Schools that use Native American culture in their team names and logos use cultural icons and stereotypes of a living culture — often a neighboring community— as a prop for their K-12 sports teams. This practice places these cultures on a par with animal mascots, which is demeaning the Native Americans.

The effect of historic depictions of Native Americans is an attempt to freeze the Native Culture at a point in time, which ignores progress made be such cultures. Finally, it is hypocritical for a school administration to foster insensitive attitudes toward Native American culture, but forbid students from wearing clothing “which denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin” in the school’s student handbook.

There are so many other symbols that the school could embrace instead. Why not turn the page on this chapter of the school’s practice of disrespecting Native American culture?