Comment on Education called key to Indian mascot dispute

SKOWHEGAN — Are images of an American Indian as a sports team mascot a mockery or an honor? Do the people that Skowhegan high school boosters think they are honoring as “Skowhegan Indians” think they are being honored, or are they insulted? Both sides of that sensitive issue were raised Thursday night at a school board meeting attended by more 50 people — students, parents, retired educators and one police officer assigned to the meeting to make sure things did not get out of hand. School Administrative District 54 Superintendent Brent Colbry said the issue comes down to a single word — education — teaching people on both sides of the discussion what the other side is trying to say. Colbry said he met privately for 45 minutes last week over a cup of coffee with Barry Dana, of Solon, a former chief of the Penobscot Nation, whose charged statements on racism and mascots have generated much discussion on the issue.