More Oddities.

2Josh • 26th Nov 2004 • blog entries, nome.

Last week I posted about our experiences at youth group, and how a simple game of taboo can even be different here in Alaska. Today I wanted to take a few moments and explore some other things that I’ve found odd here in western Alaska; Sports Mascots.

You’ve got the old standards, like the Falcons…and regional favorite such as the “King Salmon”, and the “Nanooks”

Now growing up in a junior high where the mascot is the “Kent Junior High Vandals” I don’t have a whole lot of wiggle room to find mascots that are more controversial. It’s not uncommon to have “The Cheiftans” or “The Warriors”, something that might start a lawsuit for a major league team, doesn’t cause a blinked eye up here.

But if you want to get really odd, we will start with the Point Hope Harpooners, a school that isn’t likely to get a PETA endorsement for the basketball team anytime soon. Or best yet, the Aniak Halfbreeds.

The students of Aniak were given the opportunity a number of years back (I think it was in the 70s) to choose their own mascot. Because of their proximity to a military station, it turned out that most of people there are half Native, and half Caucasian. From what I understand, every so often someone will come to the school board meeting asking to consider changing the name….and they will get thrown out of the meeting. The people of Aniak have embraced their mascot, and have enjoyed the attention it has gotten them.

The best part of the whole thing is the logo: