Native American Mascots Banned in Oregon Schools, Board of Education Rules

The new policy, in the works for six years, is one of the strictest in the country.

By Julianne Hing May 18, 2012

By a 5-1 vote on Thursday, the Oregon State Board of Education voted to ban schools from using American Indian mascots, [The Oregonian](http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/board_of_education_bans_native.html) reported. Schools may keep their "Warriors" or "Chiefs" team names, but must replace logos that reference American Indians or American Indian culture. At least 15 of Oregon’s schools will need to update their logos, or risk losing state funding. The vote came after six years of efforts to pass such a policy, and makes it one of the strictest in the country. "I’m overwhelmed, but I’m holding back on my emotions — I have a meeting to finish," the board’s Chairwoman Brenda Frank, a member of the Klamath Tribes, told the Oregonian. "It’s been a long time coming."