The debate over the use of Native American imagery in school mascots has ignited passions in Metro East, Illinois, where a bill that would ban such representations has passed the House and is now being weighed by the Senate. At a rally held at Collinsville High School, students and community members from various school districts including Collinsville, Mascoutah, and Granite City came together to express their opposition to House Bill 1237, which, if enacted, would demand they abandon their Native mascots.
Local advocates for the mascots argue that they are a source of pride and unity, rather than mockery or offense. Granite City High School senior Ivette Rios shared with KSDK that for her, "being a warrior just means how we, Granite (City), and the community as a city comes together and truly fights." Collinsville student Eric Denny also stated, "Our mascot wasn't created out of mockery; it was chosen out of admiration. Native American warriors have been symbols of strength, courage, and resilience for many years. These values we try to live by on and off the field." On the fiscal front, Mascoutah Superintendent Dr. Dave Deets, voiced concerns about the expense, estimating the cost for a rebrand to range from $1.5 million to $2 million in Mascoutah alone.
While the local community rallies to protect their mascots, organizations advocate for the removal of Native American imagery from sports teams, citing the perpetuation of negative stereotypes. The Association on American Indian Affairs condemned the continuous use of Native mascots in educational settings, stressing that it "promotes ignorance about the very history of our United States and Native Nations' place in it, but also endorses negative perceptions of Natives by non-Natives," according to a statement retrieved by KSDK.
The bill's proponents, such as Rep. Maurice West who introduced the legislation, contend that Native American mascots, as well as derogatory or racially insensitive mascots, should be abolished to promote respect and inclusivity. The debate over House Bill 1237, and its counterpart targeting discriminatory disability mascots, House Bill 3527, which have both passed the House, continues in the Senate, where they await committee assignment, as reported by STLPR.
The contentious issue has drawn the attention of state lawmakers, with metro-east representatives casting their votes along party lines. Although there is a clear divide on the matter, State Rep. Kevin Schmidt, a Republican, suggested that decisions regarding school mascots should be left to individual school districts, stating to First Alert 4, “I realize there’s opposition, we have a democracy. They should run for school board petition, and if they want to change the mascot they can but the state shouldn’t be doing this.” The ongoing discourse reflects a broader national conversation on the representation and appropriation of Native American culture in sports and school traditions.
