KELSEYVILLE ? The 4 ? 1 decision Tuesday night to keep Kelseyville High School”s mascot name the “Knight” followed six hours of public input between two Kelseyville Unified School District Board meetings.
Kelseyville businesswoman Marcy Cadora brought the discussion to the table when she gave the board a petition in January to reinstate the “Indian” mascot.
Newly elected board member Chris Irwin was the lone dissenter Tuesday. He said in his closing remarks that the district needed to look at renaming the high school”s mascot, but now was not the time with budget cuts and layoffs facing the district.
More than 20 people spoke on both sides of the issue Tuesday, with those in favor of reinstating the “Indian” mascot predominantly on one side of the room and those opposed on the other side.
“You guys are missing two K”s up there, because this is like the KKK. You have some deep south hatred for Indians,” American Indian Adrien Malicay said, then turned his attention to the side of the room where “Indian” mascot supporters sat. “Just let it go, it doesn”t belong to you. Call yourselves the Americans ? aren”t you proud of that?”
Chairman Peter Quartarolo reminded Malicay to direct his comments to the board, which was met by murmurings of approval from the half of the audience he had addressed.
Cadora told the board that she had spoken with Duncan”s son about a compromise to remove the picture of the mascot, not the name. “If the picture is hurtful, then take the picture off. The word ?Indian” doesn”t instill anything but pride,” Cadora said.
“Have you been to our games,” varsity softball player Sarah Johnson asked the board. “We do not say ?Knight” ? we will not say it. And we”re not the KKK. I”m tired of being blamed for what our stupid ancestors did. I wasn”t alive then; don”t punish us for that, because we don”t deserve it.”
Nice resident Candace Lowe, who identified herself as a Pomo Indian, said, “We have to live with that derogatory name for our entire lives. They only have it for four years.”
“Are we going to teach our kids, ?we”re going to use your name and we don”t give a darn whether you like it”? That”s not right,” Bob Prather said.
“As a Native American, I am saying that it”s not OK, it”s not for sale and it”s definitely not to be used,” Tera Duncan said.
Bailey Bramlett said her 2006 graduating class was the last to bear the name “Indian.” She told the board that KHS students should have input in the decision to keep the mascot the “Knight” or change it back.
Parent Kathy Santana said, “Things we tell our children is that life is not always fair, and do the best with what you have. It”s time to move forward. This community needs to take the same passion and direct it at the things that are affecting our kids, like the fact that now they are going to have 12 less teachers next year.”
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com
