FIGHTING INDIANS Documentary: A People Unconquered

Dwayne Tomah speaks in the Passamoquoddy language to the school board: "I'm not feeling honored."
Source: still from video Skowhegan Mascot Public Forum Jan 2019 by Somerset Community TV 11.

Last night we saw the premiere of a documentary about the successful struggle to retire the last "Indian" school mascot in Maine. 

The Maine International Film Festival (MIFF24) presented FIGHTING INDIANS by Skowhegan High School alums Mark Cooley and Derek Ellis as a work-in-progress, but it is pretty nearly finished.

Full disclosure: I watched the film with special interest as I knew it was likely I would appear at some point, and we sat with one of the cinematographers, John Harlow, and his family. His late father Doug Harlow's byline on a newspaper article was one of many poignant images for me. So was seeing my great-niece Leah Savage speaking at a public forum accompanied by her sister Sydalia. Ditto seeing my former student and neighbor Sikwani Dana as a young girl testifying to how hard it is to grow up Native in central Maine.

Source: still from video Skowhegan Mascot Public Forum Jan 2019 by Somerset Community TV 11.

Her sister Maulian Dana and their dad Barry carry the film's narrative, appropriately enough since they led the years long retirement drive. Maulian works as the Ambassador of the Penobscot Nation and Barry is a chief who served the tribe years ago in that capacity. John Bear Mitchell, also Penobscot and a professor at the University of Maine campus built on land ceded by the tribe, was a third strong voice in the film. Dwayne Tomah, a Passamoquoddy language and culture keeper who gifted us with a gathering song as a special treat before the screening, was a rare treat; his appearance in full regalia to speak in Passamoquoddy to the school board in 2019 was riveting and an anchor for the film. 

I know all these people, so I'm not an impartial reviewer.

The filmmakers skillfully built their story from a huge trove of material, and they made the bold decision to include the context of struggles to retire professional sports "Indian" mascots and team names. Also the land theft, massacres, child removal, and tokenization Native people have endured since Columbus raped his way into the "New" World. It's a big topic and maybe the film is a little too long, but not much. For the final edit I'd advise cutting some of the sports journalists' remarks and some of the background material on the Washington DC football team's efforts to buy influence with Native people nationwide.

Strong use of social media posts by the Skowhegan "Indian Pride" group and its supporters told the tale that interviews could not -- because few would agree to be interviewed for the project. Still, we heard from them plenty in videos of school board meetings and public forums. An excellent example was a young woman who claims Native ancestry and who played a drum so ignorantly that it elicited face palms of embarassment for her from the actual Natives in the audience.

Because you can't just paint your face or put feathers in your hair or play a drum and become "Indian" -- and that is the main point of the film. 

In Maine, Wabanaki people -- an umbrella term for the five remaining tribes -- explain that seeing things sacred to their ceremonies being ignorantly misused is painful. Their identity can't be faked; it has to be learned from infancy, through practice, and we see a bit of this in the film.

FIGHTING INDIANS includes my testimony to the school board at a public forum in February, 2019. I had permission from Maulian to read some of the nasty, misogynist, racist slurs and threats against her from comments on social media. She wanted the school board to hear the reality giving lie to the ubiquitous claim that the school mascot "honored" Native people. One of the comments I shared: "We conquered them and can use them however we like."

But the Wabanaki have survived attempted genocide, and are a people unconquered. 

Source: still from video Barry Dana - Wigwam at the Univ. of Maine, Orono

Twelve thousand years of continuous existence in what's now called Maine makes them a people determined to survive in order to honor their ancestors who endured slaughter and child abuse at the hands of the state.

Kudos to Ellis and Cooley. This is an important film, a landmark in Maine history. I had not anticipated how much the audience would laugh during this film about difficult truths, but it seemed appropriate because humor is a strong element in Wabanaki culture. Maybe even a survival strategy?

Appropriately for a theatre full of activists, we were sent home with an action item: call Gov. Janet Mills and urge her to sign legislation honoring the sovereignty of Maine's Native governments. Contact info for the Governor: 207-287-3531 or email using her contact form. 

FIGHTING INDIANS can be seen again tonight (July 11, 2021) at the Skowhegan Drive-in as MIFF24 continues. Tickets are available here. 

Racism Report From Central Maine -- It's Not Good; Black Family With Sick Child Harassed At Skowhegan KFC

People I know in Canaan, a rural town near Skowhegan, Maine, received this charming notice in the mail recently. It appears to refer to this event organized by a group associated with one of the most vocal of the (now retired) mascot keepers.

