Far-reaching Maine law bans Native American mascots in all public schools, universities

Twenty years ago, Maulian Dana was watching a Maine high school basketball game between two teams called the "Indians" and the "Warriors." Her gaze drifted toward the student sections, where she saw kids chanting and dancing with fake feathers and war paint on their bodies. It was the first time she saw things she knew as "sacred and religious" to the Penobscot Nation being "mocked and degraded."

Her 15-year-old self was angry and shocked, she said, but she turned her frustration into activism. Today Dana is a tribal ambassador of Penobscot Nation who spearheaded the drafting of a bill signed into law Thursday by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that prohibits the use of Native American mascots in all public schools, colleges and universities. Maine is the first state to pass such a law.

"It means the world to me and I'm really happy for all the tribal leaders in Maine that came together and all of our allies and friends and Governor Mills," Dana said in a telephone interview.

The bill, which passed unanimously, will become effective 90 days after the state legislature adjourns.

Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2019/05/far-reaching-maine-law-bans-native-american-mascots-in-all-public-schools-universities.html