PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend High School mascot, the Redskins, is the center of a controversy over whether it is demeaning to Native Americans.
“I believe I speak for many in this community who are offended, embarrassed and ashamed by our school mascot,” said Andrew Sheldon of Port Townsend in a June 5 letter to the School Board.
“Nothing positive is going to happen in our district until we remove the negative stigma that comes with a racist and offensive mascot.”
Terri McQuillen — daughter of the late Makah elder Mary McQuillen, who died in 2007 after living much of her life in Port Townsend — is not offended by the mascot and intends to speak out in support of keeping it in place.
“I was raised by my ancestors to know that names don’t make people; people make names,” said Terri McQuillen, who graduated from Port Townsend High School in 1975.
“I was taught by my grandpa to be proud of the Redskin name.”
Saying that “if we don’t honor our history, we don’t learn from those lessons,” she added that “what Port Townsend has done is learned from that history of hatred and anger and honored that name and lifted it up.”
The issue is on the Port Townsend School Board’s agenda for its Monday meeting, set for 6 p.m. in the high school library, 1500 Van Ness St.
The board will discuss forming a committee to discuss a possible policy change concerning the mascot and report back to the board with a recommendation, said School Board member Ann Burkhart.
Burkhart said the committee would include representatives of the schools and the public, and contain between eight and 10 people.
“Any more than that, it would become unwieldy,” she said.
“These things need to be reviewed periodically,” Burkhart added.
Students have voted several times on the possibility of changing the mascot, the last time in 2000, but each time chose to retain the Redskin.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Chairman Ron Allen said Thursday that he had spoken out against the mascot before the School Board the last time the topic came up.
He said that leaving the mascot decision to the students was inappropriate.
School Board President Jennifer James Wilson agreed.
“This is an adult decision that may include the kids, but they won’t make the final decision,” she said.
Allen has not yet determined how involved the tribe will be in the upcoming discussion and will approach his tribal council. for instructions.
“I previously encouraged the schools to choose a mascot that didn’t demean native culture,” Allen said.
“Last time, it brought about a lot of hard feelings,” she said.
“We don’t want the kids to be duking it out over this.”
“It’s ironic that society thinks they can choose an image or a logo that reflects an ethnic culture and say it’s OK without asking that group.”
McQuillen disagreed, saying the adoption of the Redskin mascot had to do with the color of the team uniforms and had no immediate connection to the local Native American population.
“It didn’t have anything to do with Indians at the beginning,” McQuillen said.
“And as it evolved, it became an honor.”
Burkhart said she didn’t think the issue would be resolved right away.
“The School Board has a lot of pressing issues, and this is not as pressing as some others,” she said.
“I don’t see a timeline for this.”
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
