All articles tagged with #native american mascots
President Donald Trump has called for the Washington Commanders to immediately revert to the Redskins name, criticizing the team and other sports teams for changing Native American-themed mascots, citing support from Native American communities and defending traditional names despite widespread controversy.
The article discusses the shift in federal civil rights enforcement under the Trump administration regarding Native American school mascots, highlighting a recent case in Massapequa, New York, where the federal government challenged the state's ban on such mascots, contrasting with earlier efforts to eliminate them due to concerns about cultural appropriation and discrimination.
U.S. Senator Steve Daines has facilitated discussions between the Washington Commanders and the Wetzel family to honor a defunct football logo inspired by Blackfeet Nation tribal leader Blackie Wetzel. The logo, once used by the Washington "Redskins," may be revived in a respectful manner, despite controversy over Native American mascots. Daines supported a Senate measure to transfer jurisdiction of the RFK Stadium site, contingent on the team's commitment to honoring the Wetzel legacy.
The Massapequa School District in New York voted unanimously to comply with the state's ban on Native American mascots, but officials plan to challenge the order in court. The deadline to change logos and names is June 2025, and any district that does not comply could lose state funding. Several other Long Island districts are also affected by the ban, with some already announcing plans to change mascots and logos.
Calls to retire Native American-themed mascots and logos in high schools have been met with resistance from supporters who argue that they are central to the traditions and identity of their communities. While some states have moved to ban such imagery outright, others have faced intense backlash. New York state's Board of Regents voted that Native American-themed logos and mascots must be retired by 2025 unless schools get approval from a recognized Native American tribe to keep them, risking losing state funding. Mascots are causing "firestorms at the local level," and removing them can result in a backlash.
The state Board of Regents has voted to ban the use of Native American mascots, team names, and logos in public schools, causing confusion and defiance among some Long Island administrators. Districts have until the end of the 2024-25 school year to remove Native American references from uniforms, scoreboards, fields, and buildings on school property. Schools can keep a team name if it is endorsed by a federally recognized tribe. The Shinnecock tribe, the only federally recognized tribe on Long Island, supports the ban.
The New York State Board of Regents has voted unanimously to ban the use of Native American mascots, team names, and logos in public schools, affecting around a dozen Long Island school districts. Districts have until the end of the 2024-25 school year to remove all such references from uniforms, scoreboards, fields, and buildings on school property. Districts that do not comply risk being denied state aid, and school officials in those districts could lose their jobs. The cost of the changes could exceed $400,000 per district.
The Board of Regents has voted to ban Native American mascots, team names, and logos from all public schools in the state. Schools have until June 2025 to comply, and those that don't may not receive state aid. Several schools on Long Island, including Sachem East and Sachem North Flaming Arrows, Comsewogue Warriors, and Manhasset Indians, will be impacted by the ban.