Respectfully submitted by Barb Dalton, Lakewood.
On Monday November 29, 2021 I was saddened to read the first notice that our CP Warrior had fallen victim to being cancelled. While in the same Suburban Times there was an amazing article on how the Nisqually Tribe is using the recent request for a name change to Fort Steilacoom Park as a time to educate and inform the visitors that come to Fort Steilacoom Park of their rich history here in Lakewood using visual displays. I was confused by the fact that the Clover Park High School Administration chose to eliminate our CP Warrior versus educating the community and standing up for something that they believed in and would represent fairly when challenged. My confusion led me to learn more on the legislation regarding this name change.
Here are some points in the the bill brought forward by state Legislature Representative Debra Lekanoff that I found of interest. “The ban does not apply to schools on tribal lands or to schools adjacent to Native American areas as long as the nearest tribe is consulted and authorizes the use of the name.” There is also a fiscal note attached to the bill which notes that…costs to school districts would vary based on the number of items that would need to be replaced including sports and club uniforms, flags, banners and other materials. It goes on to state that the proposed law creates a grant program to help support schools that incur costs related to the proposed change.
This information caused me to ask the question – did the Clover Park School Board request that the Clover Park District Administration approach the Nisqually Tribe to discuss the use of the CP Warrior, what did the tribal leadership find offensive and was there any middle ground that could be negotiated. I understand that the Warrior imagery in the incorrect headdress and clothing is not representative of the Nisqually Tribe or any NW tribe and may be found objectionable . I am not certain that the tribal leadership would find the word “warrior” offensive considering Chief Leshi’s story as one of their most notable warriors. It would be of interest to read the letter that was sent to the Tribal leadership and to see their response to understand what the Nisqually tribe finds objectionable with the CP Warrior since the imagery does not have the impact on the students, staff and community that eliminating the word “warrior” does.
After reading the article on November 29, 2021 and today plus talking to others about this, friends have said that the decision is final, that the school board will have no comment and that the district is moving forward despite anything that students, staff or community says or does and the administration will not even consider keeping the name “warrior”.
But, wait – there is a silver lining in this situation of eliminating a piece of Clover Park’s rich history – while the story of how the CP Warrior sustained and invigorated Clover Park High School during the great and not so great years – the sports teams and clubs finally have a financial opportunity in the form of a grant to purchase much needed uniforms and other materials which they have so desperately needed and requested at Clover Park High School for many years and have not been provided the funding.
I am only sorry that our two CP warriors who played many sports while at CP, who believe in the “Warrior Spirit” and graduated from Clover Park High School as proud warriors are reading and hearing that as a warrior that they were “inappropriate”.
I think i meed help figuring out how a name change “eliminat[es] a piece of Clover Park’s rich history” and find myself wondering if i change my name, does that eliminate my past (the law says no), if a business changes their name, does that invalidate their history to their customers?
I understand that this has sentimental value as it is part of many people’s childhood & child rearing experience… But the silver lining should be more than a lining, its a great opportunity for Clover Park to really express its history beyond a rather generic term “warrior” especially since the imagery seems to be the real issue, not so much the word.
I am personally excited to see what our community comes to. 😄
Would “Pansies” please you?
Cant say that im familiar with the local pride surrounding Pansies but if thats your passion, you do you! 😉
So, you are actively advocating the disappearing Native American imagery and spirit by replacing all of the mascots.
This is some Aunt Jemima-level racist erasure, honestly.
Or should I be offended by people who made mascots of the Aztecs?
Cant say that i actively advocated for anything other than an exploration of local history but if this is how you get your heart rate going, by all means.
I concede the options are disappointing. 😩 Dragons? Grizzlies? Mustangs? Timberwolves? #meh
none of the names to choose from, begin to fit what we have had for 80 years.
It is a very disappointing time, when the Govt. choose to make almost all of choices for us.
I’m surprised that none of the four alternative mascot names to be selected from has any direct relationship to our area.
So generic as to be meaningless.
Another sad part of this story is that while we will be learning the rich history and relationship with the Nisqually tribe, it was the Puyallup tribe that objected to the word “Warrior”. I repeatedly question as to why the Puyallup tribe had the right to define a word? While “Warrior” had been tied to an image that needed to change, the word itself could be redirected, rebranded.
In a community built around, and often by the military, seems “Warrior” could take on a new meaning. The District annually receives millions of impact aid because of the base. Millions to build on-base schools. What a missed opportunity.
But now hearing that money could be the incentive… grants from the State. I am ashamed of our current district leadership.
I agree with you Paul.
