On Sunday, May 20, 2012, the Los Angeles Times included an article reporting that the Oregon State Board of Education passed a ban on all Native American mascots at schools.  The 5-1 vote means all institutions must make proper adjustments by 2017, or risk losing state funding.  “At least 15 schools across the state [will] abandon the various chieftains, feathered horsemen and bow-and-arrow wielding warriors that have adorned basketball backboards, gym floors and lockers for decades or longer” (Murphy, 2012).

            This ruling is fairly unprecedented.  Only one other state in the country, Wisconsin, has imposed a similar ban of Native American mascots at schools.  Wisconsin’s ban is much less severe, however, simply requiring schools to prove their mascots are not the subject of discrimination, harassment or stereotyping. 

            Several Native Americans in the Oregon community are pleased with the ban sighting many offensive instances at sporting events such as fans yelling, “Scalp the Indians” (Murphy, 2012).  Leaders in the community believe banning the mascots will obviously do away with such instances.

            But, like anything in life there are also people that are opposed to the ban.  Several school officials discussed the tough financial impact thousands of dollars worth of changes would have on the entire school system.  A few Native American activists also struggled with the ruling saying Native American youth have been forced to see their culture as mascots or just be invisible. 

            Oregon has set a precedent for other states to follow, ban Native American mascots because they are degrading and offensive.

Shauna Johnson

Kin 577