Oregon governor to veto bill allowing some Indian mascots

Monday, August 5, 2013  

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) is set to veto a bill that allows public schools to keep their Indian mascots with approval of the local tribe.

Last year, the Oregon Board of Education voted 5-1 to prohibit schools from using Native American names, symbols or images as mascots. Affected schools were given until 2017 to make changes.

But the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde objected and said they should be allowed to sanction the use of Indian mascots. They supported passage of Senate Bill 215, which Kitzhaber is due to veto.

The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Oregon Indian Education Association and the National Indian Education Association support the ban on Indian mascots.

Get the Story:
John Kitzhaber set to veto bill allowing Native American mascots in Oregon (The Oregonian 8/3)

Se-ah-dom Edmo: Indian mascots a dishonor to tribal people (07/03)
Oregon governor set to veto bill with Indian mascot exception (7/2)