Local high school reconsiders long-time mascot
by Ethan Schuler
A local high school has recently been at the center of a debate which has occurred all over the nation: whether or not it is acceptable to have a Native American mascot. Skowhegan Area High School, roughly 20 minutes north of Colby, has long held the Skowhegan “Indians” as their mascot, but there is now local debate over whether to change this mascot. The high school stopped using a Native American mascot around the 1990s, according to the Waterville Morning Sentinel. However, it is the only school in Maine to still use Native American imagery and retain the “Indian” as their nickname, though without using actual mascots, attached to their school and sporting events.
The debate has been strong not just among members of the school and Skowhegan community. Many state-level officials and even national groups have also become involved in the discussion. On March 1, the Maine Department of Education issued a notice suggesting schools “refrain from using mascots and logos that depict Native American tribes, individuals, customs, or traditions.” Though the state-level organization does not have the ability to influence local school boards’ decisions, the statement was a clear show of support for change at the Skowhegan school.
Maulian Dana, ambassador of the Penobscot Nation, told the Waterville Morning Sentinel she was “very pleased” with the news of the Department of Education’s decision. Dana, who is the founder of the Maine chapter of an organization called Not Your Mascot, added that she and those she works with had long been hoping to see state government officials speak out more against Native American mascots and nicknames.
Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, has also encouraged Skowhegan to retire their mascot, saying in a letter to the Skowhegan school board that while mascot changes can be “difficult and emotional,” for communities, having a Native American mascot is “a source of pain and anguish.”
However, there are also members of the local community strongly in support of keeping the “Indian” nickname in Skowhegan. They have recently received the support of a national group called the Native American Guardian’s Association, which works with schools around the U.S., according to their website, “to preserve their Native themed identities as a means to promote awareness and education about Indian history and heritage.” While the group, which is based in North Dakota, claims to have Native American membership, others believe their claims are false and are even being paid for by certain interests, according to local news outlets.
This debate is one example of many controversies over Native American mascots around the country. One of the most well-known nationally has been the debate over the Washington Redskins, an NFL team. Michael Friedman, a psychologist, published a well-known report called “The Harmful Psychological Effects of the Washington Football Mascot”. According to the Waterville Morning Sentinel, the report was cited in the Maine Department of Education’s notice arguing against similar mascots and nicknames throughout the state. The Skowhegan Area School Board plans to hold another deliberation meeting on whether or not to keep the school’s mascot on March 7. While it will likely continue the debate, it is not known whether any concrete decisions will be made.
