Community Corner

Minooka Indians: Online Petition Aims To Keep School Mascot

Monday's online petition drive targets alumni and future Indians at the three public school districts in Minooka and Channahon.

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One person who signed the online petition wrote that "I don't think it's offensive to be called Indians. It's because they were fearless warriors. It's not an insult."
One person who signed the online petition wrote that "I don't think it's offensive to be called Indians. It's because they were fearless warriors. It's not an insult." (Image via Google Maps)

CHANNAHON, IL — An online petition drive launched Monday on Change.org has already collected nearly 700 signatures from people who want to keep the Indians as the school mascot for Minooka High School District 111, Minooka Schools District 201 and Channahon District 17.

The petition was established by Michael St. Germain. He called the online petition drive "Support Indian Pride in Minooka & Channahon."

"We are Indian Nation! Many of us grew up honoring the Native American Culture we stood behind & respect it to this day. Now newcomers suddenly want to change all we have pride in and want to fit in the status quo."

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In bold letters, St. German wrote: "INDIAN NATION STAND UP show that we still take pride!"

Here is a sampling of comments made by people who signed St. Germain's petition Monday:

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  • "I'm proud to be a Minooka Indian. The state and village are named either after indians or have indian names, many streets are as well. To not have this represented is losing the history and identity of those before us."
  • "Our schools are built on Indian grounds as well as these two towns. If anything it would be disrespectful to change. Keep your Karen’s away from our school."
  • "I lived in Minooka for 9 years and still live in the Minooka school district. Drive Downtown and see that many street names honor Native Americans. I believe this is a respectful honoring of Native Americans."
  • "Everyone is offended by everything."
  • "People are too sensitive. We honor the Indians. We fight along side the Indians. We are the Minooka Indians."
  • "I’m signing because I personally don’t think the school mascot needs to be changed. It’s not disrespectful, so I believe that it shows how we take our past history from Minooka and Channahon and continue honoring it."
  • "Why would I wanna be called a monarch."

The petition organizer urged alumni and future Indians to sign his online petition. "This is OUR TOWN. Don't let anyone take it away!"

For more information, you can check out the petition here.

Meanwhile, there is also another petition on Change.org seeking to get rid of the Indians as the mascot. For more, read this Patch article.

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