I grew up to become a Lancer. Though I was on the boundry line to become a “Warrior” too. So my decision was to go to LAKES to the new school on the block with the rest of my friends and neighbors. Though 80 years is the trail to tradition in the Clover Park School District and the CP “Warriors” have been the true blood. It was always the rivalry “Lancers and Warriors” since LAKES opened in 1963. My belief a “Lancer” is a “warrior” just like the CP Warrior though with a cluster of brass, steel, and tin. Compared to any Native American in the Pacific Northwest. The Chinook dressed with animal skins and Bear and Buffalo fur. Then weaved wool for blankets and they were still warriors to the fish, clams, whales, and deer, Elk as well as buffalo. More than human life in this community.
I don’t see any disgrace or shame to the school as “Warriors” Fort Lewis was built in 1916 and the men became warriors in 1917 – 1919 in the first World War.
Warrior or “Warriiors” can take on a new meaning in this community.
I will miss the name Warrior which to me implies pride, and agree that the names given to choose from are or have been used by other local schools or are meaningless locally. This should have been more of a community project.
I agree with you Cindy Walston
I believe the mascot should have been “Geoducks.” It would have been to our advantage during sporting events. Opponents would have been confused so much as to how to pronounce the name that our players could have built an insurmountable lead before the games ended.
Clover Park student artists could have designed a colorful, but friendly, logo to be marketed locally and nationwide. Imagine the wonderment in viewers’ eyes as they gazed upon our friendly mascot, “Gooey,” or is it “Geo”?
And there’s no need to compose a new fight song for our teams. One already exists; “The Geoduck Song,” as sung by Fred Penner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JjhZfJ4dto
Other than renaming the yearbook (I’m from the “Klahowya” days) to something like “The Mud Duck,” another name for this edible, that’s about all I have to offer.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
That’s a great idea…it would be unique…I applaud you.
After listening to this song…it fits right in to the Clover Park Community…of the Clover Park District Administration. This could follow the pride of the Evergreen State College Mascot as “Junior” to Senior Mascot “Speedy the Geoduck”
Proud Lakes Lancer, I understand the need to change the name is a decision that the Clover Park school district has made. And I understand changing the mascot from the “Native American Warrior“ to? However I think that the name Warrior should remain with Clover Park high school. What is a Warrior, a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.
“the warrior heroes of ancient Greece”.
Do not take away the legacy of my former rival high school, just change the imagery .
I agree with you Ms Patty in the structure of Greece and our Rivalry as LANCERS
The manipulation of “community input” in the form of a survey where community members are limited to a predetermined choice of four lame mascots is another form of the Clover Park School District already having made a decision before input is requested. This is similar to when the District stated they had met with “stakeholders” and received enthusiastic approval regarding adopting their Equity Policy into the curriculum. Yet we learned from a letter to The Suburban Times by John Arbeeny, who had analyzed the composition of the “stakeholders group”, that only 8% of that group consisted of parents, the individuals whose children are most impacted by the controversial curriculum content. Our five school board directors, elected to represent their constituents and to make school policy, each should be asked what part they played in this predetermined decision.
The reason given by the district for not maintaining the powerful name of “Warrior” but changing the image was that they could not disassociate the name from the Native American image. Maybe they are incapable, but they sell the community short for deciding they are not open minded enough to move on. It’s not difficult for a community closely involved with the soldiers, airmen and families of JBLM to associate “Warrior” with any veteran or active duty individual who has dedicated years of one’s life serving and sacrificing to defend freedom. The survey is another decision by the district imposed on the community.
Wow!
I was wondering how long it would take fo someone to consider, not only the aboriginal heritage of this land, but also the not insignificant historical impact of our nation’s warfighters (which, btw include many proud representatives of our tribal brethren) on our local community over the past century!
Warriors of land, sea and air have incorporated an honorable place in the fabric that makes up our communal identity. Our modern warfighters carry on a proud tradition of selfless and patriotic citizens who, like their tribal predecessors before them, defend the land and peoples based on principles of freedom that should garner nothing but respect from those who stand to benefit from their heroic sacrifice.
I therefore humbly submit that the tradition of the Warriors ethos should be allowed to continue to evolve and be held in high esteem for the generations to come rather than fall victim to a submissive PC cancel culture notion.
If you are not persuaded by my argument, I would challenge you to reach out and engage with the tribal nations leadership by who’s proxy you obstensibly act, and ask them directly if they feel that the tradition of the “Warrior” should be laid to rest and perhaps supplanted with a more kinder and gentler mascot.
How about the Clover Park Monarch Butterflies?
I agree with you Ms Sandra that it is not difficult for the community to be involved with the era of Fort Lewis.
Which was built in 1916 and this community of Lakewood built itself right up with it and around the grants given to the school. Through two “Big World Wars” then the Korean and Vietnam Wars, to now. After a twenty year war with Afghanistans making it longer than the Soviets in their 10 year war with them. Not to forget the “War on Iraq”
“WARRIORS”