New Colorado law banning most American Indian mascots forces schools to confront cultural shifts – By Sue McMillin (Colorado Sun) / July 18 2021
Critics resisting the new rule cite tradition, state overreach and the high cost to change team names like Redskins, Savages, Indians and Warriors. Some plan to sue to keep the mascots.
Faced with a new state law requiring the elimination of most American Indian mascots, a handful of Colorado schools are delving into their histories and having community-wide discussions about what a nickname, mascot or logo should represent.
In Lamar, that means sticking by its Savages nickname, even if images and logos must be changed. And while the Lamar school board said at a community meeting Thursday that it won’t join or pitch in money for a lawsuit being prepared to try to overturn the new law, it supports the effort by the Native American Guardians Association.
Demetrius Marez, a 1993 Lamar High School graduate who claims 39% Navajo ancestry, announced at the meeting that he is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, and 1990 grad Cade Spitz unfurled new Savages yard flags outside the meeting that he sold for $20 each to raise money for NAGA’s legal fight. Spitz said he’d sold 127 flags in the first 24 hours they were available, and that he also will have stick-in-the-ground signs and would make banners to order.
“This is my heritage that some people are trying to erase,” Marez said. “It is not derogatory in this context. This Savage means a lot to me because I am Native — don’t tell me what I’m offended by.”
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