SANFORD, Maine — The Sanford School Committee has voted to drop the nickname Redskins for the local high school’s sports teams.
The board on Monday voted 4-1 to change the name after the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission and representatives of several Maine tribes said the name was derogatory.
Some residents expressed pride in the name and said the community and students should have had a chance to weigh in.
Board member Adam Cote said that while he has pride in the name he voted it to change it to something “everyone can rally around.”
Sanford was the last high school in the state with the Redskins nickname.
The committee also told school administrators to work with students to come up with three or four suggestions for a new nickname.
Charmins win again…
This is sad what is happening to our Country. No need to change the name!!
Yeah, so sad when citizens want to put away terms equated with death and blood. Sad that we as a society are becoming more and more respectful of other cultures and races. It was better when whites were in charge and minorities had no say and knew their place.
“Redskins” had nothing to do with scalping. Unless, of course, you equate American Indians with “death and blood,” for some reason.
There are several definitions listed for Redskins. The one that sticks with most Natives is that there was a bounty for Passamaquoddy and Penobscot bloody scalps. It is often equated to blood. It is not a term of endearment but is derogatory.
Indian headresses have been worn in the past by team mascots, our sacred drums mocked by school bands, faces of cartoon Natives on sweatshirts, etc. Why not just change it to the Sanford Whiteskins? Makes more sense.
See http://anthropology.si.edu/goddard/redskin.pdf
It’s not any more mocking than a cartoonish viking or minuteman, or Irish man.
Sorry, but the majority of Natives in Maine find the word absolutely offensive and many associate it with the bounty that was on Passamaquoddy and Penobscot heads. You can quote writing all you want, the people alive in this present day do not find the term positive but view it as a racial slur.
Native Spirituality is tied into the dancing, singing and traditional clothing. To replicate any of these things at a high school basketball game is blasphemous. It would be no different calling the team the Sanford N*ggers or the Sanford Chinks or the Sanford Honkies.
You really think it is sad that something used as a derogatory, racist putdown – which has its root in a bounty paid for random, race-based killings – you really think it is sad that a government entity (school) is no longer using this term? Really?
Scalping and bounties had nothing at all to do with “redskin.” It was a term the American Indians called themselves. It became the nickname for the Boston Redskins in honor of their American Indian coach, who had no problem with it.
Are we now going to consider “Minutemen” racist and derogatory? “Celtics”? “Rangers”? “Padres”? “Yankees”?
There are several definitions listed for Redskins. The one that sticks with most Natives is that there was a bounty for Passamaquoddy and Penobscot bloody scalps. It is often equated to blood. It is not a term of endearment but is derogatory.
And they would be wrong to think that. See http://anthropology.si.edu/goddard/redskin.pdf
Sorry, but the majority of Natives in Maine find the word absolutely offensive and many associate it with the bounty that was on Passamaquoddy and Penobscot heads. You can quote writing all you want, the people alive in this present day do not find the term positive but view it as a racial slur.
Native Spirituality is tied into the dancing, singing and traditional clothing. To replicate any of these things at a high school basketball game is blasphemous.
It would be no different calling the team the Sanford N*ggers or the Sanford Chinks, Sanford Holy Rollers or the Sanford Honkies.
It is completely irrelevant that you or other American Indians “associate” the term with bounties. The reality is the term had (and has) nothing to do with a bounty of any kind. The term came from American Indians themselves and was not derogatory.
Read your link again. It is written by a non Native and nearly everyone quoted in this piece is white. It claims that Natives called themselves red man and used the term white man, but they themselves did not start calling themselves redskin, but in fact all of the quotes in the article are from whites with the exception of a couple of speeches by chiefs that were translated by whites.
The quotes referring to redskins by the whites in this article were not kind words but derogatory. The quotes in the article are degrading when referring to the “red skinned” natives, it is not and never was a term of endearment, but a racist term.
The tribes listed in the article does not include the Maine tribes, but it mentions Natives from several other areas. The reality is that in Maine there was a bounty on Passamaquoddy and Penobscot heads. This included women and children.
Redskin is a racial slur. It is no different than the word n*gger, and I can guarantee that not many would support a school calling themselves the Sanford N*ggers.
So because a white man wrote the paper, the paper cannot possibly be accurate?
There is no evidence, other than the conjecture surrounding the origin of “redskin,” that “redskin” had anything to do with scalping, either by whites or American Indians. The conjecture is just that — a layman’s attempt to provide a simple explanation for the term without actually looking at the facts.
The facts reveal a complex history for the term, both in origin and in use — neither of which came from a derogatory intent, or even acceptance when the term was first used.
Fail.
Pass!!!
Why don’t we just “do away” with mascots all together so no one is offended?
Mascots don’t offend, certain names and stereotypes do.
Soon, there will be no recognition of any American Indian heritage because it might hurt a couple of people who believe that “names” ridicule a nation. I wish French Canadians would pick up the beat and encourage use of names like “Canuck”, etc. I would be an honor! This name thing over the past years is becoming crazy.
It all depends on how grown-up one chooses to be, I suppose. Mascots are nothing more than manifestations of petty tribalism.
You took the words right out of my mouth, especailly the petty tribalism part.
It’s organized sports. Is there something more tribal?
Or more petty ?
If it’s good for one name why not all?
Let’s re-name Passadumkeag, Mattamiscontis, Mattawamkeag, and any other name that we continued to use. That will avoid any future problems.
Why is there no problem with Orono? It’s named after Chief Joseph Orono.
Those names respect the culture and history of the region, calling your team the “Redskins” does neither.
