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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 2017)
4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 Braves, Warriors: Oregon takes on tribal mascots GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press BANKS — This fall, the football team in the tiny Ore- gon logging town of Banks will once again take the fi eld as the Braves. But this time, they have the approval of the tribe that originally inhabited the area. It’s one of many changes in the works this spring across Oregon prompted by the nation’s long-running uproar over Native American sports mascots. School districts in the state with tribal mascots must do away with them by July 1 or risk punishment that could include the withholding of state funds. However, the state will make exceptions for districts that get the approval of one of Oregon’s nine tribes — and the Banks School District is one of more than a half-dozen tiny dis- tricts trying to take advantage of that provision. The state Board of Edu- cation voted unanimously on Thursday to approve an agree- ment between the Banks district and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the fi rst such deal to reach the board. The current deal, nearly two years in the making, allows the district to keep the name Braves. In exchange, it gives up the “Indian head” image — a Native American man with a partially shaved head, face paint, ear hoop and feathers — and implements a curricu- lum developed by the Grand Ronde that teaches the his- tory of its people from a tribal perspective. Across the US The process highlights the dilemma facing small schools across the U.S. as attention has focused on high-profi le battles over mascots such as the Wash- ington Redskins. Minnesota and Wisconsin have banned Native American mascots at school districts for decades, but elsewhere com- munities have wrestled with the issue for years, said Jenni- fer Guiliano, a history professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Oregon’s statewide approach is unique, and its willingness to allow an excep- tion for districts that collabo- rate with tribes calls to mind the NCAA’s longstanding ban on Native American mascots AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus The Banks High School mascot is visible on the side of the football stands at the school. In Oregon, school districts with Native American mascots must abandon them by July or risk punishment that could include the withholding of state funds. But with the approval of the state, a handful of districts are working with tribes to keep some version of their mas- cots in exchange for concessions, including better classroom lessons on the history and culture of the state’s many tribes. ‘I think it’s great they’re having these conversations, but we only got here because there was a threat of taking away their discriminatory, race-based mascots.’ Sam Sachs founder of No Hate Zone, a racial rights advocacy website that don’t have tribal buy-in, she said. But even with collaboration, agreements at the high school and college levels can raise questions about the nature of the long-term relationship once a deal is inked, she said. State education offi cials ini- tially did not want to allow any exceptions to the mascot ban but eventually bowed to pres- sure from lawmakers last year. At the time, some tribal rights groups were angry at the weak- ening of the policy that had been one of the toughest in the nation. “You can have curriculum without exploiting and dehu- manizing Native American peo- ple,” said Sam Sachs, founder of No Hate Zone, a racial rights advocacy website. “I think it’s great they’re having these con- 70-plus years In Banks, nearly all the res- idents made it clear they didn’t want to give up the name Braves — and the tribe was willing to listen. “It’s been the nickname or the mascot for 70-plus years or so and it’s a symbol of pride and respect for our commu- nity,” said district Superinten- dent Jeff Leo, who oversees WHERE STYLE MEETS SUSTAINABILITY Schedule your FREE In-Home Consultation today! versations, but we only got here because there was a threat of taking away their discrimina- tory, race-based mascots.” The exemption has prompted a state lawmaker to introduce a bill that would ban all Native American mascots, with or without tribal input. Other opponents have threat- ened lawsuits over racial dis- crimination in schools. 1,000 students in the K-12 dis- trict 25 miles (40.23 kilome- ters) west of Portland. “We just didn’t say, ‘Oh, we’re going to keep the name. We looked into it, we read things. We didn’t take it lightly at all.” The district’s new mascot, designed by the tribe and dis- trict with help from Nike, will now be two capital B’s aligned back-to-back and surrounded by a zig-zagging line. Viewed horizontally, the B’s look like a mountain range and symbolize Join us for ECO-FRIENDLY WINDOW TREATMENTS the town’s location at the cross- roads of coastal mountains and a fertile valley. For the tribe, getting the dis- trict to update its curriculum was critical, said Reyn Leno, Grand Ronde tribal chairman. “If we can educate people as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable at a young age, we hope down the road we won’t have mascot issues,” he said. “And at the end of the day, the derogatory images are off the gym fl oor.” Of the 15 Oregon districts with tribal mascots, eight have either submitted a plan for approval or given notice to state education offi cials that they are working with a tribe or intend to do so, said Cindy Hunt, man- ager of the state Education Department’s division of gov- ernment and legal affairs. Four districts opted to change to a non-tribal mascot. The Warrenton-Hammond School Board voted Tuesday to move away from Native Amer- ican imagery in its mascots, in advance of a statewide ban that becomes effective next year. The Warrior mascot at War- renton High School will be redesigned to be non-native. The mascot will replace the Warrenton Grade School mas- cot, the Braves. In Banks, the agreement came with a price. During the next fi ve years, the district anticipates spend- ing up to $95,000 to erase the Indian head from uniforms, scoreboards, trophy cases and even letterhead, Leo said. The district has already wiped it off the gym fl oor, he said, and fourth-graders are using the tribe’s curriculum. The school also has a new Native Club. The close collaboration clearly impressed state offi cials Thursday. “I can only imagine the kind of learning that has taken place at that district and at the tribe,” said board Chairman Charles Martinez Jr. “It is humbling.” For those in Banks, a deal that lets them stay the Braves is worth it. When the “Star Span- gled Banner” is played at every game, the crowd joins in and tweaks the last stanza — “and the home of the Braves” — to thunderous applause. “I just remember at the end of the national anthem, feeling like they’re talking about us. It’s time for us to go kick some butt now,” said Chris Lyda, who played football and wres- tled at the high school before graduating in 1991. “I think it’s still going to end that way. It’s still going to be that reverberat- ing ‘Braves.’” MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY SATURDAY MARCH 25 • 11AM-2PM M DODGE NEW 2016 DART SE MSRP $19,675 ARCH -Lum’s Discount $2,226 FREE S ORDLES C PLUS 25 Off % Military Specials #396033 Select ries Signature Se Special Price S M ADNES The Best in Custom Blinds and Window Coverings SW Washington 503-738-5242 www.budgetblinds.com <*Applies to selected Signature Series ® window treatments by Budget Blinds. ® Some restrictions may apply. Ask for details. At participating franchises only. Not valid with any other offers, discounts or coupons. Valid for a limited time only. Offer good at initial time of estimate only. ©2015 Budget Blinds, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, Inc. and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. 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