By Katie Hayes

The Chronicle

The Toledo School District will no longer use its mascot costume, nor the “Tomahawk Chop” cheer, after the Cowlitz Indian Tribe recently weighed in to call both “offensive” examples of “cultural misappropriation.”

The opinion came after the district asked the tribe for an official stance on the mascot.

“We respectfully request that the Toledo School District discontinues use of the Mascot immediately and dispose of it properly as it is offensive and stereotypical,” reads a letter from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, signed by Cowlitz Indian Tribal Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser and Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman William Iyall, dated Feb. 5. “Assistance with the disposal of the Mascot may be provided upon request. … We respectfully request that the Toledo School District ceases the ‘Tomahawk Chop’ or anything that resembles it immediately as it is offensive. Our tribal members as well as members from other tribes attend school in Toledo and have been subjected to this cultural misappropriation.”

The Toledo School Board voted to honor the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s request at its regular meeting on Feb. 21.

In addition, Toledo School District Superintendent Chris Rust asked the tribe to adopt an official position on the name “Toledo Indians,” the 110 percent Dreamcatcher T logo, the district’s use of “Chief Wahoo” and the totem pole commissioned by the class of 1988 that stands in front of the high school.

The letter states that the tribe approves of the continued use of the name “Toledo Indians” and the current logo, but requests consultation on any updates or changes to the logo. Rust said the tribe has no opinion on the district’s use of “Chief Wahoo” or the totem pole.

Tribe Chairman William Iyall said this is the first time the tribe has formally requested the district discontinue use of the mascot costume.

“That is the first time that that has been brought to that point of discussion,” Iyall said “The mascot, as I understand it, is in quite dilapidated condition and I think the school district has been receiving criticism on that matter. So we all agreed to move forward without it.”

Rust said the costume has not been used in two years, because no one wanted to wear it. He said the costume is incredibly uncomfortable, and slightly damaged.

Iyall described the relationship between the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Toledo School District as “remarkable” and a “great working relationship.”

Tribal Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser said she is in “total agreement” with Iyall, but said she has noticed some people have “misconceptions” about the changes in the Toledo School District. She reiterated that only the mascot costume and tomahawk chop will be eliminated.

Rust said two different reasons contributed to why this conversation is taking place in the district now. The first stemmed from when the district received a call from WIAA two years ago that the organization had received a complaint about the name, mascot and tomahawk chop.

At the time, the district had a letter from the tribe dated 2006 that supported the district’s use of the mascot and cheer. Rust said that last year the Toledo School District athletic director asked the tribe for an updated letter.

Rust said the tribe’s response was that the tribe no longer endorsed the mascot and cheer, but were not asking the district to discontinue use, either. Rust said the tribe invited the district to do its own research about the effects of the mascot and cheer on its students and community, and he began looking into it in the fall.

Then, Rust asked the tribe to send a delegation to help with the design for the new high school. As the district acquires art for the new high school or updates its practices, Rust said, the delegation will advise the district on how best to proceed.

“We didn’t really begin talking about it much until I invited the tribe to send a delegation to help with the design of the new school,” Rust said. “I want to make sure that our new school is sensitive to all stakeholders’ sensibilities.”

Rust said that during the conversation about participating in the design, the mascot came up. When Rust heard opinions for and against the mascot, tomahawk chop and name, he asked the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to adopt an official stance.

“It’s important to me that folks understand that we have a very collaborative, positive relationship with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe,” Rust said. “That dates back many years before me and I don’t want anything to happen to that on my watch. If anything, I want it to be deeper and stronger than ever before. So that’s why I’m working to maintain real positive communication with them.”

The district acquired its most recent mascot in 2006. Rust said it is currently under “lock and key” and declined to remove it for photos. The Toledo School District has been the “Toledo Indians” since 1922.

“Whenever I have talked to people about why — why was that selected — it was always about honoring the Cowlitz Tribe,” Rust said. “This is their ancestral land … So it has always been a way of acknowledging the tribe, of celebrating the tribe. My sense is that the intent was never anything malicious — quite the contrary.”