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.

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?

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.

Andrew Bourassa: Scalp Towel Gets To The Heart Of Why We Need State Leadership On Mascots

Overflow turnout at yesterday's public hearing for Maine's bill to ban Native mascots in public schools produced seven speakers in opposition to the bill and at least twice that many in favor. LD 944 now proceeds to a work session (not yet scheduled) before the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs votes on whether or not to recommend passage of the bill by the full legislature.

Andrew Bourassa, Early Childhood Education Coach at KVCAP Child & Family Services which operates MSAD 54's preK programs, had the quote of the day when he told the Education committee:

"The scalp towel gets to the heart of why we need state leadership on mascots."



Bourassa also noted that "local control is surpassed by civil rights" and that Skowhegan "needs the government to be the adult in the room."

Some context for his remarks was muted when the committee chair asked the previous speaker, Mark Roman of Solon, to refrain from repeating examples of hate talk aimed at Maulian and Barry Dana, Penobscot Indians who have led the successful effort to retire Skowhegan's Native mascot. "We will read them," Rep. Victoria Kornfield told Roman after interrupting him to ask if it was desirable to amplify hate speech. 

This gave Roman a chance to model the very thing that mascot changers in Skowhegan have been teaching all along: if someone says your actions harm them, listen -- and be willing to change.

Both Kornfield and my wonderful husband spoke respectfully to each other and resolved their disagreement.

Barry Dana kicked off yesterday's testimony with a moving description of his own experiences playing sports for the Old Town Indians which changed their mascot years ago. He questioned whether Native mascots honor as they are said to do, and made the historical observation:

"Being fierce warriors didn't work out so well for us...we've been trying to be diplomats for 500 years."

Dana also noted that "it is a challenge for Native students to be successful" and they don't need additional blocks that lower their self-esteem. "Would you want to allow your schools to harm your students?"

Other speakers of note yesterday included Sherri Mitchell (Penobscot) and Dwayne Tomah (Passamoquoddy).  Unfortunately I missed their testimony because I was in a meeting.

Five members of the MSAD 54 school board: Peggy Lovejoy, Derek Ellis, Sarah Bunker, Kathy Wilder -- all in favor -- and of course Jennifer Poirier, who leads the opposition in Skowhegan. According to my husband, Poirier's testimony drew heavily on material from NAGA, the organization associated with the Washington DC football team with the racist name.

One of LD 944's co-sponsors, Rep. Lois Galgay Rickett, described cutting off the offensive logo of that team from fan gear she had purchased "and I've survived nicely."

Bunker noted that there was a school board election going forward that very day in the MSAD 54 town of Canaan serving as a sort of referendum on the local mascot issue where Board Chair Dixie Ring was running for re-election. I woke this morning to find the good news that she won against a write-in candidate vowing to restore the Indian mascot at Skowhegan area schools. Ring previously told a reporter for the local paper that she had listened to Native people and changed her mind on the mascot issue.

My favorite speaker during the time I was able to listen to the audio feed from the hearing was a nine year old who spoke just after his mother. I didn't catch his first name but was riveted by his articulate and well-reasoned testimony. Also envious of the curriculum his older sibling described receiving in downeast Maine at the middle school level. 

Skowhegan students had less flattering things to say about their district's educational efforts around Maine Native history and culture.  Adelle Belanger, a senior who represented SAHS at Girls State last summer, described her four years:

We used to have this one day. Freshman year we had actual Native Americans come and talk but we weren’t allowed to ask them questions about the mascot. Sophomore year we had one website with a bunch of broken links... Junior year fell on a snow day. Nothing yet this year. 

Anyone claiming that we are getting education by having a mascot of Native Americans: that’s not true.

My favorite citizen lobbyist on environmental issues, Hilary Lister, pointed out that "the institutional endorsement" of Native mascots is a form of bullying. She described her own high school years at Nokomis when the Warrior was their mascot, "a stereotypical silhouette with Western headdress" support for which "manifested in ways that were really mocking." She described fake war dances and whooping, "mockery of a culture...while everyone sat silent...When you allow a person to be a mascot, it's easy to turn them into a stereotype."

Speakers in opposition had long since ceased when the final speaker in favor came to the microphone, a woman whose name I unfortunately missed. She sealed the deal by describing Maine's developing reputation as a racist state due to headlines generated by our former governor's many racist remarks to the press, and a white supremacist who gained notoriety before he was fired from his position as town manager in Jackman.

"I have childhood friends who are afraid to visit me here," she told the committee. "We have an opportunity with this bill to turn that around."

Amen to that, sister.