California school to keep most of its Indian imagery

The Carpinteria Unified School District voted narrowly to retain most of the Indian imagery associated with Carpinteria High School.

Members of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and other Native Americans opposed the use of the "Warriors" mascot. A committee recommended the elimination or alteration of all Indian imagery at the school.

But the school board voted 3-2 to keep all but two "Warrior" images. "I'm disappointed with the board’s decision,” Eli Matisz Cordero, a 16-year-old Chumash student, told The Santa Barbara Daily Sound. "We’re going to continue to fight this fight. It’s not over.”

The school will get rid of the “scowling warrior” image and the profile of an Indian on the floor mats in the high school’s front office.

Get the Story:
Carpinteria board votes to retain Native American images as part of school regalia (The Los Angeles Times 3/18)
Carpinteria to retain most Native American imagery (The Santa Barbara Daily Sound 3/18)