Marysville High School has retired its "Indians" mascot and associated branding, a change that took effect Wednesday with the implementation of the California Racial Mascots Act. The school, one of the first three public high schools established in California, had used the mascot and its orange-and-black logo, which featured tomahawks, for nearly a century.
The California Racial Mascots Act, Assembly Bill 3074, prohibits K-12 public schools from using derogatory Native American terms for athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames. The term "Indians" was explicitly included in the law.
Prior to the official change, district officials met with representatives from local tribes in an attempt to retain the mascot. However, tribal representatives remained neutral, neither opposing nor supporting the continued use of the "Indians" branding, according to reports. The specific tribe contacted was not disclosed.
Superintendent Jordan Reeves stated in a news release that the Marysville Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees acknowledges the "deep history and tradition" associated with the mascot and the "strong connection" many members of the school community have to it. The district intends to continue seeking written permission from a federally recognized local tribe to potentially reinstate the mascot.
The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024, lists several prohibited terms, including "Apaches," "Braves," "Chiefs," "Chieftains," "Comanches," "Savages," "Squaw," and "Tribe," in addition to "Indians."
Marysville High School does not currently have a plan for a replacement mascot. This development follows similar branding changes at other California schools due to the new law. Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, formerly the "Braves," is now the "Lions," and Clairemont High School in San Diego, previously the "Chieftains," has become the "Captains."
According to EdSource, less than 25,000 of California's 5.7 million students identify as Native American, though some have reported feeling negatively impacted by school mascots and traditions.