Shawnee District 84 opposes an Illinois bill that would ban Native American mascots

WOLF LAKE, Ill. (KBSI) — Officials from a southern Illinois school district are speaking out against an Illinois bill that would ban schools from using a native American name, logo, or mascot.

At Shawnee Community Unit School District #84, students play pickleball in the gym decorated with the school’s Shawnee Redskins imagery — a mascot that superintendent Shelly Clover-Hill said  is source of pride for them.

“This area is rich in native American history,” she said, “we want to honor our heritage.”

If passed, HB1237 would ban schools from using native American names, logos, or mascots.

Senior student athlete Avery Stegle said she wants to keep the mascot, calling it a tradition that’s been going on for generations.

“We’re not trying to bash anybody here,” she said. “We’re not trying to do any of that. It’s kind of just like a rewarding thing. Like we’re here supporting these people and we’re keeping it going and keeping the tradition going.”

Clover-Hill said changing the logo could be a big expense for the school district.

“There’s no state appropriation for the changing of all the branding and the new mascots,” she said. “We’re a very small school. Our names on everything. You know, we’re talking $300,000 plus.”

A teacher at the school and parent of two students, Mindy Wilson grew up with the native mascot. She’s concerned about the cost of re-branding.

“There’s better things that we can be spending our money on. Changing a headdress — changing a mascot is not going to benefit these children in their educational longevity by any means,” she said. “If it was a tribe that came in and said, hey, you know, we feel like you’re disrespecting us, that would be a different story.”

FOX23 reached out to the Shawnee Tribe to get their perspective on the issue. They were not immediately available for an interview but we will be following up.