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First Of Two Public Meetings In The Books On Redmen Mascot

Chris Holmes

In the first of two scheduled meetings for public comment, the Iron County School District gave voice to citizens about replacing or retaining “Redmen” as the Cedar High School mascot, Tuesday.

As expected, comments ranged from enthusiastic support to unfettered contempt for the moniker adopted upon the school’s founding in 1943.  Such was the case even among the many Native Americans in attendance.  Tamra Borchardt-Slayton, Chairperson for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah read an official resolution from the tribal council.

“The Paiute Tribal Council hereby supports the Iron County School Board in efforts to carry out solutions by changing the mascot from Redmen to another mascot in order to create a better tomorrow for all students that attend Cedar High School,” she said. 

Many Natives followed by expressing offense to the nickname, but Bryant Jake, also a Paiute and Vietnam veteran was among a handful of Native Americans who voiced support for the Redmen mascot.

"I graduated back in '66 from Cedar," he said. "I'm proud I graduated from here and I went to service after that but when I came back I was still proud as a Cedar Redmen."

The second opportunity for public comment is December 18 at 7 p.m. in the Cedar High School auditorium.  On January 14th, the mascot committee will make its recommendation to the Iron County School Board.