Students, Indians fight over white deer's hide

MARCOLA, Ore. - A white deer that roamed the countryside for years has become the center of a battle between high school students who considered it a mascot and American Indians who believed the animal was sacred.

The animal died after being hit by a vehicle Nov. 20. Many students at Mohawk High School want to have it stuffed and mounted for display. But the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde want the animal for ceremonial purposes because of its unusual color.

Dick Irish, a biologist with Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department, said he will consider all options before making a decision, including retaining the deer's hide as part of the department's ''pelt kit'' used to educate children about wildlife.

''Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to best serve the overall public,'' Irish said Thursday.

Oregon State Police will keep the remains in a cold storage locker until a decision is reached.

A white deer is a ''significant animal with sacred meaning'' to tribal groups, said June Olson, cultural resource manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, which includes the Kalapuya and Umpqua tribes.

In one tribal story, a chief's daughter lay deathly ill, plunging family and tribal members into mourning. Suddenly, a white deer walked into the camp and licked the cheeks of the girl, who immediately began to recover.

''It would be important to the tribes to have the parts of the animal (such as the hide) that support their legends,'' Olson said.

Fervor over the white doe likewise runs high at the high school and in the Marcola community, student Lori Flory said.

''This deer was no ordinary deer - it had been a part of Marcola's society for almost seven years,'' Flory said. ''And if we are not able to preserve the memory of her with a public display, it would be like losing a member of our society.''

Science teacher Dustin Beck said after the deer was struck, several students stayed with the doe until she died. Then, under the watchful eye of a state police trooper who responded to the accident, the students skinned the doe.

The meat went to an agency that feeds the needy. The police took possession of the hide and head.