SKOWHEGAN, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- The next time a Skowhegan Area High School sports team takes to the field, the court or the track, they will do so as the Indians, just as they have for years.
The School Administrative District 54 school board put to rest a lengthy debate Thursday night; whether or not to change the use of the nickname the "Indians" to identify the high school's sports teams. The board voted 11 to nine, against changing the name.
The nickname has been a debate among residents and tribal members for years, but recently it was brought before the school board, it's future in question. At Thursday night's meeting, several SAD 54 residents and school board members spoke in favor of keeping the name, and several in favor of changing it.
According to the school board's Council Chair, Liz Anderson, there were some intimidating comments made at Thursday night's meeting by those who passionately believed in keeping the nickname. Anderson said some residents even threatened to vote the board members out of office come the election if they changed the name. But she believes that after six months of review, the board members voted on the issue with their hearts. On Friday, several residents were still heated about the debate, but the school board's Vice Council Chair Tim Downing said they kept the nickname for the students.
"We're supposed to not be swayed by bias or anything, but take each individual issue and determine what is the best action for our student body," Downing said.
"I honestly think it's a waste of time. I don't think it was disgraceful by any means," said Skowhegan resident, Julie Chicoine, about the debate and the use of the nickname the "Indians."
"We've always been the Skowhegan Indians and I think it would be difficult to change that. I also feel that an Indian is not a mascot, that an animal is," said another Skowhegan resident, Kathy Damon, about her torn opinion of the nickname.
This is the second time the nickname controversy has been brought to a school board vote since the early two thousand's, and according to several Skowhegan residents and school board chairmen, it won't be the last.
Former chief of the Penobscot Nation Barry Dana attended Thursday night's meeting and said he was disappointed with the vote, but he is proud of the tribes' efforts. Although Dana didn't directly say the mascot issue would be brought up again, he said that Native Americans will always strive for equality.
"I think we will continue to ask for our day of equality in terms of the concept of civil rights," Dana said.
Dana says he will still work toward that goal, but a solution is a slow process, and he isn't in a rush.
Other members of the Penobscot Nation were in attendance Thursday night as well.
