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Colorado moves to ban Native American mascots in public schools, charter schools, and universities

Laura Ramirez

In this Jan. 15, 2019 photo, Skowhegan Area High School cheerleaders stand beneath a mural of the school's mascot on the wall of the gymnasium in Skowhegan, Maine. The last Maine high school to use an "Indian" nickname is retiring the mascot. The Skowhegan-based School Administrative District 54 Board of Directors voted 14-9 Thursday, March 7, 2019, to get rid of the nickname for all schools in the district, ending a years-long debate over the Skowhegan Area High School mascot. (Michael G. Seamans/Portland Press Herald via AP)

On Monday, Gov. Jared Polis signed SB21-116 banning native American mascots in all k-12 public schools, charter schools, and public universities in Colorado.

Exemptions exist for institutions on tribal land, as reported by Ed News Colorado. Institutions refusing to abide will be fined $25,000 for every month the institution continues to violate the banned, as stated in the bill. “The bill prohibits the use of American Indian mascots (mascots) by public schools, including charter and institute charter schools, and public institutions of higher education (public school) as of June 1, 2022. The bill imposes a fine of $25,000 per month for each month that a public school continues to use a mascot after such date, payable to the state education fund.”

The Denver Post reports that institutions named after a native tribe are allowed to keep the name as long as images or symbols are left out. Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs will be given the task to report institutions that continue to use native American mascots after June 1, 2022. The outlet further reports that various native tribes, such as the Ute Nation, Southern Ute Nation and Northern Arapaho Tribe, assisted lawmakers on the legislation.

ARTICLE: LAURA RAMIREZ

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: BANGOR DAILY NEWS

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