Massapequa School Board Stands Firm on “Chiefs” Mascot

A school on Long Island is making a bold effort to maintain its Chiefs team name and mascot while pushing back against lawmakers aiming to prohibit Native American-themed logos across the nation.

The Massapequa School Board has accused Representative Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) of proposing a resolution that would reverse previous efforts made under the Trump administration to support names like the Chiefs. In response, they have drafted their own bill, hoping to take it to Congress.

Board President Kelly Wachter expressed to the media that the district is committed to “fighting for chiefs and preserving Native American history” through this legislative move.

They’ve sent their proposed legislation to local state Representative Andrew Garbarino (Republican), backing it with support from the conservative Native American Parents Association, which is ready to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.

Wachter mentioned that the resolution would “protect our town’s identity” and save about $1 million that would otherwise go toward changing the Chiefs name and logo across the district, adding that he might consider running for state senate in the future.

Garbarino has not provided any comment on the situation.

The school’s proposal claims that “the protection of Native expression aligns with the First Amendment.” It also argues that various schools, as well as sports organizations, have adopted Indigenous-themed names and logos to honor courage, leadership, and heritage.

Wachter’s proposal further aims to grant “American Indian nations, groups, and individuals,” rather than federal or state entities, greater control over how their images are utilized.

Massapequa has faced controversy since New York state introduced a ban on Native American names and logos in public schools in 2023. The district had previously called on President Trump for assistance in the matter.

Trump voiced his support, stating, “I agree with the people of Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting so hard to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their teams and schools.” He later instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to look into the implications of this issue affecting various districts.

During a visit to Massapequa High School, McMahon labeled the state’s ban hypocritical, arguing that other non-Indigenous themed names do not face the same scrutiny. “You have the Huguenots, we have the Highlanders, and we have the Scots,” she remarked, questioning why those names aren’t considered offensive.

Subsequently, federal authorities identified that mandating schools to alter their logos based on Indigenous association constitutes discrimination against a specific ethnic group and represents a violation of civil rights.

In a compromise, Long Island’s Connetquot District opted to shorten its name to “T-Birds,” which originally stemmed from the Thunderbirds, but this adjustment was later found to contradict federal guidance.

In response, Congressman Pallone asserted that his resolution aims to challenge federal overreach. He criticized the Trump administration for misinterpreting civil rights laws to defend offensive imagery when they should be focused on student protection.

Meanwhile, Massapequa attorney Oliver Roberts contended that Pallone’s resolution is “unconstitutional and fundamentally detrimental” to Native American culture. He believes their proposal rectifies these constitutional issues while honoring local governance and Indigenous heritage.