SANFORD — When Jamie Bissonette Lewey talks about her ancestors’ history, she could also be talking about yours.

Colonists and Maine’s indigenous people were at war, she said, for 300 years.

“Where war takes place, there’s harm on both sides,” she told about 50 people gathered Wednesday night at North Parish United Church of Christ.

Lewey, chairwoman of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, was among commission members, native elders and other tribal members who came to Sanford from Aroostook and Washington counties and elsewhere to open a conversation, forge friendships and speak with local people about why they hope the Sanford School Committee will retire the Redskins mascot.

Lewey began the conversation with a look at history, and the 1755 proclamation by colonial Lt. Gov. Spencer Phips, who offered a bounty for the bodies or the scalps of Penobscot Indians. The bounty was later widened to include members of other Maine tribes.

“I believe you when you tell me the mascot was adopted because ”¦ of respect and honor for indigenous people, but the name means something different to us,” Lewey said.

The school committee is poised to vote on whether to retire or retain the mascot May 7. Sanford is the last school in Maine that uses the Redskin name after Wiscasset made a change last year. The school committee touched on the issue a year ago, but stepped-up discussions started in January.

Tribal members spoke about their lives, culture and what it was like growing up in Maine as part of what Richard Silliboy of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, called the “silent minority.”

“Sixty years ago, it didn’t matter what native Americans said or wanted,” he said. He recalled being called a dirty Indian, a stinking Indian, a drunken Indian and a good-for-nothing Indian.

“The title of the mascot, whether it stays or goes, some will feel good about and some will not,” he said. “Some say it is offensive, some say it isn’t. It will be up to you. I don’t want it.”

“I was born and raised here, and every day I had a fight,” said Brenton Allaire, who traces his roots to the Huron, Cree, Blackfeet and Abenaki. “It was the same in the service. Why? Because I am native.

“No one should disrespect anyone. We can all learn from each other.”

He asked those assembled to think about how the term “redskins” feels to a tribal member.

“The words are very painful and have a derogatory meaning,” said Ron Phillips Prevoir of Shapleigh, who is of native and non-native ancestry.

Wampanoag tribal member gkisedtanamoogk, who teaches Native American studies and peace and reconciliation studies at the University of Maine in Orono, said the decision is the school committee’s, but he urged a better understanding and friendship between the cultures.

“How long we have lived here together, and we know all about you and speak your language, but you know nothing about us,” he said. “Whatever you decide is your decision. But if you truly want to honor the people, you have to get to know us. We’re not the bogeyman. When you think about the mascot, think about the art of friendship.”

Only one attendee spoke in favor of retaining the mascot name. Roland Cote, a retired Sanford history teacher and basketball coach, said he sees pride in the Redskins name.

“We have a lot of respect for the term ”˜Redskin,’” said Cote. “I will always be Redskin. I was raised as a Redskin. No one in Sanford has never been a racist or degraded the name Redskin and it’s always been respected,” he said, adding, “I understand the feeling you people have.”

Gary Wood, who is part Penobscot and who recently moved to Sanford, countered that “the term we know is institutionalized racism.”

MITSC member Cushman Anthony, noted that Sanford adopted the name as a matter of pride.

“I appreciate there is no suggestion here of ill intent in the choice of a mascot,” he said, adding, “There is a difference between intent and what is expressed after the fact ”¦ so despite the fine intent, we have to pay attention to how its experienced.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or [email protected].