New Colo. law bars use of Native American school mascots

A Lamar High School student walked back to school after playing in a soccer game in 2015. (Lamar Ledger photo)

Colorado's governor has just signed a law barring public schools from using Native American mascots as of June 1, 2022; schools that violate the law will be fined $25,000 per month. At least 25 schools in the state—many rural— had such mascots as of earlier this year, Michael Alcala reports for The Lamar Ledger. Native American tribes have called on Colorado schools to stop using such mascots for the past 30 years, saying that their use is racist and contributes to stereotypes. 

"Sponsor Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, a Commerce City Democrat, told House members Wednesday that the bill is about putting a stop to the harm and belittling caricature mascots cause to American Indians, particularly children. Studies have shown the effects of these mascots on children’s psyche, Benavidez noted, contributing to depression and creating hostile environments, in addition to furthering stereotypes," Alcala reports. "Although some opponents of the bill argued that many of the mascots are not meant to be derogatory, others like Republican Rep. Tim Geitner of Falcon, considered the bill an unfunded mandate because it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to change mascots. The bill allows schools that need financial assistance to apply for grant funding from the state."

The law has exceptions. Schools that are named after a tribe or person can use the name without Native images or symbols. Schools can also continue using their mascot if they have an existing agreement with one of the 48 federally recognized tribes in Colorado, but those tribes can revoke their agreement at any point. In such cases, schools will have a year to name a new mascot, Alcala reports.

The law hits home in Lamar, pop. 7,804, where the high school's mascot is the Savages. The Lamar School District Board of Education will hold a community forum Thursday, July 15, to discuss the new law and what steps the district will take over the next year, reports Alcala, who is editor of the Cañon City Daily Record.