Coupeville’s Dominic Coffman sacks La Conner’s QB in a game this year. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
In the very near future, Coupeville may not play sports contests anymore against the La Conner Braves.
Neither school plans to leave the Northwest 2B/1B League, however.
But, the passage of House Bill 1356, signed into law by Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, “prohibits the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images as public school mascots, logos, or team names.”
The law goes into affect January 1, 2022.
Currently, 35 of 420 high schools which are members of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, including La Conner, have Native American mascots, logos, or team names.
These range from Braves and Warriors to Red Raiders, Redskins, and Red Devils.
Port Townsend High School previously changed its mascot from Redskins to RedHawks when it and Coupeville were together in the 1A Olympic League.
House Bill 1356 offers an exception to school districts like La Conner, if their enrollment boundaries include what is termed “Indian country.”
To retain mascots and branding, a district must get approval from its local tribe.
For La Conner, that’s the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and the two sides have agreed to discuss the matter and come to a mutually-beneficial understanding.
The school district and the tribe have a long history together, dating back to the early 1900’s, when Swinomish children began attending La Conner schools.
Current numbers from the state’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction list 34% of La Conner’s students as Native American.
Two of five school board members are Swinomish tribal members, a record number, while incoming Superintendent Will Nelson, who starts July 1, is also Native American.
While using the Braves name and logo for its sports teams, La Conner also incorporates the moniker in other ways, with the district motto being “Be brave.”
The district’s schools have worked to keep Swinomish tribal heritage as a vital part of its curriculum, with drumming, carving, and Lushootseed language classes offered to both tribal and non-tribal students.
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