Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

Richard Regan, a Lumbee and member of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, introduced a resolution to the Commission (which passed 5-0) asking the state's governor to issue an executive order directed at state agencies, county agencies, and county boards of education. The order would require or urge them “'to discontinue the use, and remove all references to, American Indian descriptions which name mascots, logos, and sports team nicknames from their policies, publications, instructional materials and communications by June 3, 2002.' ” Regan noted that this resolution is identical to the one passed last year by the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs. He believes about 30 schools in the state have Indian-themed mascots or team nicknames. The governor's spokesperson stated that at present, he has no plans to issue the directive, preferring that the commission work directly with the schools to make needed changes.