During a regularly scheduled meeting Oct 14, RSU 12 Board of Directors determined any decision regarding the continued use of the controversial term “Redskin” as Wiscasset High School’s mascot was ultimately up the school itself.
RSU 12 Supt. Greg Potter urged the creation of a “joint committee of faculty and students” to explore the issue but said he didn’t feel the board had any authority to speak for the wishes of Wiscasset residents.
“This is a local issue and the town should have the final say,” said board member Lester Sheaffer of Whitefield.
The RSU board was responding to a request from the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission to discontinue the use of the term “redskin” and the caricatured depiction of Native Americans as the school’s athletic logo, which some MSTC constituents consider racist and extremely offensive.
In a presentation to the board on Sept. 9, Commission Chairwoman Jamie Bissonette-Lewey explained the etymology of the term “redskin” as a word to describe the color of a freshly scalped Native American.
“There is considerable intergenerational trauma associated with the word redskin. To our people it’s as offensive as the N-word is to African Americans,” said Lewey.
A previous effort to change the “Redskins” name was voted down by the school board in 1999. Judy Flanagan, chairwoman of the former committee, told the board that “they have heard from those who want to keep the mascot” but urged them to “consider the residents who want to change the name” she said.
“We agreed to work on a consensus and hopefully that process is honored,” said Flanagan.
Paige Teel, co-president of the high school’s Student Council, told the board of a petition she created to collect signatures of students in favor of keeping the “Redskin” name.
“We’re trying to figure out each point of view. We want to respect and honor the Native Americans and don’t mean at all to be derogatory,” said Teel.
Carol Adams told the board of her daughter, a Wiscasset high alumnus, who had written a report in 2001 that identified the word “Redskin” as offensive.
“My daughter wanted everyone to remember to respect all people. This mascot does not respect the Native Americans of the state,” said Adams.
Board member Blake Brown of Palermo said Wiscasset should have the autonomy to decide what, if any, changes should be made to their school.
“When we created school consolidation and RSU 12, it was designed to honor local places. Personally, I’d be mad if someone came to my town and took the Panthers out of Palermo,” said Brown.
Board member Kim Andersson of Wiscasset made the official motion to delegate responsibility to the students saying it was imperative “to decide the fate of the mascot.” With Sheaffer and Westport Island board member Richard Devries dissenting, the board swiftly passed the motion and urged the committee to present its findings at a later meeting.
Wiscasset is one of two Maine high schools currently using the “Redskin” moniker, the other being Sanford High School. Scarborough High School recently switched from “Redskin” to “Red Storm” after a citizen-led initiative to change the name.
While encouraged by the dialogue it’s created among students, MSTC executive director John Dieffenbacher-Krall called the outcome of the board meeting a “mixed blessing.”
“Ultimately this is an adult decision that has difficult subject matter,” Dieffenbacher-Krall said. “Unfortunately the RSU board will not participate in the dialogue. The people of Wiscasset are not being heard.”
Students and faculty are expected to begin the task of forming a committee immediately. The RSU 12 school board will next on Thurs., Nov. 4.
