Bill would end Tribal mascots
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – House Bill 1356, a student-driven piece of legislation, would ban American Indian names, symbols and images for use as public school mascots, logos or team names. If it passes, the measure would go into effect Jan. 2021.
The bill does not apply to schools located within reservations. There are 29 tribes in the state of Washington.
The bill contends that the use of such names and symbols singles out Native Americans for derision and cultural appropriation. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff, an Alaska native. She spoke at a hearing on the measure before the House Education Committee recently.
“Native Americans are not animals,” she said. “They are people. This is a bill of respect.”
She said that working for change in professional sports should extend to the high school level to give American Indian children a sense of respect. Lekanoff said only 31 high schools in Washington state still have the mascots in question.
Photo of Rep. Debra Lekanoff via Washington House Democrats
