After only five years of being the Reds, school board members Lauren Lewis, Dave Staheli and Jeff Corry requested to reinstate the Redmen mascot at Cedar High School.
In 2019, the school board voted to change the Redmen to the Reds and alter the mascot from a Native American to a wolf. However, many people on the board and attending the school are Native American and believe that their mascot being the Redmen helps them connect with their roots. Many others believe the Redmen is a badge of honor and something that the community can be proud of.
This sentiment is not shared by all community members. The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah sent an official request to the Iron County School District, asking them to not reinstate the former Redmen mascot. Members of the tribe have expressed to the school board that having a mascot like the Redmen opens the door for different forms of verbal abuse and are concerned that it could lead to the dehumanization of Native American culture.
After multiple meetings, the school board has decided to leave it up to the public, though some members of the board have recommended that, if the mascot change is an urgent matter, they should consider a mascot like pioneers or ironmen.
The public will vote either on the primary ballot or wait until the general election later this year.
Author: Maggie Whipple
Photo courtesy of Chris Caldwell/The Spectrum & Daily News
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net
