Ripon High has been without a mascot since the California Racial Mascots Act took effect at the start of the month.
Assembly Bill 3074 was passed in 2024, and since July 1, public schools are prohibited from using any “derogatory Native American term for school or athletic team names, mascots or nicknames.”
Ripon High has used the Indians as a mascot for a century, drawing inspiration from Yokut chief Estanislao. Public schools receiving written consent from local federally-recognized Native American tribes may continue to use such such a mascot.
“We’ll continue trying to work with local tribes and get more support,” Ripon principal Keith Rangel said. “For right now, it’s just Ripon High School.”
Marysville High, also previously the Indians, announced on June 30 that it’s eliminating use of the name after failing to gain approval from local tribes, though school officials have not given up their efforts to get permission from another.
Other banned names include, but are not limited to, Apaches, Big Reds, Braves, Chiefs, Chieftains, Chippewa, Comanches, Savages, Squaw and Tribe.
A California law had already existed banning the use of “Redskins.” AB 30 passed in 2015, forcing public schools such as Calaveras High to drop the name. The San Andreas school had no mascot until the 2022-23 academic year when it began to use the Red Hawks after a vote from students and staff.
While Ripon High has not yet considered alternatives for a new mascot, Rangel noted that the school had already begun phasing out using the likeness of a Native American in new apparel and jerseys.
Shortly after AB 30, the official school logo was changed to resemble a dream-catcher, and students were no longer allowed dressed in Native Americans costumes for school functions.
Some features on campus bearing the likeness of Native Americans remain, but they were installed long before the law was passed. A granite statue gifted by the Class of 1984 sits at the front of the school parking lot, while a large mural was painted on a wall inside North Gym almost 20 years ago.
