PA Mulling Giving Schools Funding To Drop Indian Mascots

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania schools with Indian mascots could receive funding by eliminating them under proposed legislation in the state House.

State Rep. Christopher Rabb, a Philadelphia Democrat, plans to introduce a bill that would provide grants to schools to offset the costs of discontinuing their Native American mascot. Those costs could include the purchase, design or renovation of school equipment to remove the mascot.

"Encouraging schools to eliminate their use of offensive stereotypes for school mascots is the least we can do to begin mending the damage done by the appalling historical oppression
of Native peoples," Rabb wrote in a recent memo.

According to the National Congress of American Indians, there are more than 1,900 schools nationwide with Native-themed nicknames such as "Indians," "Redskins," "Chiefs," "Braves" and "Warriors."

School districts in Pennsylvania have handled the situation in different ways. The Seneca Valley School District in Butler County in 2021 decided to keep the Raiders nickname but eliminate its Native-themed logo. In Allegheny County, Shady Side Academy dropped the Indians nickname; their sports teams are now called the Bulldogs.

Also in Allegheny County, the North Hills School District in October decided to retain the Indians nickname but retire the Indian logo.

In Washington County, the Peters Township School District also kept the Indians name but has changed the logo to an arrowhead.

Two professional sports teams have changed their Native nicknames in recent years. The Washington Redskins were renamed the Commanders, and the Cleveland Indians became the Guardians.

There is no indication that the Atlanta Braves or Kansas City Chiefs are mulling a name change.