You might want to look into how the Washington Redskins came to be. You will be surprised.
The Redskins started in Boston as the Braves in the 1930s. After the Boston Braves baseball team moved away from Boston, the football Braves decided to change their name. They wanted to keep a similar name. So they looked at the remaining baseball team in town (Boston Red Sox) and thought about incorporating part of the Red Sox name into the new name for the football team. And keeping the Indian theme, the football team changed their name to the Redskins.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_Washington_Redskins_get_their_name
As for how the term “redskin” came about their are several different theories. One of theose theories was it was a name given to the scalp of an Native American for the bounty. Forty pounds for a male scalp, twenty pounds for a female scalp or a male under 12.
http://www.aics.org/mascot/redskins.html
Good examples of how names can be respectful. Using a name associated with bloody scalps or racist slurs are not respectful.
Would you be OK if Christianity was at the center of this debate? If Christ was the team mascot and someone dress up like him or a priest and come out onto the floor? And if the team was called the “Christers or the Evangelicals?
I would be perfectly fine with that.
They can also have nuns for cheerleaders for all I care.
Yes, but what would the Christians say? They wouldn’t stand for it.
“Monks,” “Friars,” and “Padres” don’t seem to draw much criticism.
TrueNative, how do you think that these children originally come up with what they want to call their sports teams? Do you think that they try to come up with something weak like a mouse or a rabbit? Of course not. They choose something that they feel is strong and that they respect, to call themselves. The idea that the Indians are offended would make one think that the children decided that they would call themselves losers and weak, instead of something that they respect.
I think that this shows that the intent was not derogatory, but respect. Considering today’s Indians, it is probably a very good idea to change the name anyway.
When we know better we should do better. The children who supposedly named the team didn’t know any better back then. Racial slurs and name calling was common practice. White was the dominate race back then and minorities had little say. Times have changed.
Children may have named the team but they have spoken once again and have said that it is a racial slur and should not be used. They would more than likely feel proud that Maine Natives are speaking up against an offensive term and offensive mockery at sporting events.
The majority of Natives in Maine find the word absolutely offensive and many associate it with the bounty that was on Passamaquoddy and Penobscot heads. The Native people alive in this present day do not find the term positive but view it as a racial slur.
Native Spirituality is tied into the dancing, singing and traditional clothing. To replicate any of these things at a high school basketball game is blasphemous.
It would be no different calling the team the Sanford N*ggers or the Sanford Chinks, Sanford Holy Rollers or the Sanford Honkies.
It’s called being respectful and acknowledging that some of the things in the past that have been said and done should still not be embraced today. Listening to what an oppressed group has to say about the genocide that nearly wiped out an entire race of people on this continent is an honorable thing.
No team would be allowed to be called the Sanford N*ggers. Redskins is no different than that word. When we know better, we should do better.
This again.. Its just a nickname for a high school mascot. I live in and area where the mascot names are OWLS, BEAVERS, HORNETS, PIONEERS, BEARS, VIKINGS, ETC.. Are they all supposed to be offended because a school used them as a mascot name? Come on People.
I highly doubt any Vespidae would call issue with the name. They don’t talk much. However, Native Americans call issue with the name ‘redskins’ because it has it’s roots in 18th century manifest destiny era of racism. An era which saw their ancestors driven from their lands. Their way of life was taken from them through blind hatred and a lack of understanding from the USA citizenry.
Four of the six names you have used are animals. Why is a race of people used as a mascot when the majority of teams have animals as mascots?
Reminds me of “animal” crackers back in the sixties. Animal crackers had all animals with the exception of the Indian heads that were included in the box, equating Native Americans as being animals.
New Headline: “Sanford board votes to drop Redskins name, voting for change to Chickens next week”
It takes great strength to speak up against those who want to continue to embrace racist terms. I’d say they are courageous and certainly not chickens.
I am pretty sure the name had no intention of any racist meanings, but because they don’t have the strength to speak up about their feelings after many years, maybe it is not chickens but perhaps cowards. This is what’s wrong with the country, standing up and speaking for and defending your harmless actions
Until Indian Island changes their name, Old Town High should still be the Indians.
Custers last words were “I dont know what got into those Indians, but they were alright at the dance last nite.”
call um white skins,we can take a little name calling and not cry about it.
How about behaving like adults and not calling each other any names for a change ?
Great idea. Why not call them the Sanford Whiteskins? Or the Sanford Blackskins or Sanford Yellowskins.
High School kids are so into computer tech today; let’s use names such as , the servers,the i Pads, the hompagers,the routers,the mobile devicers, the texters, etc. The names are endless and the names should offend no one outside of silicon valley.
My problem with this isn’t that the names are being changed, it’s the idea that people think that by changing these names, all the racism and prejudices will just disappear. They won’t. There will always be people that are racist and prejudiced no matter what your school mascot is. Why don’t we just rip up the majority of our textbooks too so our kids will have even less of an idea that these things happened and soon we can officially change the name of Thanksgiving Day to Turkey-Football Day.
As far as the flipside goes, again, do not have a problem with the name being changed. It’s just being done in reverse. Dan Snyder (owner of the NFL’s Washington Redskins) should have been the first person to do this, and instead it’s the exact opposite. The Redskins should have changed their names and THEN everyone down the chain follows suit. So the most recognizable organization using a defamatory name doesn’t change their name but a couple high schools in Maine do and that’s a win? Please. Not even a blip on the radar screen.
No matter what you call your team or your school, there will always be racists and prejudiced people. If those wanting these changes so desperately wish they be changed, start at the root of the problem, not the vines and branches.