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Posts Tagged ‘Braves’

“The eagle is our guardian”

Posted in Everything changes, tagged , , , , on January 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »

The La Conner School District has adopted a new mascot.

They’re still the Braves, but with a war eagle replacing a Native American in a headdress.

One of Coupeville’s primary athletic rivals has a new mascot.

Honoring the wishes of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the La Conner School District has replaced a Plains Indian wearing a feather headdress with a war eagle designed by a member of its alumni.

Jeanette Quintasket, a tribal member who graduated as part of the Class of 2018, crafted the image which topped 38 submissions.

When House Bill 1356 was implemented, it banned the use of Native American names, symbols, or images by public schools.

An exception could be made for school districts whose enrollment boundaries include what the law terms “Indian Country.”

The Swinomish approved La Conner retaining use of the Braves name for its sports teams, but requested the outdated logo be replaced.

The submissions were voted on by students, staff, alumni and community members.

Quintasket crafted her design with an eye on her heritage, she told the Skagit Valley Herald.

“I am Swinomish, so in our culture, the eagle is our guardian,” she was quoted as saying. “It represents our spiritual connection to our ancestors.”

The new mascot was officially approved at Monday’s school board meeting, with Quintasket honored for her creativity.

The La Conner school district and the Swinomish have a long history together, dating to the early 1900’s, when tribal children began attending La Conner schools.

Current numbers from the state’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction list 34% of La Conner students as Native American.

Two of five school board members are Swinomish tribal members, while Superintendent Will Nelson is also Native American.

While using the Braves name for its sports teams, La Conner also incorporates the moniker in other ways, with the district motto being “Be brave.”

District schools have worked to keep Swinomish tribal heritage as a vital part of their curriculum, with drumming, carving, and Lushootseed language classes offered to both tribal and non-tribal students.

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La Conner retains Braves mascot

Posted in Everything changes, tagged , , , , on July 28, 2021| 1 Comment »

Coupeville rival La Conner will remain the Braves after approval from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They will edit, but not erase.

The La Conner School District has received permission from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to retain use of its Braves mascot.

However, there will be some changes to the actual look of that mascot, which depicts a Plains Indian wearing a feather headdress.

La Conner High School will remove a logo of the mascot from the floor of its gym, and some posters and team uniforms will be replaced.

The move follows the passing of a state law — House Bill 1356 — banning the use of Native American names, symbols, or images in public schools.

School districts which include what is termed “Indian Country” can be exempt, if local tribes issue a resolution in support of retaining mascots already in place.

The Swinomish tribe and the La Conner school district have a long history together, dating to the early 1900’s, when tribal 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, while new Superintendent Will Nelson 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.”

District schools have worked to keep Swinomish tribal heritage as a vital part of their curriculum, with drumming, carving, and Lushootseed language classes offered to both tribal and non-tribal students.

House Bill 1356 provides funding for school districts to make changes such as removing the current logo from the gym floor.

Going forward, the district and the tribe will work together to craft a new image which is “more appropriate to the Coast Salish people.”

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La Conner debates use of Braves name, logo

Posted in Everything changes, tagged , , , , on June 17, 2021| Leave a Comment »

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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