{"id":31027,"date":"2023-04-20T17:18:37","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T21:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/20\/new-york-bans-use-of-native-mascots-in-public-schools\/"},"modified":"2023-07-31T17:47:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T21:47:36","slug":"new-york-bans-use-of-native-mascots-in-public-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/04\/20\/new-york-bans-use-of-native-mascots-in-public-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"New York bans use of Native mascots in public schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\"New<\/a>
The New York State Education Department Building in Albany, New York. Photo: Onasil – Bill Badzo – Be Happy<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
New York bans use of Native mascots in public schools<\/div>\r\n
Thursday, April 20, 2023<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nPublic schools in New York will no longer be allowed to use mascots, symbols or depictions of Native people following a long-awaited vote this week.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nAt a meeting on Tuesday, the New York State Board of Regents<\/a> voted unanimously to ban the use of Native imagery in schools. The decision is being hailed by leaders of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe<\/a>.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cThe Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is pleased that the New York State Regents took this critical action to ensure that Native American people are not treated as cartoons but rather living people with a culture and languages that were given to us by the Creator,\u201d Chief Ron LaFrance said in a news release<\/a> on Thursday.\r\n

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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council would like to applaud the efforts of the New York State (NYS) Board of Regents\u2019 in banning New York schools from using Native American mascots. This much needed…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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<\/P>\r\nAccording to a memo prepared by the New York Education Department<\/a>, the use of Native people as mascots causes harm to students. Research cited by the state shows that such symbols and imagery reinforce anti-Native stereotypes and prejudice.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cWe are not mascots. We are people who are not to be exploited for gain, fun, or entertainment,” said Chief Michael Conners.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe proposal adopted at the state meeting on Tuesday<\/a> recognizes an exception to the use of Native mascots by tribes themselves and in cases where a school enters into an agreement with a tribe. Additionally, the ban doesn’t apply to “a public school, school building, or school district named after an Indigenous tribe.”\r\n

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