Disney Expresses ‘Regret’ Over H.S. Drill Team’s Offensive Depiction of Native Americans in Magic Kingdom Parade
Alison Durkee, Forbes, March 18, 2022
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Disney said Friday it “regret[s]” a high school drill team performance at Walt Disney World this week that was widely condemned for its racist depiction of Native Americans, claiming it did not know the group would chant “Scalp ‘em!” and promising that it has put measures in place to prevent similar incidents in the future—a response advocates criticize as still being insufficient.
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The drill team from Port Neches-Groves High School in Port Neches, Texas—known as the “Indianettes”—drew outrage for its performance at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World this week, which featured drill team members performing movements criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes against Native Americans while chanting, “Scalp ‘em, Indians, scalp ‘em.”
The performance gained wider attention following a tweet Thursday night from Tara Houska, a tribal attorney and founder of Giniw Collective, who slammed the drill team’s act as “nostalgic racism.”
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Disney spokesperson Jacquee Wahler said in a statement to Forbes Friday that the performance “did not reflect our core values and we regret it took place,” and claimed it was “not consistent with the audition tape the school provided,” adding the company will ensure “this is not repeated.”
Disney confirmed to Forbes an employee stopped the drill team from wearing headdresses prior to the performance.
In a statement to Forbes, Houska criticized Disney’s response as “paltry” and said if the company “is actually committed to inclusivity and diversity, this behavior should be unequivocally condemned and an apology issued.”
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“Disney didn’t even mention the overt racism and ignorance they uplifted,” Houska told Forbes, noting a “cursory review” of the high school shows other offensive references to Native Americans like a “War Whoop Yearbook” and referring to its football stadium as “The Reservation.” {snip}
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Disney’s hosting of the Indianettes comes as it moves to be more inclusive in its theme parks and rid them of racist depictions, including of Indigenous people. {snip}
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