California is implementing a new law that prohibits public schools from using Native American terms as mascots or team names. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3074 in 2024, which bans the use of specific terms deemed derogatory, including "Apaches, Big Reds, Braves, Chiefs, Chieftains, Chippewa, Comanches, Indians, Savages, Squaw, and Tribe." This legislation expands upon a 2015 law that banned the term "Redskins."
The new law includes two exceptions: public schools operated by Native American tribes are permitted to retain their names, and schools can request written consent from a local federally recognized tribe to continue using a name or mascot. The law does not specify how to address situations where Native American tribes may disagree on whether a term is considered derogatory.
Marysville High School in Yuba City is reportedly seeking permission from a Native American tribe to retain its "Indians" mascot name in light of the new legislation. This move highlights the challenges schools face in complying with the state's directive.
Some observers note that the term "Indian" has seen a resurgence in preference among some indigenous individuals, who find the term "Native American" to be too sterile. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, a federal agency dealing with indigenous peoples, has maintained its name, even under recent administrations.
The law's broad scope has also drawn attention, with some questioning the inclusion of terms like "Chiefs," especially given the prominent NFL team that uses the name and plays games in California. The article raises questions about how far such bans should extend and notes that truly offensive names are often voluntarily changed by communities.
The author suggests that the enforcement of the law could inadvertently lead to Native American people becoming less visible, posing the question of whether being slightly offended is worse than being erased from public consciousness.