The Curse of the Witching Tree is a mysterious and haunting legend that has been passed down through generations. It is said to be a curse that was placed upon a tree by a witch, resulting in misfortune and tragedy for anyone who dares to disturb it. The origins of the curse are unknown, adding to the air of suspense and fear that surrounds the tale. Legend has it that the Witching Tree was once a place of great power for witches, where rituals and ceremonies were conducted. The tree is said to have absorbed the dark energies and intentions of the witches, becoming a vessel of malevolence. It is believed that the curse was placed upon the tree due to the betrayal or trespass of a witch, seeking revenge against those who had wronged her.
Boise High working on plan to replace "Braves" mascot
BOISE, Idaho — Boise High School is taking steps toward changing their Braves mascot to one they think is more in line with the schools values, and one less offensive to those of Native American descent.
Boise High Schools current mascot, the Braves, showcases a Native American themed caricature that the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, in a letter to the Idaho State Board of Education, say displays racial misappropriation. Now, they’re calling on the Boise School District to change it.
“Braves, the mascot for Boise High was instituted some 100 years ago, things have changed since then, and the world has changed,” said Dan Hollar, Spokesperson for the Boise School District, who said that is the reasoning behind Boise High School’s proposal to change their mascot from a caricature to a character trait.
“No longer referring to Boise High as the Braves, but as Brave,” said Hollar.
It’s only a one letter difference, but it’s a complete change in meaning for Idaho’s Native American tribes; in particular, the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, which wrote a position paper to the Idaho State Board of Education, requesting the mascots of eight Idaho schools be changed.
The schools they requested change their mascots are as follows:
- Salmon Savages, Salmon, Idaho
- Salmon River Savages, Riggins, Idaho
- Teton High School Redskins, Driggs, Idaho
- Pocatello High School Indians, Pocatello, Idaho
- Shoshone Indians, Shoshone, Idaho
- Preston Indians, Preston, Idaho
- Buhl Indians, Buhl, Idaho
- Boise High School Braves, Boise, Idaho
“If you put yourself in their shoes, and see the issue through their eyes, it’s disrespectful to them, the use of ‘Braves,’ it means something different to them,” said Hollar.
While the proposed name change is sparking controversy, with people worried the school is destroying history, Hollar said that isn’t the purpose, “We’re not rewriting history, if you graduated from Boise High as a Braves, you know, as a Boise High Brave, then you can always refer to yourself as the Braves," said Hollar, he also said, “Curriculums change over the years, and certainly the world has changed, and I think if we’re educating students to be better prepared to be global citizens, this is the right step."
The Boise School District tells us this is a change that is going to take a number of years in order to change sports uniforms and mascot logos throughout the school, but they say it’s a change they’re planning to make.
The final decision on the proposal will be made by the Boise School District board on August 12th.
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Viewpoint: December 2021
At Boise High School, we are very proud of our reputation and traditions as an academic, civic-minded, and inclusive public high school. As the namesake high school for the capitol city of Idaho and with a rich history that predates statehood, Boise High and the Boise School District have often led efforts to strengthen the public education of Idaho’s children. Realizing that our example has influenced many educators throughout the state by thoughtful, fair, measured, and courageous leadership, we jumped at the chance to continue demonstrating such leadership when the opportunity presented itself two years ago. This opportunity came in the form of addressing the issue of our previous mascot: the Braves.
When laying the cornerstone of Boise High School’s current building in 1908, then mayor and future Governor Moses Alexander dedicated this school as “… a temple of liberty, where the children of the rich and the poor meet on the terms of equality in receiving the benefit of free public education.” We learn from yearbook accounts that until 1920, Boise High School commonly referred to its athletic teams as “the Red and White”—or simply as Boise High. By the early 1920’s, Boise High referred to its student athletes as Boise Braves. Since that time, there have been many iterations of that mascot’s image.
Changing Images
For several years we had been in the process of slowly moving away from Native American depictions and language that used the word “Braves” in representing Boise High’s mascot. In 2019, a group of students approached school administrators about the need to formalize these changes and officially retire the Braves. It is important to note that all of these students were representative of the diverse student body we proudly embrace in the Boise School District. This was a bit of an “aha” moment for our administrative team, as we realized that changing the mascot, while important to and for Native Americans, was also meaningful for all marginalized communities. It was clear that change needed to happen immediately, such that every individual would feel safe, welcome, and celebrated at our school.
In the spring of 2019, we began the formal process of educating ourselves, our stakeholders, and the student body and initiating change within our school and community. We had the opportunity to attend the Idaho Indian Education Summit, during which we learned a great deal about the history, culture, and origin of the first people of the Boise Valley. Through this experience, we were also able to connect with tribal leaders for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, who are a federally recognized sovereign nation and the ancestral relatives of Boise’s native people. We also learned that the tribes were preparing to send a letter to eight Idaho high schools, the Idaho State Department of Education, the governor, and the state legislature formally requesting that all schools with Native American mascots discontinue their use. Through our experience with Idaho Indian Education Summit, as well as our dialogue with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, our school and district came to the very clear conclusion that changing the mascot was absolutely the right thing to do.
When meeting with tribal representatives about how to go about the process, one thing was clear: If we did not approach this in the right manner, we would lose the opportunity for teaching and learning. We did not want this experience to divide our community and negate the opportunity to learn about and understand cultural appropriation and the importance of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ story.
