Skip to Content
Everything Else

Coweta High School students want to “Scalp the Indians”

2:31 PM EDT on September 20, 2016

Last week, we told you about the "Toss The Redskins" week that Guymon High School students and administrators dreamed up to get some school spirit flowing for the their big homecoming match against Liberal, KS.

Not to be outdone, some clever students from Coweta put together this homecoming float for their big match against the Catoosa Indians.

wagon-indians

That's a well-made float. I'd bet $10 (that's a lot of money in Coweta) it was made by some kids who were good in shop class. That being said, I'd like the float better if it was more historically accurate. Do you really think pioneers would blow up a covered wagon with dynamite just because it had a dead Indian inside? I doubt it. Even if they did, they would probably make sure to grab the bag of sugar and flour before lighting the fuse. Back then, you couldn't let things go to waste.

For some reason or another, depicting the death and scalping of Native Americans in a homecoming float pissed off the PC Police. The Tulsa World has more details.

A miniature float designed for Coweta High School’s indoor homecoming parade has sparked outrage among Native Americans across the community, and it has spread to include a national audience.

A photo of the float appeared on social media Thursday afternoon — a covered wagon with the words “Scalp the Indians” on the side, with a prone mannequin of a Native American man hanging out from the back end.

The Coweta Tigers were to host the Catoosa Indians in homecoming football action Friday night.

Friday morning, Coweta Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Holmes posted a statement of apology on the district’s website and social media pages, saying there “is no excuse for this in our school.”

Yeah, I honestly don't see what the problem is here. It seems pretty clear to me the float was not intended to mock or offend, but instead bring attention and awareness to the absurdity of Catoosa using an Indian as a mascot instead of a blue whale, and how Native American stereotypes and clichés that have been perpetuated for centuries by the American news media and entertainment industry still carry weight today. Obviously these students didn't mean any disrespect. In fact, they should be applauded for bringing these important issues to light... right?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter