Redskins mascot: tribute or disrespect?
Senior Sean Bernard led the football team at the bonfire, wearing the traditional headdress.
“Maybe mascot names aren’t necessary,” Andrew Kelderman said.
Wichita North High School’s mascot has been “Redskins” since the school was built in 1929. Through the years, controversy has sprung up on whether the term “Redskins” is racist.
“I am personally not offended by mascots, such as the Fighting and Flying Dutchmen that refer to my ethnicity. However, I am sympathetic to the fact that some people are. Terms that are socially or politically correct today might be offensive to some a few years from now and vice versa,” said Kelderman.
Kelderman was a student at North and he now teaches chemistry here.
He said, “There are quite a few mascots out there that various segments of the population might find offensive.
Maybe the bigger question here is whether or not a mascot should be used if it offends even one person
— Teacher Andrew Kelderman
“In the only recent poll to ask native people about the subject, 90 percent of respondents did not consider the term offensive,” according to a CBS story about the NFL team, the Washington Redskins.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/10/08/how-many-native-americans-think-redskins-is-a-slur/
Elaine Yellowhorse from the Pine Ridge Indian reservation said, “There are just so many other things we need to worry about, and we have bigger issues to deal with than that.”
Students and alumni of North tend to feel strongly about the topic.
“North uses the Redskins as a symbol of being brave, almost like a warrior. We take pride in our mascot and would never mean it to be offensive. North wouldn’t be the culture-rich school that it is today if its mascot was something else,” said Sophomore Madison Lutz.
Most alumni feel the same way.
Mark Smalley graduated from North in 1991 and his father went to North, as well.
“When I was a little kid, my dad would always tell me about the traditions of North and all about the cultural meanings behind it. That’s what made me excited to go there. I didn’t want to go anywhere else. If they change the mascot my son won’t be able to experience the awesome things that me and my dad did.”
North has a lot of spirit and one of the loudest student sections in the City League.
Junior Cody Couch said, “North doesn’t have the best sports teams, but we always take pride in our school. The Redskin mascot plays a huge role in that. Even if we lose a football game we cheer for the team as if they won. If Redskins was taken away it would never be the same because to us, Redskins shows strength and power.”
How do the coaches feel?
Wrestling Coach Jacob Johnston quoted a famous poet, Robert Frost, when giving his reply. “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper.” In response to that quote, Johnston said, “It’s always good to have an educated discussion on any topic.”
“It would be a terrible shame if we had to change the mascot, but I can understand how it may offend certain people.
There are many Native Americans that go to North or have worked at North who embrace our mascot.
— Coach Kyle Sanders
Basketball coach Gary Squires said, “It represents who and what we are, and it’s a great school mascot. We take pride in what it represents. It’s really all about tradition. When I’m at a basketball game and I see the North High cheerleaders doing the traditional War Cry dance, it sends chills down my spine and it just makes me that much more ready to start the game. The tradition should continue to stay the same.”
If you have attended North or even stepped foot in the building you’d realize that “Redskins” is an important part of the school.
Sophomore Lauren Sanchez said, “If they changed the mascot we’d have to have a whole new school built. Even the architecture on the outside of the building represents Native American culture. North is the way it is because of our mascot, and I think it needs to stay that way so all of the future students will have just as great of an experience as former and past students have had.”
Sharon Ann Dorrance • Feb 6, 2021 at 8:37 pm
I attended North 1957-59 I have always been very proud of my school, it’s teams, it’s history. My dad attended North. The idea of changing its mascot and team names seems disrespectful of both all of the alumni and the tribes. I have never thought about that name as disrespectful, more a tribute to a proud tribal nation.
Just my feelings on the matter, PLEASE leave this historical school and its teams and architecture as it has always been.
North High School 1959
JAI HILLIARD • Jan 27, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Given the unique landmarks in close proximity to North are Meade Island and the Minisa Bridge. In 1928, the Wichita Indians built a ceremonial lodge on the north end of Meade Island in the middle of the Arkansas River. The lodge was fashioned after Father Juan Padilla’s church, the first church in America. When the city decided to build a new bridge across the river, Mrs. Ethel Parker, English teacher at North, suggested to the city planners that the construction incorporate a design similar to that of North High School. Upon completion, the bridge was named “Minisa” which means “Red Water at Sunset”
Reflecting on the history of the school and its unique origin I would propose a name change to SCOUTS, this name would a similar connotation but less offensive and still tie in with North’s unique heritage.
North High Class of 1985
Charlene • Jul 23, 2020 at 9:44 am
I attended North, my son, my sister, and my mother attended North in early 1940’s
Being of Native heritage none of us were offended by the mascot. My understanding, per conversation of elders, our Native people at the beginning of North were asked and actually glad to be recognized . Do we take a chance and go against our elders?
I don’t want that on my shoulders. Also, that an Eastern tribe painted themselves red to go into battle. I would like the mascot remain, however I am offended by the attire that cheer squad wears.
Hopefully “Butch”, the buffalo, is always there. We need to realize that we could find something in almost anything that would defend someone . Such as, how about the pioneer girl on Blue Bonnet butter ? Or maybe we need to find a new word for “crackers”. Grandma would only buy the Land-of-Lakes butter because of the Native girl on the packaging. She, being full blood. said she felt recognized.