit $94,184. Other towns, including the Derby Red Raiders will keep their mascot due to agreements with Native groups.

Florida

The Hillsborough County School District, which includes

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

, voted in May 2019 to examine all school mascots that use Native American names or logos. Five elementary and one middle school will select new mascots. Two high schools, George D. Chamberlain High School (Chiefs) and the

East Bay High School East Bay High School is a public high school in Gibsonton, Florida. It was chartered in 1957 on Big Bend Road in Gibsonton. The school's current facility was established in 1972 on a new campus adjacent to the east of the old one. Its former campu ...

(Indians) will keep their logos and names, but must stop doing chants and dances that invoke Native American rituals. However, after announcement of the decision, the response from some members of the public lead to meetings at which various opinions for and against change were expressed.

Iowa

Four Democratic members of the Iowa legislature have introduced a bill to eliminate Native mascots by 2024. The Meskwaki Nation issued a message to the 66 schools in Iowa currently using Native “themed” mascots to retire them.

Kansas

A commission created by Kansas Governor

Laura Kelly Laura Jeanne Kelly (born January 24, 1950)"Laura Kelly,"
''Kansapedia,''

in 2021 recommended that schools should, with the Kansas Association for Native American Education (KANAE), examine and eliminate the use of Native American mascots and imagery. In November 2022 the state Board of Education recommended the elimination of Native mascots within five years unless approval is given by a local Federally recognized tribe.

Maine

The Maine Education Department issued a notice in 2019 urging schools to refrain from using mascots and logos depicting Native Americans. After receiving statements in opposition to the "Indians" name from the

Penobscot The Penobscot (Abenaki: ''Pαnawάhpskewi'') are an Indigenous people in North America from the Northeastern Woodlands region. They are organized as a federally recognized tribe in Maine and as a First Nations band government in the Atlantic ...

Nation and the ACLU of

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...

, the school board voted in March 2019 to eliminate the mascot at Skowhegan Area High School. With the elimination of Native American imagery associated with the "Warriors" name at other high schools, Maine became the first state to eliminate indigenous mascots in all secondary schools. However, there continues to be local support for restoring the mascot in Skowhegan. Concurrent with local efforts, a bill to ban Native mascots statewide passed the Maine

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

and Senate and was signed into law by Governor

Janet Mills Janet Trafton Mills (born December 30, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 75th governor of Maine since January 2019. She previously served as the Maine Attorney General on two occasions. A member of the Democratic Pa ...

in May, 2019. The community of Salem Township is supportive of the change of the Strong Elementary School "Indians", the principal stating that half the students were not aware of the mascot name.

Massachusetts

In 2017 a bill was introduced in the legislature to amend the General Laws of the Commonwealth to add a section prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools, which are defined as "A name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian tribe, individual, custom, or tradition that is used by a public school as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name". The team names "Redskins", "Savages," "Indians," "Indianettes," "Chiefs," "Chieftains," "Braves," or "Redmen" are specifically prohibited. Failing to emerge from committee last year, the bill was reintroduced for the 2019-20 session A new draft of the bill in 2020 also failed to emerge from the Senate Ways and Means committee. As of May 7, 2021, 24 high schools in Massachusetts still had Native American mascots, down from over 40. The 2021 bill does not mention specific team names but would amend state laws to ensure that “no public school uses an athletic team name, logo, or mascot which names, refers to, represents, or is associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native American cultures and specific Native American tribes, or which denigrates any racial, ethnic, gender, or religious group.” The bill exempts Native American teams from this requirement, and allows recognized tribal nations within the Commonwealth to specifically consent that any school use their particular tribal name.

Michigan

The

Michigan State Board of Education The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is a state agency of Michigan, in the United States. The MDE oversees public school districts in the state. The department is governed by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education was fi ...

issued in 2003, and reaffirmed in 2010, a resolution that "supports and strongly recommends the elimination of American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos, fight songs, insignias, antics, and team descriptors by all Michigan schools." In February 2013, the

Michigan Department of Civil Rights Michigan Department of Civil Rights is a department of the Michigan State Government created in 1965 to support the work of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission of Michigan's Constitution of 1963. The Commission directs the work of the department ...

