Rezac Auditorium at Manhattan High School’s West Campus was the site of an open forum held by the USD 383 Board of Education to hear arguments and pleas in favor and against eradicating the Indian mascot.
The Indian mascot was born in 1940 after the student body voted to change it in honor of their beloved football coach. Frank Prentup, a Native American man of the Tuscarora tribe turned the Varsity team from a 0-10 record to 7-3 – becoming a local hero. Students, staff, and fans alike affectionately referred to him as “Chief” and they voted to become his Indians.
Prentup’s son, Duke Prentup spoke on behalf of the family saying that the Indian mascot is an “iconic, spiritual, wonderful part of MHS history and heritage” and that it is only “insulting to those that want to be insulted.” Naturally, Prentup’s remarks garnered a roaring applause from the many community members deeply committed to retaining the mascot.
MHS Senior Gabriella Radina said that the Indian mascot represents a legacy. “No matter what we change our mascot to, someone will be offended…the traits that [Prentup] really pushed here at MHS and stood for are positive traits that all of our students should learn, to have courage, tenacity, especially during this time where we have a lot of tension and displaying these traits and learning what Coach Prentup taught and learning how to honor Native Americans and stand for a minority instead of standing for a majority is something that would really strengthen our students.”
Those in favor of changing the mascot cited the misuse of the mascot by rival teams in sporting events.
MHS student-athletes attended the open forum proudly wearing their Indian gear and saying “I will always be an Indian no matter what”.
Laverne Bitsie-Baldwin, mother of two MHS students, and a member of the Navajo tribe said that the mascot deeply offends her and many other people. Baldwin said when people of other races/ethnicities are honored, a building is named after them, or a street, or field – they are not dehumanized and made a mascot. “Would you allow people to say, ‘I’m Asian, I’m Black, or my kids are going to be Asian, my kids are going to be Black’ just by going to a school; it is a misrepresentation of what it means to be an Indigenous person in this country.”
One student remarked, “offensive is an overused word – the mascot is wrong.”
MHS Parent Richard Gehring argued what if the mascot were an actual person from India, an East Indian rather than an “American Indian”. “What if we had instead of a man with a feather headdress, a man with a turban, what if we used the term caste instead of tribe.,” said Gehring. “Why do we think that it’s okay to do that to Native American Indians?”
The mascot was drawn by Native American artist Brent Yancey.
According to student surveys presented at the forum, 84% of students were in favor of retaining the mascot, 13% had no opinion and 3% voted to change it.
The auditorium was split down the middle – those in favor of reimaging largely sat on the right, and those in favor of retaining on the left.
The Board of Education heard statements from dozens of supporters and those who wish to see the mascot changed. A final decision will be made at the December 7th Board meeting.
