NY State Bans Native American Mascots and Team Names Statewide

The New York State Department of Education has banned public school districts from using nicknames tied to Native American culture, including Liverpool and Westhill, which will be forced to change their team nicknames. Schools risk the removal of school officers and the withholding of state aid if the order is not followed. The ban also applies to schools with less obvious Native American connotations. An exemption to the order is included for federally- or state-recognized tribes to use the banned names, mascots and logos for sports teams comprised of their tribal members.