CLINTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ) – All homecoming activities have been canceled at Clintonville High School.
School officials say it is out of concern after a video that surfaced on social media caused an uproar.
The video depicts four students dancing to the sounds of native drums and many feel that it is insulting to the Native American culture.
School officials have not commented on the video but confirmed that they felt it was in the district’s best interest to cancel all outdoor activities for homecoming, including the parade and football game tonight.
The district stressed that this is not a lockdown, but rather a precautionary move due to the impact that the video has had on those who viewed it.
The District released a statement Friday.
“The Clintonville Public School District is aware of and apologizes for a very unfortunate event that occurred on October 3rd, at Clintonville High School,” read a statement posted to the school district’s Facebook page. “During a lunchtime homecoming dance off, Non-American Indian students wrongfully created a disrespectful mockery of American Indian culture by imitating and misrepresenting an American Indian dance. The specific dance was not school approved nor sanctioned by the school or any District employee.”
The Oneida Nation criticized the dance on Friday.
“We are insulted and disappointed that the Clintonville School District, staff and students and the community have depicted Native Americans in this disrespectful display of a pep rally,” the Oneida Nation said in a statement. “To have these symbols and depictions of this cultural history used in inappropriate ways and without an understanding of the cultural significance and history behind them is a practice that must stop.”
In a video that was taken while the announcement was made to the students, Clintonville High School Administration explained why they decided to cancel the events.
“If we were to hold these events, it would become a circus because of protesters. There are people who feel that the students here at Clintonville High School are racist and in turn me as well because I allowed that to happen, or so they think.”
