News Release
Indigenous Peoples Movement
Lakota Law Project
Last week, a Texas high school drill team brazenly mocked Native American culture at a Disney theme park. After the “Indianettes” were told they wouldn’t be allowed to wear their fraudulent Native headdresses, the team replaced those costume pieces with feathers for their performance, which was accompanied by chants of “Scalp ‘em!” Now, both the entertainment giant and the school, Port Neches-Groves, are feeling the heat from Indigenous activists.
“This type of cultural appropriation harms Native children and perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes,” says Chase Iron Eyes, who serves as lead counsel and co-director for the Lakota People’s Law Project. “Scalping was first introduced to the Americas by settlers. Even the most tone-deaf professional sports leagues and franchises — such the Washington NFL team and the Cleveland baseball team, which had the same name as Port Neches-Groves — have now changed their acts under pressure from Native activists and our allies. It’s long past time for community schools to do the same. There’s no way Disney, a company that purports to celebrate family-friendly content, should be promoting this garbage.”
In addition to blowing up on Native social media channels, the incident is prompting at least a pair of direct actions. Native-led activists will attend and protest at the Port Neches-Groves school board meeting on April 11. Another protest will take place this afternoon at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.
In 2015, Adidas offered Port Neches-Groves money to rebrand its athletics. But the former superintendent flatly declined, saying the school wouldn’t bow to “the political correctness of leftist extremists.”
Now, amid the ongoing social media outcry and thousands of letters sent to the district, it seems to be considering a different path. Over the weekend, the district pulled down several pieces of offensive content from the school’s website. Meanwhile, Indigenous organizers say they’re just getting started.
“We are asking that everyone take a moment to truly recognize the harm this appropriation causes. The collective voices of all who are fighting for a better tomorrow will not be silenced,” says Indigenous Peoples Movement organizer Chelsea Velez. “Protesting is just one aspect of the work Indigenous Peoples Movement is engaged in to combat racism, as we also look to build legislation to ban racist mascots altogether. There is no ‘tradition’ within a school, business, or institution worth keeping that defaces Indigenous cultures. Period.”
For more information about the incident with Port Neches-Groves, read the Lakota Law blog. The organization has also set up an action page to send emails to Dr. Mike Gonzales, Port Neches-Groves district superintendent.
Planned Events:
Disneyland
Not Your Mascot Protest
March 23
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
1560 S. Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, California
*Chelsea Velez is our lead organizer for this event and will be in attendance to handle press questions.
Port Neches-Groves School Board Meeting
Not Your Mascot Protest
April 11
Time TBD
Port Neches-Groves Administration Building
620 Avenue C
Port Neches, Texas
Indigenous Peoples Movement is a worldwide network of Indigenous activists dedicated to justice. The Lakota People’s Law project operates under the Romero Institute, a 501(c)(3) law and policy center.
