State-wide ban of Native American Nicknames used in Public Schools
A state-wide ban of Native American Nicknames used in logos, mascots and imagery in public schools has been put in place by the State Board of Regents in a meeting on Tuesday.
The Board of Regents voted unanimously for ending the use of Native American-themed mascots, nicknames, and logos by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. School officials are currently waiting for information from the New York State Department of Education for further steps on if this ban applies to them and if they will receive funding for rebranding.
The public schools within the ban are working to keep their focus on what is happening inside the classroom, while still understanding the severity of this issue.
Hannibal Principal Steve Dunn said the new mandate comes as public schools are still trying to recover from the serious ramifications from COVID- 19.
“We really should be paying more attention, you know, to what’s going on in the classroom and how our kid’s math and English scores are because we’re still suffering from some pretty significant losses as a result of the last three years,” he said.
The Hannibal schools are recognized as Warriors but have no connection to Native Americans, but rather the Carthaginian Solider that dates to the 1800s.
However, schools like Weedsport and Fulton who are also called the Warriors and the Red Raiders are representing Native Americans, and are looking at facing this challenges that they knew was oncoming for years.
The President of the Indigenous Students Group Tehosterihens Deer says using these nicknames only worsens the narrative about Native Americans who never agreed to have their identity used in these high schools.
” And then to force this certain narrative or this old mindset is just so backward it really is you know,” he said.
Community members surrounding the public schools are now questioning the ban’s impact on them. The schools are continuing to wait for guidance from the New York State Department of Education. They also may face violating the Dignity act if they do not change their mascots, logos and imagery of Native Americans.