As you can see here, the event was created by the infamous white nationalist who was fired from his job as town manager of Jackman, Maine based on racist posts to social media.

Some people who I respect say, Why give the white supremacists this kind of free publicity? And I get that. So, the name of the fired town manager is in an image, not text that could be searched, and I won't be putting his name in the Labels (tags) section of this blogging platform either. But, here's why.

Because Maine for Mainers and "The Way Maine Should Be" are dog whistles for white supremacy. 

And white supremacy beliefs lead to tragically cruel behavior toward people of color. Like this, which happened this week in Skowhegan:

Is it ironic that KFC, a brand associated with a stereotypical old white Southern guy, is in the same store as Taco Bell? 

Is it unrelated that Rep. Jared Golden has his office staff in DC tell constituents that harassment of people of color by ICE "doesn't really affect Maine's 2nd District" and thus "isn't really on his radar" because it's mostly white, mostly rural Maine?

I think the failure of Democrats like Golden and Nancy Pelosi to stand up against Nativist, racist harassment of people of color is a huge factor in today's climate of fear for people of color.

Even little children of color who suffer from chronic, life-threatening illness.

When my (white) friend's (white) daughter with seizure disorder has one in public in Skowhegan, people rush to help them. I've been there to witness it, more than once.

Is Skowhegan the only or even the most racist place in Maine? Hardly. But it racked up a national reputation for itself due to the many ugly, violent statements and threats made by the Skowhegan "I__n" Pride group during the 2015-2019 period of struggle to replace their offensive high school mascot.

Photo credit: Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty

What does it say about where we're headed when brown toddlers are penned up in stinking pens at the border? The same thing it says when Katelyn and her friends mock a Black father for praying in Arabic as his little girl seizes while he prepares her medication.

White does not make right.

Compassion makes right. Care for other human beings makes right. Courage to stand with targeted groups makes right.

Maybe you have wondered what you would have done during the historical tragedy of the Holocaust that persecuted Jewish people in Europe and resulted in 6 million being murdered -- many in concentration camps.

Now you know, because you're doing it.

Help Needed! Tell The Maine Senate, We Need LD 944 Because The Locals Are Out Of Control

A die-hard Skowhegan _____ Pride member laying down at the edge of a very busy road on Sunday, April 28, 2019.

As you may know, the school board in Skowhegan -- MSAD 54 -- has been targeted by the mob clinging to their now retired Native mascot and team name. Threats were shouted, specifically at Chair Dixie Ring, at their last meeting when they voted not to hold a referendum on the mascot issue. You can see this disgraceful treatment of the recently re-elected Ring of Canaan in this video.



(If the embedded video doesn't work for you, view it here on Somerset Community TV 11's YouTube channel.)

What you can't see:

* The drunk husband of a school board member who organizes Skowhegan _______ Pride threatening the wife of another school board member as he leaves the meeting (some say, was asked to leave by one of the five -- yes, five -- uniformed Skowhegan police officers on duty that night). It is now considered dangerous to hold a board meeting in Skowhegan without a strong police presence.

* Me peeking out the door to check if it was safe to go to the parking lot, seeing police officers and, as a white person, thinking, Yup, it's ok to walk to my car alone now.

* Another board member -- the one who sounds the most incoherent and angry in the video -- giving the middle finger to a Skowhegan Area High School teacher who favored change and was driving past the area where the S_P group protests on Sunday (see photo of one of them above).

How can you help?

Write to the Democrats in the Maine Senate TODAY.

I expect that they will vote on LD 944, An act to ban Native mascots in all schools, on Tuesday, so time is of the essence!

It will help quell the mob in Skowhegan if this bill, which has already passed the House, is enacted.

Here is a handy web page with a contact form for each Maine senator whose vote we need to pass this legislation:

If you copy and paste your message into each senator's form, it goes rather quickly.

Note that I heard back from Senate Majority Leader Nate Libby in the affirmative when I wrote to him a few weeks ago:

In case you think this is a slam dunk, the Republican senator representing Skowhegan got the vote on the bill delayed last week -- on the thin pretext that it was a day of mourning for Corporal Eugene Cole who was killed by a drug addict in nearby Norridgewock a year ago -- but really so that more arm twisting could ensue.

Please help the MSAD 54 school board, which has done the right thing at last, stand firm in the face of local control that is more like local out-of-control. Civil rights are at stake. Thank you.

