Oregon board defends decision to ban use of Indian as mascots

Wednesday, May 23, 2012  

The Oregon Board of Education stands by its decision to ban the use of Indian as mascots, the group's chair said.

Public schools will no longer be able to use mascots like the "Indians," "Chiefs" and "Braves." The "Warriors" can remain as long as the affected school eliminates associated Indian imagery.

"Mascots are a divisive issue to all members," Brenda Frank, a member of the Klamath Tribes who serves as chair of the board, told The Oregonian "We're not immune to being on different sides of the line. "

The board's decision has divided tribes in the state. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians was the only tribe to outright support the new rule.

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde, on the other hand, pushed for an amendment to allow tribes to have a role with mascot decisions at local schools. Both tribes said they were disappointed by the board's decision to exclude their voice.

The Oregon Indian Education Association supports the rule as does the National Indian Education Association.

Get the Story:
Two tribes call state's Native American mascot ban disappointing (The Oregonian 5/23)
Tribe complains about state mascot ruling (The Albany Democrat-Herald 5/23)
Indian mascot ban irks Siletz (The Eugene Register-Guard 5/23)