(MDCR) filed a complaint with the

US Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...

Office for Civil Rights The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Education that is primarily focused on enforcing civil rights laws prohibiting schools from engaging in discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex ...

(OCR). MDCR's complaint asserts that new research clearly establishes that use of American Indian imagery negatively impacts student learning, creating an unequal learning environment in violation of Article VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In June 2013, the OCR dismissed the case on the basis that the legal standard required not only harm, but the intent to do harm, which was not established. One of the schools named in the MDCR complaint, Saranac Community Schools in

Ionia County Ionia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 66,804. The county seat is Ionia. The Ionia County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect. Ion ...

, Michigan plans to retain the name Redskins but has replaced the logo on its uniforms with a "

Dreamcatcher In some Native American and First Nations cultures, a dreamcatcher ( oj, asabikeshiinh, the inanimate form of the word for 'spider') is a handmade willow hoop, on which is woven a net or web. It may also be decorated with sacred items such as ...

" and the band will no longer play the "Tomahawk Song" at games. The cost of removing Native American imagery has been a barrier to change, but a new Michigan Native American Heritage Fund will receive money for such changes due an amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (NHBP) is a federally-recognized tribe of Potawatomi in the United States. The tribe achieved federal recognition on December 19, 1995, and currently has approximately 1500 members. The Pine Creek Indi ...

(NHBP) and the State of Michigan. In March, 2017 the State Superintendent requested an opinion from the Michigan Attorney General whether he had the authority to fine school districts that failed to remove Native American mascots and logos that advocates argue are degrading and culturally insensitive. The Attorney General responded in July, 2017 that the Superintendent did not have the authority to impose such fines. Schools that consider their use of Native American imagery to be respectful include Huron High School in New Boston (Chiefs), Woodhaven High School in Brownstown Township (Warriors), and Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte. While the Wyandotte mascot is "Bears", their marching band is the "Marching Chiefs" with a Native American logo. In 2017 a bill to ban the name Redskins was introduced in the Senate by Sen.

Wayne Schmidt Wayne Schmidt (born October 6, 1966) is a Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republ ...

who represents a district which includes five tribal governments that support the ban. Also in 2017, Rep.

Jewell Jones Jewell Jones (born April 11, 1995) is an American politician from the state of Michigan. He served on the city council of Inkster, Michigan, and was elected to represent the 11th district of the Michigan House of Representatives as the younges ...

introduced a bill to ban all Native American mascots in Michigan. However, neither bill progressed beyond committee assignment.

Nebraska

The Legislature's State-Tribal Relations Committee considered in 2019 what action to take regarding Native American mascots in Nebraska, including a possible statewide requirement to eliminate them. Native tribes favor a requirement, while some legislators prefer allowing it to be a local decision. In 2022, a lawmaker proposed giving grants of up to $200,000 to schools that voluntarily changed their mascots.

Nevada

A law was signed in June 2021 banning the use by schools and universities of racially discriminatory identifiers associated with any federally recognized Indian tribe exempt those having agreements with a local tribe. The bill also prohibits the historical practice of sounding a siren to warn non-white people to leave town before sundown, which had continued in some northern Nevada towns despite the ordinances having been repealed decades ago.

New Hampshire

In 2022, the New Hampshire House rejected a bill banning Native mascots, voting 170 to 143. The New Hampshire Board of Education endorse the prohibition 20 years ago.

New York

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) issued a memo in November 2022 requiring schools with a Native American mascot to find a replacement by the end of the 2022-23 school year. In May, 2023 the deadline was revised to June 2025. Schools could then ask for an extension, but must show that they have made a good faith effort to comply. Those schools that fail to do so without current approval from a recognized tribe may be in willful violation of the Dignity for All Students Act. The penalties for such a violation include the removal of school officers and the withholding of State Aid. As of February 2023, only four of the twelve school with Native mascots have begun the change process, many with the names Warrior or Raiders hoping to keep them by removing Indigenous imagery. Opponents of change often cite the cost of removing the old name and logo from uniforms, buildings and other places. State legal action began in 2021 when

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...

