This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A recent halftime performance by the Cedar High School drill team is generating accusations of insensitivity for its depiction of Native American dress and culture.
During a basketball game last Friday at Cedar High — home of the Redmen — the school's drill team wore braided wigs and colorful feathers while dancing to music that included eagle sounds and evoked the traditional singing and drumming of American Indian tribes.
Teyawnna Sanden, a parent of one of the basketball team members, posted a video of the dance on Facebook, saying it was offensive for nonnative students to don wigs and fake feathers for a themed dance.
Yesterday was about Sedale and her team and I would never want to take away from their moment. But I felt Cedar City "Redmen's" halftime performance was offensive! I'm glad my kids didn't see it...why should I have to explain why a non-native is dancing that way, wearing a wig and carrying fake feathers. If asked, Cedars' answer most likely be that "They're honoring us"...please do us all a favor and DON'T!! Honor our sovereignty, honor our treaties/executive, honor us by getting cultural diversity training! But please stop with this!
Her post was shared 235 times as of Tuesday morning, with several other parents criticizing the dance.
"I feel the native/indigenous people are owed a great apology," wrote Carrie Anderson. "Did not one nonnative person think this was wrong before approving this halftime show?"
Calls to Cedar High School were directed to Iron County School District Superintendent Shannon Dulaney, who said in a prepared statement that the drill team had approached the Paiute Tribal Council last year seeking support and collaboration for the dance.
She said school administrators and tribal leaders have enjoyed "a long and mutually supportive relationship. It was in this spirit that the leadership of the Cedar High drill team, Mohey Tawa, first approached the Tribal Counsel [sic] several months ago to seek support and collaboration on a dance to be performed by the drill team.
"Drill team leadership came away from the meeting with the understanding that full support had been given to the dance," Dulaney said, "and the costumes that were intended to portray honor and respect for the Native American culture."
The controversy comes five months after a similar incident in West Jordan, where cheerleaders from Copper Hills High School dressed as American Indians for a homecoming parade float celebrating the animated Disney film "Pocahontas."
Copper Hills High School Principal Todd Quarnberg apologized for the float and committed to working with American Indian community leaders to educate school staff.
bwood@sltrib.com
Twitter: @bjaminwood