This petition has been created to advocate for the Superintendent of Orange Unified School District regarding Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, California. We are asking Dr. Gunn Marie Hansen to change the mascot from a tone-deaf and all-too outdated caricature to something that reflects the values of our community.

This school was established in 1974 to a less diverse population. Indeed, the city of Anaheim itself has a long history of tumultuous racial conflict and political polarization, and the message that Canyon has portrayed for decades represents one of a myopic understanding of what our nation’s indigenous cultures looks like. Furthermore, it reflects a poor understanding of our town’s historical legacy and how the school is perceived through the lens of today. We ask the Board of Education to apologize and please remove and replace all Comanche language and imagery, “tribal”-isms, and other clearly pejorative symbols.

No one’s culture is for show or sport, and our town has been dropping the ball for a long time. It is not for pure critique that this petition is written, rather it is from a place of pride for our community that the alumni/students want to flip the page. The school itself states on its website: “Canyon High School maintains a student-centered philosophical stance with regard to the decisions and directions initiated by the school.” It’s time for our community to come together to bring closure to this open issue. Please sign and share to help bring Anaheim Hills into a new and progressive future.