Toledo Faculty Board Seeks Legal professional Normal’s Approval for Exemption for ‘Indians’ Mascot

By Eric Rosane / [email protected]

The Toledo School District might keep its nickname “Indian” after all – that is, if a statement from the Attorney General’s Washington State Office allows it.

The school board approved a move Thursday night soliciting a letter from the attorney general’s office to see if the borough’s boundaries are sufficiently close to Cowlitz tribal land or indigenous trusts or reservations to be considered for an exception clause included in more recent legislation.

Although House Bill 1356, passed by the state legislature in April, prohibits the use of discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names, a section of the law allows an exemption for public schools located on or when the District borders on a county with part of a tribal reservation or land trust.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe Administration Building, located in Longview, Cowlitz County, borders Lewis County. The district believes the proximity to prominent Cowlitz Indian land may be an argument.

All exceptions listed require consultation with the tribe. School board member Heidi Buswell wrote in a letter to the board on Thursday evening that the Cowlitz Tribal Council had taken “recent measures” to support the district’s efforts to keep its current mascot.

“This support is something tangible that we can present to the state as we go through the process,” she wrote.

The school board also filed measures Thursday evening to select a name for the renaming. The name “Riverhawks” has risen to the top with the approval of the majority of students and appears to be the district’s foremost option as it progresses in renaming.

“Until we have an opinion from the Attorney General, I recommend that we hold back a decision on the renaming,” said Superintendent Chris Rust.

But time is ticking.

The Toledo District and many others who wear native names and mascots on their sports gear and in school hallways are required to have new mascots by January 1 next year. Discussion at the board meeting focused on whether or not they believed the district could receive a timely response from the Attorney General on the matter.

After a rough estimate, Rust said the rebranding effort is expected to cost their district between $ 75,000 and $ 100,000. And while government funding has been provided to cover these costs, school districts may have to pay the money up front and then return it later.

Rust said Rep Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, has spoken loudly about the aim of this bill is to encourage discussion with tribes and make possible decisions about renaming.

“At least we are already on the same line in the spirit of legislation,” he said.

The district also concluded a series of stakeholder discussions this month that included several meetings with Tribal members, Toledo alumni, district officials, and the wider community. Rust estimates that an overwhelming majority of stakeholders would like to keep the “Indian” mascot, even many local tribesmen, but there is also growing belief in the community that the change may be inevitable.

Board chairwoman Monique Norberg said that since some members of the Cowlitz tribe have shown their support for maintaining their nickname, it is important that they make a final decision on a new name until the attorney general can weigh their exemption request.