Status: Active

Established: October 12th, 1938

Starting with the first graduating class October 12, 1938, the student body received the opportunity to decide the school mascot, colors, name of the yearbook, and the name of the school newspaper. They decided the yearbook would be called The Connumach, and the school newspaper would be called The Contownian.

Joseph White, a 2003 graduate of the school, sees the use of indigenous peoples for branding as inappropriate – and referenced the Native American Advocacy Group and PA Youth Congress, which have released statements against the practice.

He recently spoke out on the district’s Facebook page when Superintendent T.J. Kakabar announced that Conemaugh Township has no plans to make a change. 

“It disappoints me that the superintendent and the board of school directors did not take the time to educate themselves before putting out a statement to appease the majority,” White said.

“No one is suggesting your history or memories or pride in Conemaugh Township are racist,” White said. “But using an Indian as a mascot in a school district that is more than 98% white sends a signal to the outside world.”

White questioned how young Native American students from other schools might feel coming to Davidsville and seeing “a team that uses a caricature of his ancestors as a mascot.”

According to the Native American Advocacy Group, the use of “Indians” as mascots and team names is considered detrimental.

“Rather than honoring Native peoples, these caricatures and stereotypes are harmful, perpetuate negative stereotypes of America’s first peoples, and contribute to a disregard for the personhood of Native peoples,” the NCAI website says.