Clover Park High School to change Warriors mascot to comply with new state law
Clover Park High School announced this week it’s in the process of changing its mascot to comply with a new state law prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols and imagery in public school names, mascots, logos or team names.
Clover Park High School, located in Lakewood, is currently home of the Warriors.
Starting in early December, Clover Park families, alumni and the public can share input on the top mascot names the school is considering through an online survey.
“This change provides us with an important opportunity for our school to create a new mascot that positively reflects our CPHS values, creed and culture,” Clover Park High School principal Tim Stults said in a press release on Wednesday. “We have developed a process to complete this work with the input of our students, staff, families, alumni and community.”
House Bill 1356 was passed by the Legislature earlier this year and took effect July 25, 2021. The bill states that beginning Jan. 1, 2022, “Public schools may not use Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots, logos, or team names.”
As part of the law, public schools located in counties containing all or part of a tribal reservation or tribal trust land must consult with tribes regarding their Native mascots or names and might receive authorization to use them, while schools that are not on or adjacent to tribal land are not eligible for an exemption.
So far, a number of schools across the state have changed their mascots to comply with the law. Most recently, Bethel High School in Spanaway changed its mascot from the Bethel Braves to the Bethel Bison.
A spokesperson for Clover Park High School told McClatchy’s Northwest Indigenous Affairs reporter Natasha Brennan in August that the school was in the process of reviewing the bill’s requirements. The district had reached out to the Puyallup, Nisqually and Steilacoom tribes and was reviewing information from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians received July 20.
“We are fully committed to ensuring our school mascots are culturally sensitive and honor the rich diversity of our community,” a Clover Park School District representative wrote in an email in August.
There are about 70 students in the Clover Park School District who identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native. Clover Park School District is the 27th largest in Washington state and the fourth largest in Pierce County with an enrollment of more than 12,800 students. Clover Park School District is located immediately south of Tacoma, serving the Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis-McChord area.
The Puyallup Tribe has responded to the bill on its website, citing research showing that Native-related mascots can be harmful to Native youth.
“The Tribe expects our school district partners to do their due diligence in researching current mascots, logos, and team names and making their best effort to address any inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images prior to contacting the Puyallup Tribe for input and consultation,” the Puyallup Tribe stated.
Clover Park High School will review input received from students, staff, families, alumni and the community before making a final mascot selection in mid-December.
The school’s press release on Wednesday said that while its mascot might change, the school culture and community will not.
“Ultimately, we are in the business of helping students build phenomenal futures and that work will not stop. Our new mascot name and image will provide us with the opportunity to build upon these values and create an environment that we can all be proud of,” said Stults.
McClatchy Northwest Indigenous Affairs reporter Natasha Brennan contributed to this report.
