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Native America Calling: Trump administration weighs in on Native American mascot debate
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Trump administration weighs in on Native American mascot debate
As the state of New York works to eliminate school mascots with Native American names and imagery, they have run into a powerful adversary: the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into whether the state is violating the civil rights of Long Island’s Massapequa School District by forcing them to change their “Chiefs” mascot. President Donald Trump personally weighed in, expressing his support for keeping the mascot.
A lawyer for the school says the issue is “the battleground for the preservation of our history and values nationwide.” Tune into Native America Calling to about the issues at play in New York and how it affects other efforts by other states and cities to end offensive Native mascots.
Also, hear about developments of case addressing inequities for Native students in New Mexico.
Guests on Native America Calling
Ted Trujillo (Passamaquoddy), enrolled member of the Passamaquoddy tribe
John Kane (Mohawk), Host of Resistance Radio on WBAI in NYC and WPFW in Washington, D.C.
David Glass (enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe), president of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media
Melissa Candelaria (San Felipe Pueblo), education director of the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and member of the plaintiff’s legal team for Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico
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