Maine House Passes Ban On Native Mascots, School Board Set To Say No Referendum

Yesterday the Maine House passed LD 944, An act to ban Native American mascots in all schools by a large margin, 88-54. 

Associated Press picked up the story which I saw in U.S. News & World Report including this local news: 

The Maine Education Department has urged schools to refrain from using mascots and logos depicting Native Americans. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and several tribal leaders have said Skowhegan's former mascot "Indians" harmed Native Americans. 

 
The school retired the nickname last month.

The action on this bill now moves to the Maine Senate.

Senate Democrats have an easy to use contact form for each senator. You can copy and paste your message into each senator's contact form to save time. The vote in the House was largely along party lines, with the notable exception of Democrat Rep. Betty Austin of Skowhegan who not only voted against the bill but spoke against it prior to voting.

Austin came out in favor of local control. Folks who know her call her a "nice lady" who was once their children's bus driver. Several have noted that she was under "a lot of pressure" which I'm pretty sure means she has been harassed and threatened by Skowhegan I#$%*# Pride members who have been doing the same to me and my sister since we spoke publicly in favor of retirement.

SIP will be on hand Thursday night for a school board meeting which will consider their request to hold referendums in the six towns of the district, MSAD 54. The meeting at 7pm at the Skowhegan Area Middle School will consider a petition submitted with allegedly thousands of unverified signatures asking for a referendum to overturn the March 7 vote to "respectfully retire" the mascot.



It is unlikely the board will vote to undermine their own authority by holding a non-binding referendum on a topic they have thoroughly researched and considered before rendering their decision. On January 8 they listened for three hours at a public forum on the mascot (video of that meeting can be seen here).

Supporters of a new sports name/nickname/mascot are asked to wear red as a show of silent solidarity with the March 7 decision. 

Local Control, Or Local Out-of-Control?

Me looking on as my sister Hope talks to the Waterville Morning Sentinel about why the mascot should be retired.
"Sisters taking up Indian mascot issue with Skowhegan school board" 11/19/18  photo credit: David Leaming

My sister Hope has a way with words. Her "I Listened" essay from remarks to the school board back in November currently has 7,698 views on my repost of it.

Yesterday, she sent emails to all of Maine's Democratic Senators.

Dear Maine Lawmakers, 

I write today urging you to pass LD944, a bill to ban the use of Native Americans as mascots.   

Lest you think I am “from away” as has been charged by those wishing to keep the SAD54 “Indian” mascot against those advocating for changing the mascot, let me say now I am a resident and homeowner in Skowhegan and live on the same block as my family has resided for eight generations.

Our dad Mark Elliott Savage (1932-1988) played many sports for Skowhegan.

My grandfather, Brooks Savage, served in the Maine Senate. My great nieces and nephews attend Skowhegan Area High School currently.  

Also not “from away” are the Penobscot Tribal Nation members, the original inhabitants of these lands, who have strongly asked that SAD54 refrain from insulting them by stereotyped usage of them as school mascots and pretending to be them, insisting it is an “honor” to be so used. It is because of the objection of the four tribes of the Wabanaki Federation that I advocate for the passage of this law.

Leaving this issue in the hands of locals has not been successful at resolving this civil rights issue. 

People who went to Skowhegan High School insist they be allowed to “keep our dear name” because it has always been used (though it was not in use when my grandfather attended SHS), and demand that Native Americans see it as an honor, despite being told it is insulting. 

Here’s how I see it...if your race has slaughtered another race in order to steal their land, banishing them and making laws prohibiting them from using their own language, religion and customs, stolen their children and put them in residential schools to train them to not act like their tribe..you don’t get to now pretend to be them and demand they feel honored by it.

Our Native American friends, neighbors and classmates deserve to be protected from being mocked, stereotyped and degraded by Maine’s educational institutions. 

We would not allow SAHS to call themselves Skowhegan Negros and have the gym floor depict a stereotype of a black man’s head!  This no different and the behavior of those wishing to continue using Native Americans this way make comments online like “we conquered them and can use them however we want."  A seated SAD54 school board member, Jennifer Poirier, hosts these hostile, racist comments on her Skowhegan Indian Pride Facebook page and actively undermines the school board’s vote to remove the mascot, against all ethics rules and agreements to which board members have agreed to be held. 

The level of racist rhetoric, on a scale of 1-10 in Skowhegan right now is 11.  High school students are flying confederate flags on their cars! Penobscot Nation representatives receive threats of death, gang rape and being traded for beaver grease and beer. Memes saying things like “My Indian Name Is Runs With Beer” depicting a drunk stereotyped Indian are common. Citizens are being harassed and threatened at their workplaces and in town for advocating for changing the mascot. So much for honor being the motive.

