WAUSAU – The Wausau School Board championed a recent statewide effort to ban all Native American mascots in Wisconsin, but state school boards voted overwhelmingly against the proposal at a meeting of school board delegates in January. At 10 a.m. today, Feb. 13, Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Route 51” host Shereen Siewert welcomes Auburndale School District Administrator James Delikowski, Wisconsin Indian Education Association “Indian” Mascot and Logo Taskforce Chairwoman Barbara Munson and Native American activist Richie Plass for a discussion on the issue.
Plass, who grew up on the Menominee Indian Reservation, will share his experience as the Shawano Community High School mascot, while Munson, a member of the Oneida Nation, will explain her group’s call for an end to Native mascots. Delikowski will discuss his district’s unique approach to the debate, which involves a community effort to choose a new mascot for Auburndale schools.
“Route 51” is heard Thursdays at 10 a.m. on The Ideas Network stations 101.3 & 91.9/Wausau, AM 930/Auburndale-Stevens Point, 99.1/Stevens Point, 100.9/Marshfield, 90.3/Park Falls, 89.1/Adams-Wisconsin Rapids, and 89.9/Rhinelander-Eagle River. It is re-broadcast Fridays at 7 p.m. on 90.9/Wausau. Program archives are available at wpr.org/route51.