Central School District voted to change the Indians mascot, but soon reversed that decision after the election of a new school board member. The state Commissioner of Education ruled that the original decision to remove the mascot must stand, which Cambridge appealed. The result of the lawsuit in favor of the state is deem precedent for application of anti-discrimination law to Native mascots. In response to the memo, Cambridge has posted on their website that they will continue to pursue appeals the court and the commissioner's decisions. The president of the Seneca Nation said that the NYSED memo was a positive step. In 2001, the NYSED sent a letter to all Presidents of Boards of Education and Superintendents of Public Schools in the state with the results of a study concluding that, while the use of Native American symbols is part of the deeply felt traditions in some communities, and many believe that mascots honor or pay tribute to Native Americans and their culture; most Native Americans appear to find the portrayal by others of their treasured cultural and religious symbols disparaging and disrespectful. Local schools should therefore proceed to eliminate Native American mascots as soon as practicable. Change was voluntary, and the majority of schools in New York retained their mascots during the following 20 years, 60 continuing to do so. In response to the 2001 NYSED letter, the Seneca Nation Tribal Council joined with other members of the community in seeking to retain the Salamanca Central High School "Warriors" imagery, although with individual differences of opinion. The

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

is within the boundaries of the

Allegany Indian Reservation Allegany Reservation (Uhì·yaʼRudes, B. ''Tuscarora English Dictionary'' Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999 in Tuscarora) is a Seneca Nation of Indians reservation in Cattaraugus County, New York, USA. In the 2000 census, 58 percent of ...

of the

Seneca Nation of Indians The Seneca Nation of Indians is a federally recognized Seneca tribe based in western New York. They are one of three federally recognized Seneca entities in the United States, the others being the Tonawanda Band of Seneca (also in western New Y ...

, and 26% of the high school students are Native American. The school logo now depicts a Seneca man, replacing the stereotypical

Plains Indian Plains Indians or Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies are the Native American tribes and First Nation band governments who have historically lived on the Interior Plains (the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies) of ...

warrior image that was used prior to 1978.

North Carolina

The State Advisory Council on Indian Education, in its annual report for 2023 to the State Board of Education, as it has since 2002, urges "all public school administrators and boards of education to review and implement local policies related to the selection of athletic mascots, and to educate all school personnel on the long-term, damaging effects to students when inappropriate images and messages dishonor the American Indian culture".

Oregon

On May 17, 2012, the Oregon State Board of Education voted 5–1 to adopt a rule prohibiting Oregon public schools from using Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots; giving schools until July 1, 2017 to comply. Fifteen high schools using the nicknames Indians, Warriors, Braves and Chieftains were affected. However, Native American response was not unanimous; out of nine Federally recognized tribes in the state, two voiced opposition to the statewide ban on the basis of tribal sovereignty. Leaders said that there might have been an opportunity for developing an educational program for all students to learn about true native culture. In 2014 a state law was passed allowing schools to consult with nearby Native American tribes on acceptable names and imagery. While some Native Americans support such relationships with their local schools, Native American students who compete in athletics with these schools state that they are sometimes uncomfortable with the imagery used, and some groups maintain that the use of Native mascots needs to end everywhere. "These mascots undermine the educational experience of all students, particularly those with little or no contact with indigenous or native Alaskan peoples," said Se-Ah-Dom Edmo, interim president of the Oregon Indian Education Association. In May 2015 the Board of Education unanimously voted down an amendment that would have allowed schools to retain their current names and mascots, maintaining the 2017 deadline for change. However, in January 2016 the board decided to grant exemptions to schools if they work out agreements with local tribes. Two schools have decided not to seek the approval of any tribe, citing the difficulty of doing so. The Fort Vannoy Elementary "Indians" (now the "Nobles") and Fleming Middle School "Rogues" (now the "Cavaliers"), both in the Three Rivers School District have changed their mascots. Rather than seek approval from any of the many tribes in the area, The Dalles High School decided to change from the "Eagle Indians" to become the Riverhawks in 2014. Warrenton High School now uses a generic sword and shield logo while retaining its Warriors name. The

