Status: Resolved

Resolved: October 8th, 2020

OCTOBER 8, 2020

The 23-person board had three options to choose from: Phoenix, River Hawks, or to remain simply “Skowhegan.”

“Obviously, the more we get out there, the more we start to be proud of, and actually come up with a physical mascot, where kids can rally behind that, that can be out at the presence of games and activities and get the crowd wound up. That’s when that school spirit, hopefully we’ll gather and support our new mascot,” - Principal Bruce Mochamer

MARCH 7, 2019

The School Administrative District 54 Board of Directors voted 14-9 Thursday night to “respectfully retire” the nickname “Indians” for all schools in the district.

With weighted votes from each of the six SAD 54 towns, the vote was 558 favoring change and 441 against it.



MARCH 2019

“Maine’s governor has signed a bill making the state the first to prohibit public schools, colleges and universities from using Native American symbols as mascots.”... “While Indian mascots were often originally chosen to recognize and honor a school’s unique connection to Native American communities in Maine, we have heard clearly and unequivocally from Maine tribes that they are a source of pain and anguish,” Mills said in a statement.”

“In March, the school board in Skowhegan voted to retire the “Indian” mascot at Skowhegan Area High School after emotional debates in the community. It reportedly was the last high school in the state with a Native American mascot.”

READ FULL ARTCLE HERE...

Maine to become first state to ban Native American mascots in public schools

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/17/us/maine-bans-native-american-mascots/index.html