Indigenous people are the true natives of America. They were here before colonization, and had their land stolen and pillaged. Disgusting acts of violence were committed to natives and continue to be committed. When colonialism brought white supremacy to this continent, a genocide ensued that killed an estimated 90% of their population. Today, Native American women are going missing, and racism continues to plague their communities. According to ihs.gov, “American Indians and Alaska Natives continue to die at higher rates than other Americans in many categories, including chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, unintentional injuries, assault/homicide, intentional self-harm/suicide, and chronic lower respiratory diseases.” https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/factsheets/disparities/

Despite being one of the most oppressed ethnic/racial groups in the country, Agawam High School continues to use a caricature of Native garments and regalia as their school mascot and logo. 

“Unless you are a native male from a Plains nation who has earned a headdress, or you have been given permission to wear one (sort of like being presented with an honorary degree), then you will have a very difficult time making a case for how wearing one is anything other than disrespectful” - https://apihtawikosisan.com/hall-of-shame/an-open-letter-to-non-natives-in-headdresses/ 

Not only is is discriminatory and offensive to wear native regalia as someone who hasn’t earned it, it is even more so when the person wearing this costume is not native. The majority of students in Agawam are White/Caucasian.

With so few students (if any) who are native, there is no room at AHS for native voices to even protest this cultural appropriation. 

Having a costume of a Native American as your mascot does not count as honoring Indigenous people. “Defenders of the current usage often state their intention to honor Native Americans by referring to positive traits, such as fighting spirit and being strong, brave, stoic, dedicated, and proud; while opponents see these traits as being based upon stereotypes of Native Americans as savages. In general, the social sciences recognize that all stereotypes, whether positive or negative, are harmful because they promote false or misleading associations between a group and an attribute, fostering a disrespectful relationship.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_mascot_controversy#Native_Americans 

I personally do not care what the mascot is changed to so long as it is not offensive to any race or culture. I think a black bear would be a great mascot as there are many native to the area here, but that is simply an idea. 

This petition seeks these changes: 

1) For AHS to change its mascot.

2) For AHS to stop using native culture as a theme.

3) For AHS to remove any & all racist paintings of Native Americans used on their property. 

Please join me in standing up for our Indigenous brothers and sisters and calling for Agawam High School to change its mascot. The school is creating a hostile environment towards Indigenous people and other minorities in continuing this tradition. People of color are not costumes to be worn, nor are they mascots for our schools and sports teams. They are people, and they deserve to be treated as such. It is truly sad that it has taken this long for someone to even make a petition about this issue- it is 2020.