Local control unfortunately has led to local abuse and malfeasance. 

Let’s make sure our state can puts this behavior behind us by outlawing outdated racial abuse.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you agree that racism has no place in our schools and vote yes on LD944.

Hope Savage

Skowhegan, Maine

Several Maine lawmakers have responded to me that they support LD 944, including Senate Majority Leader Nate Libby. Here's a reply Hope received from a senator she sent her message to:

Thanks to everyone advocating for the passage of LD 944. And special thanks to Skowhegan alumna Allison Dorko for permission to use a phrase she coined as my headline today:

Local control, or local out-of-control?

Should Civil Rights Be Subject To Referendum?

Middle school cheerleader Liz Turner addressing the board about how schools are governed. I admire her courage and respect her right to express her beliefs, but she was not well-informed on the topic. A kerfuffle in the crowd just after this point in the video causes one of four police officers to step forward to quiet SIP supporters who were hissing at my husband and others using their phones to record testimony. "She's a child, you need her parents' permission," was what I heard. Not sure they understand laws about public meetings, either. Full video on Somerset Community TV 11's YouTube channel here.

Oddly, now that the mascot has been retired in Skowhegan, supporters are coming out of the woodwork. Where were they when the debate was raging from November to March, including a public hearing in January that drew only eleven speakers for their side? It's unclear.

It may have taken the March 7 vote by the school board to activate their view of themselves as victims. 

Since most are undereducated, bewildered when they do testify, and possibly struggling to make ends meet, they do appear to resemble a MAGA crowd enabled by a national spokesman telling them what victims they are.

Their insistence on not accepting the board's considered decision was on full display at this week's meeting. The context is an unprecedented effort to put matters of educational policy to a referendum in the towns of the district.

The referendum request raises a very important issue: can civil rights be subject to local control?

To reason by analogy, what happened when school segregation under Jim Crow was subject to local control?



Now, Confederate flags are appearing on cars at Skowhegan Area High School.

This pic was shared with me by a parent whose child has been targeted with ugly language and violent threats (which can be seen here by scrolling down to a screenshot of a post by skowheganlegend1 on Instagram) because of support for honoring Native people's request to retire the mascot. The parent noted that Black students were entering the school at the time this photo was taken.

There is a great emphasis on loss in displaying this flag, as well as in the testimony of those clinging to the retired mascot. "It was taken away" or "ripped away" are typical ways this is expressed.

It's a theme that also emerges in this odd letter from board member Jennifer Poirier who "honors" Native people by lobbying the Maine legislature not to pass a bill changing Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day.




Meanwhile, the bill to ban Native mascots statewide came out of committee and is making its way through the legislature. If passed, LD 944 would render the results of a referendum moot. I'll end with this encouraging message I received in reply to an email to Senate Majority Leader Nate Libby:

Congratulations, Senator Libby. You listened, you matured, and you changed your mind. I appreciate your leadership on this important civil rights issue.

Governor Weighs In On Banning Native American Mascots. Or Does She?

I don't have time to do a proper blog post about last night's board meeting in Skowhegan. So I'm going to paste in my live comments from last night, plus a few from others who attended. I'll finish with an email I received from Governor Janet Mills expressing support for banning Native mascots in school sport, but falling far short of saying she intends to sign LD 944 if it makes it to her desk.


(My posts to Skowhegan Indigenous Peoples Day group on Facebook in real time 4/4/19)

We are here at the Skowhegan school board meeting. They have gone into executive session to consult their lawyers (again, we're guessing this time about the request to hold a referendum to overturn the March 7 mascot retirement). Chair Dixie Ring read us the riot act first thing, stressing decorum. Lots of SIP here in their Outlaw gear. One tepid performance of the Skowhegan fight song thus far. Local press is here plus three uniformed police officers.

Oops make that 4 officers, one in each corner.

100 people we estimate.

Dixie allowing 6-7 speakers. First one claiming her 6 year old said mascot was retired by people "who don't like Indians."

Next speaker talking about "we get our rights from our Creator" and then immediately cites 1st amendment. I could be wrong but I think he's wearing a Dale Earnhardt hat.

Now a young woman is making an inclusion argument to say if someone is offended that is their personal problem "and they should work on that." She is confused and confusing. Now she says "we are hurt and disappointed."

