Native American mascot controversy hits Denver
School mascots have drawn in sports fans for decades but this week they’re grabbing the attention of Colorado lawmakers.
A new bill regarding Native American mascots is up for its first hearing Monday afternoon. The bill would require public schools to get permission to use a mascot from a panel of Native Americans.
We spoke with a group of Native Americans in Colorado Springs about the issue.
They say they understand team mascots are supposed to get the crowd going, but they say this is taking things too far.
“Oh gosh, it’s like kill the Indians, scalp the Indians. I’m Indian. Should I go out and fight? It’s not ok. I mean, are you going to tell me as a child and as a student to not be so sensitive about who I am?” said Alyssa Bravo (Comanche).
“I feel like if this continues one more generation then I have failed my kids,” said Monycka Snowbird (Ojibwe).
If the bill passes a panel of nine Native Americans would have the final say on public school mascots. They would decide if any Colorado mascot is offensive.
“It’s progressive it’s going to have native voice, deciding on what’s good for native people. So far it’s only been white voices telling us what we should or should not be honored by,” said Tate Walker (Minneconjou Lakota).
The bill doesn’t name any specific schools or mascots in Colorado. However, a national organization called American Indian Cultural Support names nearly 50 schools in Colorado that they consider racist. On that list are several schools in Colorado Springs, including the Cheyenne Mountain High School Indians.
“I think if you look behind it you’ll see an image that has a really racist image on it. not a lot of natives look like that today it’s an image used to showcase how we looked as a vanishing race back in the 1800’s,” said Walker.
Supporters of the mascot think it’s an honor to Native Americans, by referring to positive traits like a fighting spirit, and being brave and proud.
“Everyone says we honor you, I don’t see a negative. But I just experienced it last weekend at a track meet. I’m tired of being told don’t say nothing, be thick skinned. How do you get over that? You can’t,” said Carissa Yazzie-Gonzalez (Navajo).