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGR) consists of twenty-seven Native American tribes with long historical ties to present-day western Oregon between the western boundary of the Oregon Coast and the eastern boundar ...

entered into negotiations with four high schools on the conditions of removing some imagery and implementing a native history curriculum: Banks High School Mohawk High School, Molalla High School and

Scappoose High School Scappoose High School is a public high school in Scappoose, Oregon, United States. It is the only high school in the Scappoose School District. Academics In 2008, 95% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 168 students, 1 ...

. However, after further consideration, Mohawk High School in Marcola, Oregon will drop its "Mohawk Indian" name because its imagery refers to an east coast tribe, the only connection being the local Mohawk Valley. In 2019, the school board is considering changing the name of the school and the school district in addition to removing a mural using Native American imagery. The Marcola school board has tentatively select "Mustangs" as the new mascot. The agreement with Banks High School includes replacement of the old logo featuring a Native American in profile with one using inverse Bs in the shape of an arrowhead, which was designed with assistance from

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine give ...

marketing and graphics employees. The Department of Education Government and Legal Affairs Manager recommended acceptance of the agreement at an initial hearing on February 23, 2017. It is estimated that removal of the old Braves logo from the building and uniforms will cost $95,000 over the next five years. The Oregon State Board of Education approved the

Philomath A philomath () is a lover of learning and studying. The term is from Greek (; "beloved", "loving", as in philosophy or philanthropy) and , (, ; "to learn", as in polymath). Philomathy is similar to, but distinguished from, philosophy in that ...

School District's five-year agreement with the

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in the United States is a federally recognized confederation of more than 27 Native American tribes and bands who once inhabited an extensive homeland of more than 20 million acres from northern Califo ...

for the continued use of the high school's Warriors and the middle school's Braves. Also approved was an agreement with the Amity High School Warriors. The Siletz were one of the tribes that opposed the original 2012 ban, and wants the Siletz Valley Charter School in the town adjacent to the Siletz Reservation to remain the Warriors. Rogue River High School has eliminated their image of a Native American, using instead a spear. In exchange for retaining their Chieftains mascot, Rogue River will add a curriculum on true Native American history, and specifically, the Siletz tribal history.

Roseburg High School Roseburg High School is a public high school in Roseburg, Oregon, United States. Campus The campus is roughly and contains seven main buildings as well as a track and an artificial turf football field. Completed in 1926, the "Heritage Buildin ...

would remain the Indians with the agreement of the

Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, known to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of Oregon is a federally recognized Native American tribal government based in Roseburg, Oregon, United States. T ...

. The

Reedsport Community Charter School Reedsport Community Charter School is a public school in Reedsport, Oregon, United States. It serves middle- and high school-aged students. History The school was formerly named the Reedsport Junior/Senior High School, but became a public chart ...

Braves sought tribal approval. However, three local tribes; the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw, the Coquille, and the

Siletz The Siletz (pronounced SIGH-lets) were the southernmost of several divisions of the Tillamook people speaking a distinct dialect; the other dialect-divisions were: ''Salmon River'' on the river of that name, ''Nestucca'' on Little and Nestucca ...

do not agree that the "Reedsport Braves" is honorable way to represent their tribes. In an effort to retain part of their tradition, some in the community are thinking of changing to "Brave" and eliminating all Native American imagery. At a meeting of the residents and the school's Native American Name and Image Committee, one of the committee members asked how many preferred no change, with an overwhelming majority of those present agreeing. However, it was stated that was not an option. Schools with the Warrior team name may keep it by removing any Native American imagery: Lebanon High School and Oakridge High School. At Lebanon, only Native images deemed to be artwork not associated with the team will remain. However, the state has issued a notice of non-compliance to North Douglas High School, although the school superintendent has stated that all Native American references have been removed.