Girl in full cheerleader regalia Liz Turner middle school student speaking now. She starts by sharing that she is from away. Also very confusing. She has on quite an outfit and people near us are hissing angrily at Mark taking her photo as she addresses the board. "She's a child, you need her parents' permission to take her picture." Hmmm wonder if the journalists got that?

Now another student pointing out "if you notice a lot of people here are wearing Indians."

SIP is done. Board has not yet taken up referendum nor did any speaker mention it.

Lynda Quinn just said referendum would be futile and a big waste of $ because non-binding and LD944.

Now lawyer is talking. Legislature gives school boards right and duty to make all decisions regarding schools. Public speaks via elections.

Jenn Poirier wants the non-binding vote. So she and Lynda Quinn, who both voted to keep the mascot, have split on this issue.

Todd Smith wants to know what the cost will be. Notes "the state issue could go one way or another and no doubt it will."

Harold Bigelow says vote to retire was influenced by outside elements. Gets applause from crowd, admonished by chair.

Both Bigelow and Jean Franklin have alluded to budget not being approved by voters.

Dixie: has to be a 2/3 vote to add an agenda item. (Later note: This was in reference to Bigelow and Todd Smith wanting to hold a vote on whether to hold a referendum, without prior notice to board members who were absent last night.)

Amy Rouse asking where were the people in the audience tonight when we had the public forum in January?

Poirier says her constituents just expect her to know what they're thinking without sitting through a 3 hour meeting.

Peggy Lovejoy: most of the calls I got before the vote were in favor of change. Since the vote most have been against the change.

Nancy Blaisdell Baxter Board caved and agreed to put the Referendum question on the April 25th agenda. Colbry said at end of session to friends in audience that "this was a $3000. meeting".

To: Lisa Savage

April 4, 2019

Subject: Message from Governor Mills

Thank you for contacting me about legislation to ban Native American mascots in public schools. I appreciate your views on this issue.

Maine has a long history of strained tribal relations. I am committed to improving communication and trust between the four Tribes, the state, and local governments so that together, we can improve the lives, opportunities, and wellbeing of all our people. As Governor-elect, I sent a letter to the Skowhegan School Board urging them to end the use of “Indians” as their mascot, and was pleased by the March 7th vote to do so.

I believe that offensive names for teams, schools, and mascots have no place in our society. According to the American Psychological Association, the use of Native American mascots has harmful effects on Native American youth and perpetuates the marginalization of Native people. That is why the Maine Department of Education asked schools statewide to avoid the use of hurtful mascots and to develop policies and procedures in that vein. As Governor, I will work with everyone to respect and maintain the cultural identity and the right of self-governance of Native Americans in this state.

It is time to heal the divisions of our past and bring the State and Maine’s tribal communities together to build a future shaped by mutual trust and respect. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Janet T. Mills
Governor

Native American Mascots: Local Control Or Civil Rights Issue? You Be The Judge

The group in Skowhegan still clinging to their now retired mascot/team name has had a rough week, so at least one of them has reached out to people from away for advice. The screenshot above is acknowledgement that the struggle has now moved from the local school board -- which voted March 7 for retirement -- to the Maine legislature.

LD 944, An Act to Ban Native American Mascots in Maine Public Schools, advanced yesterday from the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs to the House of Representatives.

It was amended to explicitly include public universities before the 8-5 vote along party lines to advance the bill with an Ought to pass designation. Rep. Michael Brennan (D-Portland) offered the amendment and also his view that banning Native school mascots is a civil rights issue that supersedes local control.

Penboscot Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana was on hand for the committee's work session and reported:

Skowhegan Indian Pride was chastised quite publicly and explicitly for their behavior and lack of civility....SIP members were criticized for their behavior at the public hearing not the work session. They were very quiet today.

Some of the lack of civility referenced was reported by a speaker on deck who witnessed the harassment of an MSAD 54 school board director who was at the podium. A SIP supporter passed directly behind him and hissed an obscenity concerning his own mom in a stage whisper.

Barry Dana and daughter Maulian spoke respectfully on the occasions when they addressed the legislature or the MSAD 54 school board about the mascot issue. Barry has written of Wabanaki people, "Being fierce warriors didn't work out so well for us...we've been trying to be diplomats for 500 years."

And then there was the SIPster who identified herself as a tutor at Skowhegan Area Middle School (staff there told me she is not actually an employee but does sometimes work as a substitute). As reported by Maine Public Broadcasting's coverage of the public hearing:

Gloria Gordon of Skowhegan went a step further. A middle school tutor who is white, Gordon said the bill is another example of how Native Americans and other minorities are being given “special treatment.” 

