American Indian mascots up for debate

MISHICOT - Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers are proposing a bill that would require an investigation into complaints about American Indian mascots.

In the proposal, if the state superintendent finds the complaint has merit, the school in question would have to change its nickname within a year or face a significant fine.

The proposal was introduced by State. Rep. Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay).

"It's not an attempt to abolish them all but there have been complaints. This will give it an unbiased hearing at the state level," Rep. Soletski said.

Native Americans groups are praising the proposal as long overdue.

Brandon Stevens, a member of the Oneida Nation's tribal council, said a proposed ban on Indian nicknames and mascots would help reduce stereotypes of American Indians.

He said he finds it is offensive that natives are often portrayed as warriors.

"We're not warriors only. We're businessmen, entrepreneurs, we're community members, school board members. It just glorifies a small piece of what we really are," Stevens said.

However, school districts that use Indian nicknames, like Mishicot, say it is to honor those who lived here first. The city is named after Abraham Mishicot. He was the chief of the Potawatomi Tribe of Michigan.

Mishicot's superintendent, Colleen Timm, said the school received permission from the tribe to use his image with Indian headdress.

"I think there is a lot of pride in it. The students handle it very appropriately," Timm said.

In all, there are 39 school districts in Wisconsin with nicknames that are tied to Native Americans. In Northeast Wisconsin, there are six: the Shiocton Chiefs, the Berlin Indians, the Stockbridge Indians, the Weyauwega-Fremont Indians, the Mishicot Indians and the Kewaunee Indians.

"I think that's always the difficulty in the mascot issue, how do you find the common ground," Timm added.

She also said changing nicknames would also cost the Mishicot school district considerable money. But for some, a ban is the best way to ensure respect for American Indians.

"Drums, head dresses, war paint - its things like that that don't honor and respect what our people provide," Stevens said.

There will be a public hearing on the issue next month in Madison. It is scheduled for March 17. School boards will have the chance to argue their nicknames and mascots are not offensive.