Nearly a Century Ends: Marysville High's Indians Mascot Gets Benched

For close to 100 years, the orange and black Indians logo sat at the heart of Marysville High School’s identity. Then, hours before a state law deadline, it was gone.

The Marysville Joint Unified School District made the announcement to comply with Assembly Bill 3074, California legislation enacted in 2024 that bars K–12 public schools from using certain Native American terms as mascots or athletic team names—unless they secure written permission from a local, federally recognized tribe. The law took effect on Wednesday. It’s a shift that speaks to a larger reckoning happening across California schools about whose traditions matter, and at what cost.

Here’s where it gets complicated: the district didn’t choose this lightly. Superintendent Jordan Reeves stated that district administration met directly with local tribal representatives and sought their support to keep the Marysville High School Indians name. But the tribe chose neutrality—neither supporting nor opposing the continued use of the mascot. No written consent meant no exemption, and no exemption meant the school had to go.

The district board acknowledged what everyone already knew: this mascot carries real weight for alumni, current students, staff, and the broader community. A century of tradition doesn’t vanish without leaving marks. That’s exactly why the district said it will keep looking for opportunities to obtain written permission from a federally recognized tribe that would allow the school to reclaim the Indians name. For now, there’s no replacement mascot on the horizon—just an identity in limbo.

What makes this situation intriguing is the door it leaves open. The law isn’t a permanent ban; it’s a conditional one. If the district can eventually secure tribal approval, the Indians could return. It’s not the outcome some wanted, but it’s not final either. The real question is whether a century-old tradition should require active tribal permission to survive, or whether its longevity alone justifies its place.