Introduction to the Controversy
New York is facing potential funding cuts from the federal government due to its ban on Native American mascots in schools. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that an investigation by her agency found the state’s ban to be discriminatory, as it specifically targets Native American mascots while allowing names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups.
The Investigation and Its Findings
The investigation, which was launched after President Donald Trump ordered the federal education department to look into the matter, determined that the state’s ban violates Title VI of the federal civil rights law. McMahon stated that the ban is discriminatory because it does not apply to names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the "Dutchmen" and the "Huguenots."
The Massapequa High School Case
The controversy surrounding Native American mascots has been ongoing in Massapequa, a town on Long Island, for years. The town has refused to retire its Native American sports names and mascots, despite a state mandate to do so. The school district’s lawsuit challenging the state’s ban was dismissed by a federal judge earlier this year. State education officials have given districts until the end of the school year to commit to replacing the mascots or risk losing education funding.
Reactions to the Ban
McMahon described Massapequa’s chiefs mascot as an "incredible" representation of Native American leadership during her visit to the school. She stated that the Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes. However, representatives from the Native American Guardians Association, who voiced support for keeping the chief mascot, have been criticized for not speaking on behalf of local Indigenous residents.
The National Congress of American Indians’ Stance
The National Congress of American Indians, considered the country’s oldest and largest Native American advocacy group, has reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to the use of unsanctioned Native American imagery. The organization stated that these depictions are not tributes, but are rooted in racism, cultural appropriation, and intentional ignorance.
The Town’s History and Cultural Significance
The town of Massapequa is named after the Massapequa, who were part of the broader Lenape, or Delaware, people who inhabited the woodlands of the Northeastern U.S. and Canada for thousands of years before being decimated by European colonization. However, indigenous residents on Long Island have called Massapequa’s mascot problematic, as it depicts a Native American man wearing a headdress that was typically worn by tribes in the American Midwest, but not in the Northeast.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Native American mascots in New York has sparked a heated debate about cultural sensitivity, racism, and the representation of Indigenous peoples. The federal government’s threat to pull funding from the state over its ban on Native American mascots has added a new layer of complexity to the issue. As the debate continues, it is essential to consider the perspectives of all parties involved and to work towards a solution that respects the cultural heritage and dignity of Native American communities.
FAQs
- What is the controversy surrounding Native American mascots in New York?
The controversy surrounds the state’s ban on Native American mascots in schools, which the federal government has deemed discriminatory. - What is the significance of the Massapequa High School case?
The Massapequa High School case is significant because it has been at the center of the controversy surrounding Native American mascots in New York, and the town’s refusal to retire its Native American sports names and mascots has sparked a heated debate. - What is the stance of the National Congress of American Indians on the use of unsanctioned Native American imagery?
The National Congress of American Indians opposes the use of unsanctioned Native American imagery, stating that it is rooted in racism, cultural appropriation, and intentional ignorance. - What are the potential consequences for New York if it does not comply with the federal government’s demands?
The federal government has threatened to pull funding from the state if it does not comply with its demands to rescind the ban on Native American mascots.
By PHILIP MARCELO
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — New York is discriminating against a school district that refuses to get rid of its Native American chief mascot and could face a Justice Department investigation or risk losing federal funding, President Donald Trump’s top education official said Friday.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, on a visit to Massapequa High School on Long Island, said an investigation by her agency has determined that state education officials violated Title VI of the federal civil rights law by banning the use of Native American mascots and logos statewide.
The department’s civil rights office found the state ban is discriminatory because names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the “Dutchmen” and the “Huguenots,” are still permitted.
McMahon described Massapequa’s chiefs mascot as an “incredible” representation of Native American leadership as she made the announcement backed by dozens of students and local officials in the high school gymnasium.
“The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,” the former longtime CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment said.
McMahon said her department will give the state ten days to sign an agreement rescinding its Native American mascot ban and apologizing to Native Americans for having discriminated against them and attempted to “erase” their history.
JP O’Hare, a spokesperson for the New York education department, dismissed McMahon’s visit as “political theater” and said the school district was doing a “grave disservice” to its students by refusing to consult with local tribes about their concerns.
“These representatives will tell them, as they have told us, that certain Native American names and images perpetuate negative stereotypes and are demonstrably harmful to children,” he said in a statement.
Representatives from the Native American Guardians Association, who voiced support for keeping the chief mascot at Thursday’s event, also don’t speak on behalf of local Indigenous residents, despite claims from school officials, said Adam Drexler, a Massapequa resident and member of the Chickasaw Nation.
“They’re Native Americans for hire,” he said, noting the group is based in North Dakota. “They have no tribal authority.”
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FILE – Chiefs signs and logos are displayed Massapequa High School in Massapequa, N.Y., Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
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Meanwhile the National Congress of American Indians, considered the country’s oldest and largest Native American advocacy group, reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to the use of unsanctioned Native American imagery.
“These depictions are not tributes — they are rooted in racism, cultural appropriation, and intentional ignorance,” the organization said in a statement ahead of McMahon’s appearance.
Trump ordered the federal education department to launch an inquiry into the Massapequa mascot dispute last month, making the coastal suburb an unlikely flashpoint in the enduring debate over the place of Indigenous imagery in American sports.
Located about 40 miles east of Manhattan, the town has for years fought a state mandate to retire Native American sports names and mascots.
But its lawsuit challenging the state’s 2023 ban on constitutional grounds was dismissed by a federal judge earlier this year.
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