Native American mascot news

link:http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/01/some_oregon_schools_can_keep_n.html

The Oregon Board of Education will allow some Oregon public schools to keep their Native American mascots.

The board had previously ruled that 14 schools with Native American mascots must choose new ones by 2017. Under a new amendment approved Thursday, schools who secure permission from one of Oregon’s nine tribes can keep their Native American mascots.

Some Native Americans have been asking state leaders since 2006 to ban tribal-themed mascots such as the Warriors, Braves, Indians and Chieftains.

The state board spent years reviewing studies that said Native mascots promote discrimination, harassment of students and stereotyping. In 2012, the board ordered all schools with Native Americans mascots to choose new ones. Those who didn’t could lose state funding.

Republicans legislators fought back, and in 2014, the Oregon state legislature passed a bill allowing school boards and tribes to work together to keep the mascots. The bill directed the state board of education to come up with the rules for those agreements.

State officials created work groups to advise them on these rules. Last May, the board unanimously voted not to approve an amendment allowing schools to gain permission from tribes.

Thursday’s decision reverses that ruling. What changed?

State officials have spent more time talking with each of Oregon’s nine tribes, Department of Education spokeswoman Crystal Greene said. Some tribes and school districts have worked together to create plans that would keep the mascots and teach students more about tribal history and culture.

In Banks, for instance, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde have proposed an agreement that would allow the high school athletics teams to still call themselves the Braves. In exchange, the district will begin using a curriculum the tribe developed to teach its history. The district will also create a Native Club for all middle and high school students.

But activist Sam Sachs said the move is a step backward for Oregon.

“It’s just extremely disappointing that they didn’t have the courage to stand up for the Native American students,” said Sachs, the former chair of Portland’s Human Rights Commission. “They can talk to all the tribes. The nine tribes don’t speak for every Native American person in Oregon or the students who have to go to these schools. It doesn’t change the research. The use of these names and mascots have a negative impact on students, especially their self esteem. There’s no research that says these mascots empower Native American people.”

Sachs said a group of five Native American students plans to file a lawsuit against the state and the board of education this spring.