Educating Stakeholders
We believed it to be critically important to educate our community that the Braves we believed we were honoring, as part of Boise’s past, did not feel honored. In fact, they felt disparaged, targeted, demoralized, and—in many ways—forgotten. While the Shoshone-Bannock peoples are an incredibly important part of the history of our city and state, they are also very much a part of our present. We were fortunate to forge a very good relationship with tribal members who even came to tour our school campus. They helped us understand how to preserve our own history as the Braves—not erase it.
With this clearer understanding, and with the support we needed to move forward, we took the resolution to the school board, which passed it unanimously after overwhelming testimony in favor of the change to “The Brave” which stands for:
Our logo and crest (see image) also took on different meaning. The color red represents strength. The columns represent wisdom; the shoe with wings represents our athletics and activities; the scales represent justice; the parchment represents academic achievement; the shield represents a defender; the color white represents temperance and purity; and our motto, “dedicati excellentiae” means courage.
In the days that followed, instead of Native American imagery and use of the word “Braves” filling the hallways, classrooms, and athletic fields of our historic school, a wider, more-inclusive ideal was naturally created with our new mascot.
“The Brave” reflects both the nature and intention of the response we both heard and felt from our students and community. We had successfully gathered as a cohesive group to promote acceptance of and active participation in the values inherent to our new name along with a more coherent purpose.
In addition, the Boise School District, with the intention of enhancing and building on this understanding, created a diverse committee of students, teachers, administrators, and community members to educate and foster a safe and inclusive school climate throughout the district. Through this experience, our students have expressed their appreciation for the change, as they feel valued, safe, and comfortable growing as individuals and as members of our community. At Boise High, we are committed to continuing to educate our students and our community and embracing every individual. A group of brave people, coming together, can indeed be called The Brave! We are proud of being The Brave of Boise High School.
Kelly Fossceco is the assistant principal of Boise High School in Boise, ID.
It is believed that the curse was placed upon the tree due to the betrayal or trespass of a witch, seeking revenge against those who had wronged her. Those who have encountered the Curse of the Witching Tree claim to have experienced inexplicable phenomena and a series of unfortunate events. Some believe that the curse brings forth a chain of misfortunes, starting with strange occurrences such as unexplained noises, eerie shadows, and objects moving on their own.
Sidebar: Building Ranks TM Connections
Dimension: Equity
Strategy 2: Diagnosing inequitable practices or structures. You can actively scrutinize your school practices for any instances in which practices have a negative influence on certain groups of students. The diagnostic process could include using data and conversations to examine formal school policies, deliberate levels or tracts for student learning, access to resources, and staff biases.
Equity is part of the Building Culture domain of Building Ranks.
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As time goes on, the curse is believed to escalate, leading to accidents, illnesses, financial ruin, and even death. The Witching Tree itself is said to have a sinister aura, with gnarled branches and twisted roots that seem to reach out like skeletal fingers. It is often described as being surrounded by an aura of darkness, as if it is a portal to another realm. The curse is believed to be closely tied to the tree, with some claiming that removing or destroying the tree will only intensify the curse, bringing forth even more calamities. The Curse of the Witching Tree has become a popular subject in folklore and horror stories. It has inspired numerous tales, movies, and urban legends, capturing the imagination of those who have a fascination with the supernatural. While skeptics dismiss it as mere superstition, there are those who adamantly believe in the existence and power of the curse. In conclusion, the Curse of the Witching Tree is a chilling legend that continues to spark curiosity and fear. Whether it is a product of imagination or a reality rooted in dark forces, it serves as a cautionary tale for those who may venture near such eerie and enchanting places. The mystery of the curse will likely continue to be debated and discussed for generations to come..
Reviews for "Folklore and Supernatural Forces: The Mystery of the Witching Tree Curse"
1. Mark - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to watching "Curse of the Witching Tree" as I am a fan of horror films. However, I was left disappointed and underwhelmed by this movie. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, with too many unnecessary flashbacks and subplots that didn't add anything to the overall story. The acting was also quite mediocre, with most of the characters feeling one-dimensional and lacking depth. The scares were predictable and cliché, relying on jump scares rather than building a genuine sense of terror. Overall, "Curse of the Witching Tree" failed to deliver as a horror film and left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I usually enjoy supernatural horror films, but "Curse of the Witching Tree" just didn't hit the mark for me. The story lacked originality and was filled with tropes and clichés that I've seen a hundred times before. The acting was subpar, with most of the characters delivering their lines in a wooden and unconvincing manner. The pacing of the film was uneven, with long periods of boredom interrupted by sudden bursts of action that didn't make much sense. The scares were mediocre at best, and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I found "Curse of the Witching Tree" to be a forgettable horror film that didn't offer anything new or exciting to the genre.
3. Chris - 1 star
I regret wasting my time watching "Curse of the Witching Tree". The plot was completely convoluted, and I struggled to make sense of what was happening throughout the entire film. The characters were poorly developed and lacked any depth, making it impossible to connect or care about their fates. The scares were cheap and ineffective, relying on cheap jump scares and predictable moments rather than building a sense of dread or terror. The ending was particularly disappointing, as it felt rushed and unresolved. Overall, "Curse of the Witching Tree" was a complete mess of a horror film that I would not recommend to anyone looking for a satisfying scare.