Good Morning Petition Supporters,
It has been awhile since I have last updated you. Although I have been silent on this platform, I have been working hard toward an alternative solution to make this change happen once and for all; not just within Mahopac, but across the entire state of New York.
Native Americans and tribal organizations have spent decades tirelessly advocating, battling in court, and community organizing for this to happen.
What occurred in Cambridge, NY with their “Indian” mascot is not a singular localized phenomenon. There have been a rising number of school board elections across the US where a candidate is elected solely on the platform of reversing a prior decision to retire an indigenous mascot. Let’s call this out for what it is: unacceptable and regressive.
The NYS Education Department said it best, “Schools are learning environments; students learn as much through observation of their surroundings as they do from direct instruction. In addition to their legal obligations, boards of education that continue to utilize Native American mascots must reflect upon the message their choices convey to students, parents, and their communities.”
To all Mahopac administrators and school board members: I have reached out dozens of times to silent responses. Yet, here I am once again willing to help. You have my email and I have plans for implementation. Let’s do this thoughtfully and with our community.
Our work does not end here. There is so much more to do. Happy Native American Heritage Month.