Tomahawk flap
Saugus Advertiser
The Saugus Scene – March 8, 2007
The inclusion of an arts and crafts exhibit at Breakheart Reservation that allowed youngsters to create fake tomahawks has drawn the ire of an organization devoted to eliminating Native American stereotypes.
When New England Anti-Mascot Coalition Director Peter Sanfaçon heard about a Native American artifact display held at Breakheart Reservation on March 3, he e-mailed Ed Murray of the Friends of Breakheart Reservation and asked him to scrap the plans to allow children to make fake tomahawks and throw them at targets.
"I respectfully ask that you reconsider this activity which is simply perpetuating the offensive stereotype that all Native people were violent and wielded tomahawks," Sanfaçon wrote.
For his part, Murray was surprised that Sanfaçon focused on the tomahawk craft description and didn't have anything to say about the rest of the exhibit in which Native Americans were portrayed with respect.
It included a mural that showed the life of a Native American family through the seasons and featured a variety of artifacts found in and around the Saugus area that were likely used by Native Americans.
Murray said he does his research on Native American history and that the artifacts display, if anything, was meant to show how ingenious Native Americans have been over time. He is involved with numerous educational programs at Breakheart, and stressed he always emphasizes the debt owed to Native Americans and how in some cases they were treated quite badly.
Futhermore, Murray said the event was well attended and no one objected to the tomahawk arts and crafts station. He also brought up the possibility that in the past, young Native Americans practiced with fake tomahawks instead of being allowed to wail away at each other with actual weapons.
In another e-mail, Sanfaçon responded that allowing children to make tomahawks is no way to teach them about Native American culture. He reiterated his opinion that the action is simply perpetuating stereotypes.