Lawmakers in Oregon are pushing bills that would address a ban on Indian mascots at public schools.

Last year, the Oregon Board of Education voted 5-1 to prohibit schools from using Native American names, symbols or images as mascots. Affected schools were given until 2017 to make changes.

The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Oregon Indian Education Association and the National Indian Education Association support the ban. But the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde say tribes should be able to support Indian mascots.

Senate Bill 215 would allow public schools to keep their mascots that tribes support. Senate Bill 501 would prevent the Board of Education from penalizing a school that keeps its Indian mascot.

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Oregon Considers Lifting Ban On Native American Mascots (Oregon Public Broadcasting 4/3)