Advocacy groups for Native Americans are calling on school districts in Long Island to stand against New York’s recent initiative aimed at reducing Indigenous imagery, arguing that this move to eliminate logos like “Thunderbird” amounts to cultural censorship.
“It feels like a slap in the face,” stated Frank Black Cloud, the vice president of the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), during an appearance on a morning show. He expressed that very few Native Americans actually oppose efforts to keep these logos and mascots intact.
Black Cloud further explained that there seems to be an ongoing push to distance Native Americans from their identity and heritage: “They want us to feel ashamed of who we are, but we’re not sure why they’re doing this.”
This conflict is primarily centered around Konnetscote High School in Bohemia, New York. The heart of the issue lies in a statewide regulation introduced in 2023 which prohibits the use of Native American names, logos, and references in school team contexts—such as the “Indians” and “Braves.”
The “T-Bird” mascot, related to mythical creatures valued in some Native cultures for representing “power, protection, strength,” is at the center of the controversy. A recent press release from the U.S. Department of Education indicated that an investigation is underway regarding the Connetquot Central School District, focusing on whether their actions regarding the mascot contravene Title VI of the Civil Rights Act from 1964.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon noted that many within the Native American community have expressed pride in these mascots during a visit to New York. “Symbols like the ‘Thunderbird’ and the Chief are seen as emblems of strength and honor, not disrespect,” she added.
Moreover, she asserted that it’s unfair to ban Native American logos while still celebrating other cultural symbols within educational environments. In a correspondence to the district, NAGA criticized the compliance with state directives, labeling it as cultural censorship and systemic racism.
Conversely, JP O’Hare, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Education, defended the ban. He emphasized that misrepresenting an entire group of individuals is unacceptable, especially in schools, where every student should feel included and respected.
The Connetquot School District also released a statement underscoring their initiative to seek settlements allowing them to maintain their “T-Bird” imagery. They noted that such a contract could provide flexibility to use “Thunderbirds” again if laws change in the future.
Critics have branded this arrangement as a dubious deal made behind closed doors, while other Indigenous advocacy organizations, like the National Congress of the American Indians (NCAI), continue to advocate against the elimination of such mascots.
