The days of a school mascot or logo with a Native American name or likeness were becoming numbered in our area in 2001.
“Native American mascots and logos have no place in New York’s public schools and should be changed as soon as possible, the state’s top education official ruled Thursday,” as reported in The Daily Star of April 6.
“‘I have concluded that the use of Native American symbols or depictions as mascots can be a barrier to building a safe and nurturing school community and improving academic standards for all students,’ state Education Commissioner Richard Mills wrote in a long-awaited four-page decision.
“Mills did not offer a deadline for the changes. He did, however, say he would ‘formally evaluate the progress’ next year.”
The decision had an effect on several school districts in the area. In Cooperstown, there were “Redskins.” In Sidney, “Warriors.” Afton, Richfield Springs and Stamford had “Indians.”
Some knew that the changes were coming. In a Star issue of July 8, 1998, Commissioner Mills had asked his staff to investigate the use of the names and logos.
“At Sidney Central School, where the school mascot is the Warrior, an Indian wearing a headdress, the superintendent said people should consider why the mascot was chosen in the first place.
“‘Most of the time these mascots were not chosen in a way to be disrespectful to any particular group,’ said Dominic Nuciforo, the Sidney superintendent. ‘I guess you have to go back and see why the mascot was chosen. Most times it is something people in the community can relate to. You have to take it in light of the intent.’
Back to April 2001, The Star had spoken with Cooperstown High School Principal Gary Kuch, who was aware a change was imminent.
“He said the school symbol, however, which is a silhouette of the famous ‘Indian Hunter’ statue by John Quincy Adams Ward in Lake Front Park is Cooperstown, shouldn’t be a problem.
“‘We are sensitive to the fact that a number of schools may have to reconsider their logos,’ Kuch said. ‘But Cooperstown is a community steeped in the tradition of James Fenimore Cooper and we have a museum with one of the finest collections of American Indian artifacts in the country.’
“The school system, however, no longer uses the name on its uniforms.
“Clinton Hill of the Oneida Nation’s Men’s Council said the name ‘Redskins’ is widely considered derogatory ‘because our skin isn’t red.’
“Hill said the Mills decision was something that he’s waited a ‘lifetime’ for, adding that when he was a kid, he was often referred to as ‘Pow-Wow’ or ‘Wahoo.’
“‘It was something I would get into fights over,’ he said.
“Hill acknowledged that some schools use Native American images and names in honorable and respectful ways, particularly the Florida State Seminoles, whom have been supported by the Seminole tribe.”
Hill lashed out at teams, such as the Cleveland Indians, now Guardians, for then using their logo as a cartoon character known as Chief Wahoo.
“Rowena General, spokeswoman for the Akwesasne-based St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, said the mascot issue ‘has been of extreme concern to the tribal government as it is in many other communities.’
“Still, she said the Tribal Council ‘applauds the Mills ruling in that it will eliminate some of the barriers that exist between indigenous cultures and society.’
“General said that ‘on a personal level, I’ve discussed it at length with my son and a number of native students at the school, and they were not offended. I guess it’s in the presentation.”
Those old logos and mascots were gradually changed. Cooperstown became the “Hawkeyes” in 2013. Sidney became the “Sabers” in 2023. Stamford currently has no mascot, while Richfield Springs adopted “Eagles” in 2023 and Afton adopted “Crimson Knights” sometime in the early 2000s.
This weekend, locals prepared for the inevitable entry into another world war in 1941.