California native tribe lashes out at high school in Indians mascot fight

A California high school’s “Indians” mascot has plunged it into a fiery controversy after a federally recognized Native American tribe said school officials never got its permission to use the name.Ripon High School in the Central Valley has been without an official mascot since July 1, when the state’s sweeping ban on tribal-themed school mascots took effect, according to KCRA 3.But the Ripon Unified School District apparently believed it had found a way around the new rules by securing approval from someone who claimed to represent the California Valley Miwok Tribe.But the tribe claims the permission was never granted.“Ripon High School, nor any other school, has contacted the California Valley Miwok Tribe regarding the use of an ‘Indians’ mascot or any other Native American mascot,” the tribe said in a statement.The tribe added that its Tribal Council “has not discussed, approved, authorized, or provided consent” for Ripon High School to continue using the mascot.The tribe also accused the school district of using its name and identity without authorization.The dispute centers on California’s Racial Mascots Act, which prohibits K-12 schools from using Native American-related names, nicknames and mascots, including terms such as “Indians,” “Braves” and “Chiefs.”There is, however, a notable loophole.Schools can retain an existing mascot if they obtain formal, written approval from a federally recognized Native American tribe in their local area.The district has not publicly explained how it came to believe it had received tribal approval.

KCRA 3 reported that Ripon Unified had been contacted for comment but had not yet responded.The controversy is not isolated to Ripon High School.Marysville High School in Northern California also found itself caught in the mascot crackdown after the new law forced the school to officially ditch its “Indians” name.But school officials aren’t giving up without a fight.The Yuba County district...