Порт-Нечес: Тарихы мен қазіргі жағдайы

Port Neches is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,692 at the 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 13,040 tabulated in 2010. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area.

The area known as Port Neches was once inhabited by tribes of the coastal dwelling Karankawa and Atakapa Native Americans. Smith's Bluff (the future site of Sun Oil and Union Oil of California riverside property) and Grigsby's Bluff (now Port Neches) were the only two high land bluffs on the Neches River south of Beaumont, whose name is believed to have been derived from the Caddo word "Nachawi", meaning "wood of the bow", after Spanish settlers called it Río Neches. Before 1780, Grigsby's Bluff, specifically that part of Port Neches immediately east of Port Neches Park, had been a Native American town for at least 1,500 years, at first of the Karankawa tribe, whose 7 feet (2 m) skeletons were often found in the burial mounds there; and after 1650 of the Nacazils, a sub tribe of the Attakapas, who were a short and stocky people before their extinction about 1780. As of 1841, there were six large burial mounds at Grigsby's Bluff, size about 60 feet (18 m) wide, 20 feet (6 m) tall, and long, consisting entirely of clam and sea shells, skeletons, pottery shards, and other Native American artifacts. Between 1841 and 1901, all six of the mounds disappeared, a result of human actions. Grigsby's Bluff became a post office in 1859 (there was also a store and sawmill there), but the office was discontinued in 1893. Port Neches was the site of Fort Grigsby, a set of Civil War era defenses intended to stop a Union advance up the Neches River. The fort was constructed in October 1862 and abandoned sometime after July 1863. Its guns, munitions, and stores were moved to the then unfinished Fort Griffin, the site of the Second Battle of Sabine Pass, often credited as the most one sided Confederate victory of the American Civil War. A pioneer of Port Neches was Will Block Sr., born on August 2, 1870. In 2003, his son, W. T. Block Jr., was appointed a Knight of the Royal Order of Orange Nassau for his work in reconstructing the history of Dutch settlers in the area. The city of Port Neches was incorporated in 1902. The greater Neches River Basin is an attraction for fishing, hunting, birding, and boating. TPC Group's Port Arthur Refinery, a chemical processing facility, was opened in 1944 by Neches Butane Products Co. On November 27, 2019, two explosions occurred at the plant injuring at least eight people, three of them plant workers who were treated in hospital. Several buildings, including homes, were damaged in Port Neches and the surrounding area. The blasts started a chemical fire that prompted a mandatory evacuation of approximately 60,000 residents from several nearby cities. The fire was finally put out on December 3 after burning for six days. The next day air monitors posted elevated levels of butadiene, prompting a second evacuation. The explosions occurred just days after the U. S. EPA eased chemical plant safety regulations.

The Port Neches Groves High Schools traditions and practices were approved October 16, 1979 by then Cherokee Nation Principal Chief R. Swimmer. The Port Neches Groves INDIANS were granted an Official Certificate as an “Ambassadors of Goodwill” as it was written and then signed by then Chief Principal Swimmer 8/16/1979. The Certificate states that after inspection, PNG has met all the criteria of the by laws and traditions of the Cherokee Nation, including their mascot that is still being used. PNGHS was decreed within the Certificate “special trust and confidence in the ability and integrity of the INDIANS of Port Neches High School”. A copy of the Certificate can be seen at the High School and also in a copy of the Beaumont Enterprise explaining the “controversy”. See this link: https://www. beaumontenterprise. com/news/article/PN G alumni plan warrior statue but some 6455325. php. School videos of their student performances past and present confirm no changes in school traditions since the granting of the Certificate. PNG High School has written approval to continue their traditions. The controversy appears to be between the elder Chiefs traditional standards and the newer Chiefs standards. If Cherokee traditions are to be observed then the elder Chiefs approval of PNGHS should stand without question. The Port Neches Groves Independent School District has a long history involving its continued use of their mascot, the Indians, despite years of controversy and calls of racism. Their drill team performs wearing decorative war bonnets. Their chants include the words "Scalp 'em, Indians", their yearbook is the "War Whoop", their newspaper is called "The Pow Wow news" and their stadium is called "The Reservation." In 2020, the Cherokee Nation requested that the school stop using their mascot, rescinding an outdated approval given to the school from 1980. Despite a nearly 150,000 signature petition requesting the name change, along with the request of the Cherokee Nation, the town voted to keep the mascot. In 2022, the Indianettes were filmed performing at Walt Disney World. According to Disney, when the school sent their audition video for approval, the Indianettes were not included and the school was instructed that their members could not wear their war bonnets during the performance. Their inclusion was not approved by Disney and was a decision made by the school. During the performance at the park, the team shouted chants of "Scalp 'em" and enacted simulated war dances. The school has not issued a statement though many residents have defended their actions and stand by their refusal to change. After the performance, Cherokee Nation's Principal Chief, Chuck Hoskin Jr, released a statement once again requesting that the school remove the mascot stating: "Port Neches Groves Independent School District continues to use offensive and stereotypical depictions of our tribe, and this is yet again exampled by their cheer team recently in Orlando. For the past couple of years, we have written to the Port Neches superintendent and school board asking them to cease using this offensive imagery, chanting, symbolism and other practices in their school traditions as this does nothing but dishonor us and all Native American tribes who are making great strides in this country. School leaders need educating on cultural appropriateness, should apologize for continuing to ignore our requests to stop and need to make swift changes to correct these offensive displays across their school district."