California tribe denies permission for high school's 'Indians' mascot amid state ban

Ripon High School in California’s Central Valley was forced to drop its "Indians" mascot after the Racial Mascots Act took effect on July 1, yet the district asserted it had secured approval from a self-identified representative of the California Valley Miwok Tribe. The tribe issued a statement denying any authorization, emphasizing that its Tribal Council never discussed or approved the mascot. The controversy underscores a narrow exemption in the law that permits schools to retain existing mascots only with formal, written consent from a federally recognized tribe in the area.

The district has not explained how it believed it obtained that consent and has not responded to inquiries. Marysville High School faces a comparable battle, pursuing written permission from the nearby Enterprise Rancheria to keep its "Indians" name. Governor Gavin Newsom’s legislation, enacted in September 2024, seeks to remove what are deemed derogatory Native-American references from public school athletics, reflecting broader debates over tribal sovereignty and cultural representation.