For decades, the Canandaigua Academy mascot and logo has been the “Canandaigua Braves.” However, due to a directive from the New York State Education Department, the school must adopt a new mascot, logo and name by the end of the 2022-23 school year. The original directive from the State Education Department came in 2001, but many school districts did not comply. However, a recent decision against the Cambridge School system by the New York State Supreme Court has forced the issue and persuaded the State Education Department to take a harder line on the issue.
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In the Cambridge School District had as their team name “the Indians”, and their mascot as a Native American Warrior. In June 2021, the school board retired the name, but a change in board members led to the decision being reversed, followed by a lawsuit in front of the New York State Supreme Court over whether the name and logo should be retired or not. The court upheld the changed name.
As a result, a directive was sent out to all school districts on Nov. 17 by Senior Deputy Commissioner James Baldwin, supporting the Supreme Court’s decision that the Native American name should be retired, noting, ““Thus, the court’s decision establishes that public school districts are prohibited from utilizingNative American mascots. Arguments that community members support the use of such imagery or that it is “respectful” to Native Americans are no longer tenable.”
In addition, the Nov. 17 directive stated Those school districts that continue to utilize Native American team names, logos, and/or imagery without current approval from a recognized tribe must immediately come into compliance. Should they require guidance, districts may reach out to those districts that successfully retired their mascots or their local Board of Cooperative Education Services. “
“The Department is developing regulations that will clarify school districts’ obligations in this respect. Should a district fail to affirmatively commit to replacing its Native American team name, logo, and/or imagery by the end of the 2022-23 school year, it may be in willful violation of the Dignity Act. The penalties for such a violation include the removal of school officers and the withholding of State Aid. 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.”
If schools want to keep their mascots, they must have expressed approval from a recognized Native American tribe. Those who do not comply with NYSED’s ruling are at risk of having school officers removed and state aid withheld.
Canandaigua has appointed a committee to discuss and decide what to do about the name, but they are not the only local teams with Native American names. Avon Central School has as their mascot “the braves” and Letchworth Central School and Red Jacket are both known as “The Indians.” Canisteo-Greenwood has the “Redskins” as their mascot name.
Those school districts that continue to utilize Native American team names, logos, and/or imagery without current approval from a recognized tribe must immediately come into compliance. Should they require guidance, districts may reach out to those districts that successfully retired their mascots or their local Board of Cooperative Education Services. The Department is developing regulations that will clarify school districts’ obligations in this respect. Should a district fail to affirmatively commit to replacing its Native American team name, logo, and/or imagery by the end of the 2022-23 school year, it may be in willful violation of the Dignity Act. The penalties for such a violation include the removal of school officers and the withholding of State Aid.2 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.
The Canandaigua logo which is under discussion features block letters “CA” pierced by a Haudesaunee arrowhead (the area Seneca and Iroquois tribes), surrounded by a Haudesaunee friendship belt similar to one presented to U.S. Representatives at the signing of the Canandaigua Treaty. Later, the name “Braves” was added, as a term of admiration for the Indians who aided settlers in the French and Indian War.
