Native American Guardian’s Association ‘preserve the use of Native American mascots by high schools’

(6-15-22) The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) continues to study the use of Native American mascots used by member schools. The Board met on Monday and discussed a letter from the Native American Guardian’s Association, who works with schools and teams that presently use Native American mascots and wants to preserve them.

At a prior meeting the board received correspondence from another group who wanted to eliminate all Native American mascots.

• IHSA Board To Look At Adding A Policy To The Use Of Native American Mascots

IHSA DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the June 13, 2022, agenda:

The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on a letter received from the Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA), which seeks to preserve the use of Native American mascots by high schools, while providing further education on the issue. The Board previously received a letter that was discussed at their meeting in April of 2022 from another group seeking IHSA rules to prevent schools from continuing to use Native American mascots. The Board is following the progress of ongoing state legislation on this topic and will continue to review at future meetings.

The controversy has been ongoing for many years, the changes have happened in high schools, colleges and pro sports of eliminating Native American mascots at the national level. Several states, including Colorado and Oregon, have passed laws not to allow the use of those mascots.

From NAGA’s Facebook page –

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