A Disney spokesperson has issued a statement saying that the company “regrets” allowing a Texas high school drill team to perform at Disney World while pushing Native American stereotypes, KXAN shares.
The performance was by the Port Neches-Groves High School’s “Indianettes,” who chanted “Scalp ‘em, Indians, scalp ‘em,” during a routine while wearing feathers in their hair. Tribal attorney Tara Houska called the incident both “nostalgic racism” and “dehumanizing” to Native American students within the school.
“The live performance in our park did not reflect our core values, and we regret it took place,” Disney spokesperson Jacquee Wahler said. “It was not consistent with the audition tape the school provided and we have immediately put measures in place so this is not repeated.”
Pincipal chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskins, Jr. added that the tribe had been asking for the school to retire its “offensive imagery, chanting, symbolism and other practices” for years, and called for the school to “apologize for continuing to ignore our requests to stop and need to make swift changes to correct these offensive displays across their school district.”
“We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our school district,” Port Neches-Groves said in a statement to KFDM-TV. “Our district is nearing 100 years old, and our Board of Trustees is committed to always making the best decisions for our students, staff, and the communities of Port Neches and Groves.”
