Mohawk board sticks with 'Warriors'
THE RECORDER - Greenfield, MA
By JEREMY DIRAC Recorder Staff
Saturday, June 09, 2007
BUCKLAND — The Mohawk Trail Regional School District was recently asked to change the nickname of its sports teams to something other than ''Warriors.''
''Racial stereotypes of any kind have no place in an educational environment, regardless of the types of 'traditions' communities have come to associate with these nicknames and logos,'' wrote Peter Sanfacon of the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition in the letter to Superintendent Michael Buoniconti.
In 2000, the Frontier Regional School in Deerfield decided to change its name from Redskins to Red Hawks. The retiring of Frontier's 50-year-old name came in 1997, after a three-year battle that spawned hurt feelings, a lawsuit and a School Committee resignation.
Sanfacon said that his coalition is requesting that when materials are worn out, such as uniforms, they be replaced with materials that don't ''enforce racial stereotypes.''
At the School Committee meeting, Charlemont representative Julia Aron pointed out that the term ''Warriors'' need not refer to American Indians.
''It's not the term 'Warriors,' it's the connection to Native Americans,'' Sanfacon said of his coalition's concern.
At a recent Mohawk School Committee meeting, the issue arose when the Mohawk Athletic Association offered to place a state championship sign at the school, honoring successful athletic teams. School Committee Chairwoman Margaret Hart suggested that the name ''Warriors'' be removed from the sign.
At that meeting, Superintendent Michael Buoniconti said that Mohawk had received the letter from the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition.
The School Committee voted to approve the sign, however, with only Hart rejecting it. Colrain representative Joseph Kurland, Shelburne representative Susan Flaccus and Heath representative Pamela Porter abstained from voting.
''There's no specific plans to change the name, but I think the committee wanted to at least look at the name to ensure that the school system is being respectful to people and in this case, it would be specifically Native Americans,'' Buoniconti said Thursday.
Sanfacon said that he does not know how many people make up his one-year-old coalition because it is loosely based, but that it is typically able to gather about 30 people to public meetings in various places, Sanfacon said.
Many schools still carry mascots or logos with American Indian themes, Sanfacon said.
''There are still 44 high schools in Massachusetts and almost 100 throughout New England,'' he said. Sanfacon said that the coalition has sent letters to all of the high schools in every state in New England except Connecticut.
This year, Natick High School dropped the term ''Redmen'' as its nickname and Dedham High School removed the logo that it had been using for its ''Marauders,'' which was the head of an American Indian with his mouth open in a battle cry, a logo formerly used by the Atlanta Braves, Sanfacon said. Dedham High School is now considering removing the team name ''Marauders'' as well, Sanfacon said.
Reader Comments [http://www.recorder.com/talkback/comment/?id=4301109]
To whom this concerns:
I went to Mohawk in the 80's, none of us kids thought the name was from the indians....we always thought we got the name because we were so close to Mohawk Trail or as known as Rt.2...My class ring still says "Warriors" and I will not change it. I am very proud of Mohawk and what they represent. My son was one of those children that had "Warriors" because he was on the football team, my daughter was also a "Warrior" when she played soccer there. It is a family tradition as you can tell. My children and I are very proud of the name "Warrior". I do not know why people think they need to change something because they think it is racist, did you every stop to think it is because the high school is so close to Mohawk Trail?
By Barbara (Hayes) Wyandt Monday, Jun 11, 2007 at 02:26 PM
I think Mr. Sanfacon and members of New England Anti-Mascot Coalition have too much time on their hands. Much ado about nothing, getting schools to change the mascot names if they hint at referring to Native Americans. I am a graduate of Frontier High - go Redskins!!!
By C Chapin Kinney Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 01:28 PM
What next, change the name from Mohawk to Pocumtuck because it's not the right group of Native Americans or Indians or what have you? We have a school with severe budget problems - stop wasting time and resources on something so trivial - I don't think there's any intent to put down Native Americans. Why isn't there any outrage over the Boston Celtics, for instance - are all Irish people short pipe-smokers?
By JRC Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 09:32 AM.