ANDERSON — The Anderson Community School Corporation has discontinued a decades-long basketball pre-game ceremony after public backlash surrounding its depiction of indigenous peoples.
The move follows a unanimous vote Tuesday by the Anderson Community Schools Board of Trustees to end the tradition, as recommended in a presentation by Superintendent Joe Cronk, according to district spokesman Brad Meadows.
However, the district will keep its mascot and team name — the Indians — as well as all associated logos and signage, Meadows said. That is also based on Cronk's recommendations.
The ceremony dates back to the early- to mid-1900s and features the mascot and a "maiden" at home basketball games, according to Meadows.
A review of the ceremony started in March after a TikTok of it shared in February at a home boys' basketball game went viral. The video is currently unlisted, but according to Cronk's presentation, it was viewed more than 1 million times. The school district received criticism as a result of the video.
"In response to the concerns, we formed an internal Task Force which consisted of 10 ACS staff members ... This group spent several weeks meeting, researching, documenting and outlining all the ways in which we represent our community's Native American history," Cronk's presentation states.
The presentation also states school officials consulted with Brad KillsCrow, the current Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians of the indigenous Lenape people. The City of Anderson is named after William Anderson, a former Chief of the Delaware Tribe.
"We will utilize the talents of the Anderson High School’s performing arts department to develop new routines at home sporting events to support our Indians’ tradition. This will be done in partnership with the Delaware Tribe of Indians to ensure authenticity and appropriateness," the presentation states. "The Delaware Tribe of Indians and its leadership have not made demands, but rather have been very honorable in working alongside us to continue the Indians tradition at Anderson High School in (an) honorable way.
Cronk wrote that keeping the Indian symbol, "retains the history, the imagery, and the spirit" of the tribe.
The full presentation can be viewed here. Recordings of the school board's meetings are posted to the district's Facebook page. Tuesday night's meeting can be viewed here.
WRTV has reached out to the Delaware Tribe for comment.
-
Brownsburg community rallies to support two Black teens after racist incident
Over a hundred people lined up outside of Rockstar Pizza to show their support for two teens and prove that racism has no place in their community.
Suspect arrested for threatening hospital employees, staff with firearm
According to police, officers were called to the Hancock Regional Hospital on the report of threats involving a firearm against staff just before 11 a.m.
Deadly police shooting prompts Lawrence to hold Critical Response Team meeting
The newly formed Lawrence Critical Response Team will meet to discuss a critical incident for the very first time following Wednesday's deadly officer-involved shooting.
IU Bloomington students react to the killing of Charlie Kirk
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was killed during a speaking engagement at a college campus in Utah on Wednesday. Kirk was scheduled to speak in Bloomington next month.
