OLYMPIA, Wash. — A bill to ban Native American mascots in Washington has passed out of committee.
The bill introduced by 40th District Rep. Debra Lekanoff, the only Native American member of the state Legislature, has now been sent to the full Washington state House of Representatives.
The House Education Committee Friday voted 11-2 in favor of the bill, which supporters say seeks to end the use of Native American mascots by next Jan. 1.
Supporters of the bill contend such mascots do not actually honor individual tribes, dehumanize tribal members, erase history, and parody what indigenous people look like.
Opponents suggested the bill be amended to allow districts that aren’t located on tribal land to work with neighboring tribes on names in cases where a mascot is a source of respect and pride for Native American students.