Indiana school drops Native American pre-game ritual, keeps Indian mascot

ANDERSON, Ind. (WXIN) — A controversial custom at one Indiana highschool’s basketball video games has come to an finish after complaints that it mocked Native American tradition.

On Tuesday, district board members voted unanimously to drop Anderson Excessive College’s pre-game ritual through which college students costume up as Native American chiefs and maidens to carry out a pipe ceremony.

The college says it’s retaining its mascot, the Indian, nevertheless. The Indians’ workforce identify, logos, and signage for the varsity and athletic groups may also stay the identical.

In response to Tuesday’s assembly, the town of Anderson is called after William Anderson, a former chief of the Delaware (Lenape) Tribe.

“From the beginning in 1925, the intention behind the Indian image at Anderson Excessive College has been to honor Native Individuals,” learn the inner evaluation of the ritual and its complaints.

“The Delaware tribe of Indians and most Native American tribal members have made it clear via this course of that having college students or any non-native people dressing up in native regalia and performing routines and ceremonies that they maintain as a sacred element of their tradition is by no means honoring them,” mentioned Anderson Neighborhood Faculties Superintendent Joseph Cronk.

The pipe ceremony drummed up controversy on a nationwide stage when a video from an Anderson Excessive College boys’ basketball recreation was shared on TikTok in February. It acquired greater than 1 million views and led to lots of of individuals, each tribal and non-tribal, contacting the varsity and faculty board to share “considerations, help, and suggestions,” based on the inner evaluation.

“We’re asking for grace. We’re asking for respect,” mentioned one consultant of the American Indian Motion, who spoke earlier than the vote was held. He mentioned the pipe ceremony portrayed at Anderson video games was a really sacred ritual within the native tradition.

“That will be like me going to your home and telling you find out how to learn the Bible,” he instructed the group on the assembly.

In response to the varsity board, an inner process power was shaped after the response to the video. Ten ACS representatives met over a number of weeks to analysis and doc methods through which the district represents Anderson’s Native American historical past. A part of their work included consulting with members of the Delaware tribe of Indians and direct descendants of Chief Anderson.

“What does it say about ACS if we’ve been instructed by a tradition that one thing we’re doing is offensive and we proceed to do it?” learn one slide of the presentation.

ACS says shifting ahead, it should work in partnership with the Delaware Tribe of Indians to make sure authenticity and appropriateness in new sporting occasion routines.