At Indian Hills High School (IHHS) in Oakland, New Jersey, the name is not an accurate representation of history. This is a personal and crucial issue for the community because the current title supports a false narrative rooted in Christopher Columbus's misidentification of American lands as India.

Christopher Columbus's arrival on these shores, mistaking them for India, is a historical blunder that has been perpetuated for centuries. It is important to note that many streets in Oakland are named after different Native American tribes, reflecting a deep and meaningful connection to the indigenous people who preceded us. Changing the school's name to something more appropriate, with suggestions like: ’ ‘The Brave Hills High School,’ or a tribe, just like "Ramapo," the other school in the same district. This would be a powerful step in recognizing and respecting the true history of our local area. However, Christopher Colombus has a terrible moral track record. 

Columbus and his men captured and enslaved thousands of Native Americans. He shipped many to Spain as slaves; countless others were forced to work in mines and plantations. Enslaved people were worked to starvation, beaten, and treated as disposable labor. Using extreme violence and terror, his regime used mutilation as punishment. People who failed to meet gold quotas had their hands cut off. Public executions, beatings, and torture were used to terrorize entire communities into submission. Spanish accounts from the time describe villages being burned and people hunted down.

Indigenous women and girls were systematically raped and trafficked. Columbus himself wrote about giving women to his men as rewards.

Renaming Indian Hills High School would correct historical inaccuracies caused by someone who treated the natives horrifically. By adopting a name that celebrates the indigenous tribes, we embrace an opportunity to educate future generations about the true history and contributions of Native Americans. This rebranding could foster a deeper connection and understanding amongst students and residents.

I urge every member on the school board to take this matter seriously. Let's embody the respect and recognition that our First Nations deserve by making this important change. It may be comfortable to keep the name as is for some, however I encourage you to recognize the full factual history of the land and the connotations the title "Indian" contains. 

Please sign this petition to make a significant and positive change in our community.