South Dakota

In January 2016 the South Dakota High School Activities Association passed a resolution asking all schools in the state to drop Native American nicknames and mascots. A bill was introduced in the South Dakota Legislature "to prohibit school districts from using school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames that are determined to be racially derogatory or discriminatory", but failed to pass by a vote of 22 to 46. Bills to ban discriminatory mascots were introduced in 2020 and 2022 but failed in committee.

Tennessee

Opposing the trend for change, in response to the

Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs The Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs (1984-2001, 2004-2010) was a Tennessee state agency that ceased to function after June 30, 2010, the expiration of the legal authority for its existence, Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) 4-34-102. The firs ...

(TCIA) seeking a ban on certain race-based mascots in the state through the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, the 2007

Tennessee Legislature The Tennessee General Assembly (TNGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is a part-time bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Speaker of the Senate carries the additional title a ...

passed a law that: "state agencies may not require, prohibit, or impair the right of any public or private institution to continue to honor certain persons or cultures through the use of symbols, names, and mascots." Public Chapter 371, 2007. One of the dissenting legislators characterized the law as protection for bullies who want to continue to insult and degrade Native Americans. The TCIA also opposed the law, stating in their testimony that it denies Native Americans equal protection under the law and the right to defend their sacred ceremonies and artifacts from misuse and caricature.

Texas

In December 2013 the

Houston Independent School District The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest public school system in Texas, and the eighth-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and ...

by unanimous vote passed a preliminary plan to eliminate all ethnically sensitive names and mascots, one of which was the Lamar High School Redskins. The then Washington Redskins issued a statement repeating its position that such names are not offensive to many Native Americans, but rather are a source of pride. In April 2014 the schools affected by the policy announced new names: the Lamar High School Redskins will become the Texans, both the Hamilton Middle School Indians and Westbury High School Rebels will be the Huskies and the Welch Middle School Warriors will be the Wolf Pack. The initial cost of the change was $50,000 for new fall uniforms, and there will be additional costs such as changing names and logos on facilities. The total cost is estimated to be $250,000. However it was noted that team uniforms are periodically replaced anyway, so the cost is not due only to the name changes. "The moral cost to our reputation as a diverse district -- where we care about the sensitivities of every single individual -- would be incalculable if we were not to do this," HISD superintendent Terry Grier said.

Vermont

A 2022 bill was introduced in the state Senate to "...prohibit a public school from having or adopting a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to a racial or ethnic group, individual, custom, or tradition and that is used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name of the school."

Washington

On September 24, 1993 the

Washington State Board of Education The Washington State Board of Education (SBE) is the overseeing body of education in the U.S. State of WashingtonMiss ...

(WSBE) passed a resolution encouraging all state schools to end the use of Native American mascots This was reiterated by a similar resolution in 2012. In the absence of mandatory regulations, change came only as individual schools have addressed the issue. Bellingham High School had a Native American mascot until it was closed for renovation. When it reopened in 2000, the mascot was changed to a bird of prey, but the name "Red Raiders" was retained. The Seattle-area Issaquah School District adopted a policy banning symbols based on racial stereotypes; resulting in a change of the Issaquah High School team from the "Indians" to the "Eagles" in 2003 over the protest of some students. The "Indian Head" logo used by the Clover Park High School "Warriors" has been replaced by a block "CP" with a spear. In January 2021 a bill was introduced in the state legislature "prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images as public school mascots, logos, or team names". The bill was initiated by Rep.

Debra Lekanoff Debra E. Lekanoff (born February 26, 1971) is a Democratic member of the Washington Legislature representing the State's 40th House district for position 1. She is a member of the Tlingit tribe and was credited with being the first female triba ...

a member of the

Tlingit The Tlingit ( or ; also spelled Tlinkit) are indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Their language is the Tlingit language (natively , pronounced ),

tribe and the only Native American member of the legislature. Lekanoff is motivated by the change in the name of the

Washington Football Team The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) E ...

in 2020, which indicates a willingness of the general public to address issues regarding the use of Native mascots. The bill passed in the state House of Representatives in February 2021 by 92 to 5 and passed the Senate on April 6 with a vote of 40 to 9. The law will take effect at the end of the 2021-2022 school year and allow schools to retain names with the consent of a nearby tribe. Governor

