Fighting Indians

Fighting Indians situates the debate over team mascots within the historical context of the indigenous subjugation in the United States going back to Columbus. In doing so, it offers a potent snapshot of the state of public discourse in post-Trump America.

On May 16, 2019, the state of Maine made history by passing LD 944 An Act to Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools, the first legislation of its kind in the country. For tribal nations in Maine, the landmark legislation marked an end to a decades long struggle to educate the public on the harms of Native American mascotry. Fighting Indians chronicles the last and most contentious holdout in that struggle, the homogeneously white Skowhegan High School, known for decades as "The Home of the Indians". This is the story of a small New England community forced to reckon with its identity, its sordid history, and its future relationship with their indigenous neighbors. The film serves as a microcosm for a host of national divisions, as the "mascot debate" exposes centuries old abuses while questioning whether reconciliation is possible.

Starting in 2015, Native representatives from tribes across Maine respectfully made their case to the Skowhegan school board about the negative impact of the "Indian" mascot. Hearing their case, the school board then suggested a public forum on the issue, which initiated a spiral into pure spectacle, particularly in virtual spaces. Countless advocates for the current mascot cite questionable heritage, local pride, and a zealous commitment to maintaining the status quo, even in the face of local Natives reiterating the racist harm the current mascot causes to both Native and non-Native people.