COLUMBIA FALLS – A Columbia Falls parent is under fire after holding what some interpret as a racist sign at the Class A basketball game.

According to a statement released by Columbia Falls school principal Scott Gaiser, a parent of a Columbia Falls basketball player was spotted holding a sign with the letters “F-T-I” written on it at a game vs. Browning over the weekend. Some interpreted that as a racist remark towards Native Americans.

Since the incident, that parent made a statement on an Instagram page clarifying his intent, saying F-T-I means “For Ty and Indy” adding: “Ty was a great friend of my family, and Indy was our puppy. I am not a racist as I have many native friends from Montana and all over the United States and Canada.”

Gaiser responded to this incident in a Facebook post saying quote, “No matter the intention of the sign, in no way do we at Columbia Falls High School condone this type of behavior but rather strive to uphold our core values of character, focus, honor and strength.”

On February 23, during the Class A Western Division championship game between the Columbia Falls Wildcats and Browning… Posted by Columbia Falls High School on Wednesday, February 27, 2019

-Andrea Lutz reporting for MTN News