Kansas BOE hears statewide push to retire Native American-themed mascots

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – At its assembly Tuesday, the Kansas State Board of Schooling heard a statewide push to retire using Native American-themed mascots. In the previous couple of years, a number of Kansas faculty districts rebranded after dropping using Native mascots. This contains Wichita North Excessive Faculty that dropped “Redskins” from its branding.

At present, almost 30 faculty districts in Kansas use American-Indian mascots with names like Indians, Braves, Warriors and Chieftains, typically accompanied by Native-themed imagery. What the state board of training heard Tuesday would ask however not require these faculties to retire their mascots.

Members of Kansas Native American tribes are amongst teams searching for to finish using American Indian mascots.

“I perceive that change is difficult,” stated Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Rupnick. “We’ve all the time been Indians and we’re going to be Indians. They don’t know what it’s to be an Indian. They don’t know what it’s to stroll in anyone’s sneakers. But right here we’re with these people making an attempt to inform us how we’re purported to be.”

The official advice for change comes from the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Schooling the Kansas State Board of Schooling fashioned earlier this yr to verify the wants indigenous college students are met and that training round Native People is correct. A part of that features taking over a dialogue round mascots.

“Blatantly racist depictions let me know that my opinions aren’t legitimate and that what I’ve to say is just not being considered,” stated indigenous pupil Georgia Blackwood, a current highschool graduate. “I didn’t really feel revered as an athlete. I didn’t really feel revered as a pupil.”

The working group’s suggestions are for American-Indian-themed mascots to be retired as quickly as potential however does contemplate this might take time. The group is also seeking to present a assist community and have a look at funding alternatives to assist faculties with this transition. The working group factors to analysis they are saying exhibits these mascots reinforce stereotypes and don’t inform or educate about how American Indians really reside and influence indigenous college students’ shallowness.

“We all know that academics and college leaders imply properly however the analysis exhibits us these practices are dangerous they usually don’t have any place in our faculties,” Dr. Alex Redcorn with the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Schooling Working Group.

Tuesday was a dialogue on the advice, however the state BOE may vote on a decision on the problem subsequent month. The board doesn’t have the authority to make faculty districts change their mascots. That may be as much as the native boards of training. The advice for modifications additionally contains state faculties and universities. Potential modifications there would go earlier than the Kansas Board of Regents.

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