“We’ve been discriminated against just like they have. We’re becoming a minority. Other minority groups that have been considered minorities are getting special treatment right now, not only the Native Americans but the Mexicans."

Meanwhile, back in Skowhegan, SIP disrupted a March 21 meeting in what one person who was present described as "at times, abusive" behavior toward the MSAD 54 school board. You can watch video of the meeting here and judge for yourself.



A SIP group has been showing up during the time we hold a weekly peaceful demonstration against wars and kleptocratic government on the bridge in Skowhegan. Last Sunday they behaved like they were at a school board meeting. This reportedly ruffled feathers in the congregation of the Federated Church on the island by disturbing their church service with prolonged noise.

So it goes. I could share comments on my blog, or other screenshots containing threats of violence (for example, against a woman who has been working with the local Wal-mart to remove merchandise with the now retired mascot). But I think I'll conclude with this one:

Stay classy, SIP. That strategy seem to be working.

Downeast Brother: I Would Feel Embarrassed Running In A Tank-top With A Picture Of A Native American's Head On It

UC Santa Cruz where one of my nieces went to school has a great mascot: the banana slug.

Some of the strongest testimony to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee about banning Native mascots was given by two boys who were skipping school. 😂

I found out yesterday that theirs was not the only family that sat down together to write statements they would submit for the public record. As a teacher, I consider this a highly educational activity even before the public speaking component is added!

Because their mom witnessed the harassment of another speaker while he was at the podium (a Skowhegan I#$%^* Pride supporter passed directly behind and hissed an obscenity at him in a stage whisper), she has shared these with me but asked that I not identify her sons by name or school.

Senator Millett, Representative Kornfield, and honorable members of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs,

I am here to support LD 944, An Act to Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools. First, I want everybody to remember that Native Americans are people with feelings, not an animal or an object that should be used for a mascot, like a hornet or a dog.

Bowdoin College in Brunswick where I went to school has a polar bear mascot.

The mascots are not honoring, they are taking what is not ours and using it to represent us. Wabanaki people have kept saying that they do not feel honored, but the exact opposite. We invaded them for their land, and used them as symbols for sports teams, but they are people. Not mascots that somebody thought up.

I am on my school’s cross-country team. Our school mascot is a ripped bulldog. I would feel terrible and embarrassed running across a finish line with dozens of people watching me in a tank-top with a picture of a Native American’s head on it. 

The American Psychological Association has stated that racist mascots teach non-Native kids to discriminate against Native kids. While affecting non-Native kids in one way, it also harms Native kids’ self-esteem.

In conclusion, please make the right choice and pass the LD944 bill. Thank you.

(9-year-old Downeast brother)

Senator Millett, Representative Kornfield, and honorable members of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs,

I am here to support the bill LD944, An Act to Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools.

Albert and Alberta are the Gator mascots of the University of Florida at Gainesville

When you think about a mascot, what do you picture? Most mascots are either animals or professions. That means that when you put a group of people on a mascot, it is putting them on the same level as dogs. That just isn't alright.

You wouldn't have the mascot be the Chinese or the African Americans or even the Caucasians, so why do it to any other ethnic group?  

Imagine this scenario. The thumbs up is obviously a good thing for people in the USA, but not for some other countries. You don’t know this, and you go into another country where thumbs up is offensive and you congratulate a friend there with a thumbs up. The friend gets upset, and they ask you why you made an insulting gesture. You say you didn’t know that was an insult, apologize, and you don’t proceed to flaunt the thumbs up sign. You don’t say that it is respecting them, because it isn’t. It’s the same way for mascots.

When a group of people depicted by a mascot says they don’t want it, you don’t say you are respecting them, you just drop the mascot.

Whenever a group of people is depicted on a mascot, someone is going to get upset, and schools are supposed to be protecting people and helping them when they are upset. That means that in the moral code of schools, no group of people should be put on a mascot. Just keep it to the animals.

As a study by the American Psychological Association says, Native American mascots are hurting all students. They teach non-native children to be racist, and they make a hostile environment for Native students, as well as damaging their self-esteem. Please make the right choice, and pass the bill.

Thank you.

(12-year-old Downeast brother)

Incidentally, these boys also conducted research by listening to the testimony of Skowhegan students in a video of  the school board's public forum on January 8.

It consoles me to know that the whole mascot debacle has been an occasion for educating youth around the state in the English Language Arts I love: research, writing, listening and speaking.

I'll bet there was some reading in there, too. Woot!