Jay Inslee Jay Robert Inslee (; born February 9, 1951) is an American politician, lawyer, and economist who has served as the 23rd governor of Washington since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Represent ...

signed the bill into law on April 26, 2021. The

Spokane Tribe The Spokan or Spokane people are a Native American Plateau tribe who inhabit the eastern portion of present-day Washington state and parts of northern Idaho in the United States of America. The current Spokane Indian Reservation is located in ...

has decided not to honor any request by schools to retain their mascots. Two schools,

Kamiakin High School Kamiakin High School is a public high school in Kennewick, Washington, the second of three comprehensive high schools in the Kennewick School District. Kamiakin opened in the fall of 1970 and serves the district's northwest portion. The school ...

(Braves) in

Kennewick Kennewick () is a city in Benton County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located along the southwest bank of the Columbia River, just southeast of the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers and across from the confluence of the C ...

and Legacy High School (Thunderbirds) in

Vancouver, Washington Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, located in Clark County. Incorporated in 1857, Vancouver has a population of 190,915 as of the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Was ...

are seeking the approval of the

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation #REDIRECT Yakama Indian Reservation The Yakama Indian Reservation (spelled Yakima until 1994) is a Native American reservation in Washington state of the federally recognized tribe known as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. ...

to retain their mascots based upon their curriculum which includes tribal history, culture and government.

Wisconsin

In 2010 a law was passed in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

to eliminate race-based nicknames, logos and mascots in schools; but allowing retention if they have the permission of local Native American tribes. Many mascots were changed either voluntarily or in response to complaints. However, in October 2013 the law was changed to make it more difficult by requiring the complainant to collect signatures of 10% of the school district's population and prove discrimination, while under the 2010 law only one petitioner was needed, and the burden of proof was on the school to disprove racism. Although now allowed to do so, some schools that have already made a change have decided not to restore their prior mascots. Native American groups opposed the change in the law. Delivering the State of the Tribes address to the Wisconsin legislature in March 2015; Mole Lake Sokaogon Chairman Chris McGeshik stated: "We believe the recent decision to override the progress made with the state in regard to the school mascots to be a mockery of the indigenous people in the state and around America." In his 2019 State of the Tribes address, Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill proposed amending Wisconsin Education Act 31, which requires instruction on the history, culture and tribal sovereignty of the federally recognized tribes located in the State, to focus on the removal of Native American imagery in public facilities; stating "Teach respect, not racism". Prompted by the concerns of Native Americans, the

Madison Metropolitan School District The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is a public school district headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. It serves the cities of Madison and Fitchburg, the villages of Shorewood Hills and Maple Bluff, and the towns of Blooming Grove ...

in Wisconsin has implemented a policy banning student clothing having "words, pictures, or caricatures based on negative stereotypes of a specific gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or disability", which would ban all sports apparel displaying Native American mascot names, images or logos. However the ban may not pass the legal test that freedom of speech does not allow for a ban on expression unless there is a "substantial disruption of the educational mission". Visiting athletic teams will also be asked to leave behind Native American mascots and logos, otherwise the game could be canceled. A 2019 resolution to ban Native mascots statewide was addressed to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. The resolution has the support of the Appleton Area School District,

, the

Wausau School District The Wausau School District is a public school district serving the Wausau metropolitan area, including the City of Wausau and the Towns of Rib Mountain, Wausau, Stettin, and Texas. It contains two high schools, two middle schools, 13 elementar ...

and the Lacrosse School Board, with additional school boards scheduled to add their support. In 2023 a letter, signed by state and national organizations representing Native Americans, was sent to the 26 school districts that continue to use Native mascots. The letter requests a dialog to "learn about contemporary Tribal Nations and Native peoples and why these mascots degrade us, misrepresent who we are and dismiss the many important contributions we have made, and continue to make, to this country."

References

{{Native American mascot controversy Native American law Native American-related controversies Ethnic and racial stereotypes in the United States Stereotypes of Native American people Sports mascots in the United States Cultural appropriation