DOWNEY : School Polls Parents, Students About Mascot

Griffiths Middle School administrators have been polling students and parents to determine whether to change the school’s mascot, an Indian chief.

Principal Sara Cairns began the surveys after receiving a complaint from Native American activist Matt Thunderhawk, who demanded that the mascot be changed.

So far, most students have said they want to keep the mascot. Some students and others have argued that the symbol of an Indian chief, which is used on school stationery and school uniforms, depicts a dignified figure.

But some parents have expressed concern that the image of a chief wearing a feathered headdress promotes racist and offensive stereotypes.

“The standard thing they say is they do it out of honor,” said Glenda Ahhaitty, executive assistant of the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission, which has become involved in the dispute. “But it’s humiliating, it’s embarrassing. Nobody wants to be made fun of.”

Ahhaitty applauded the school for instituting some changes in references to Native Americans.

In recent months, Cairns said, the school has dropped references to “Injuns” and “Injunettes” in a school newsletter. Students and teachers are no longer permitted to wear feathers on hats at athletic rallies.

The school paper has changed its name from The Tomahawk to The Chronicle, and the school’s PTA is considering changing the name of its newsletter, The Tom-Tom.

Cairns said the school plans to keep the mascot if most parents support it. The deadline for parents to respond to the poll is Friday.