Simmering on social media for weeks, with competing petitions gathering virtual signatures, the question should Shelter Island School drop “Indians” as its avatar has finally landed in the school board’s lap.
At an outdoor socially-distanced gathering Monday evening behind the school that was attended by about 60 people — students, teachers, parents/guardians, alumni, Island residents, and other interested parties — several speakers approached the podium.
As twilight descended — and accompanied by a chorus of crickets, cicadas, and other chirpy creatures — they respectfully presented their arguments to the school trustees, and by extension to the larger community.
The Board of Education, it is worth noting, was fully populated, having just sworn in its newest member, Karina Montalvo. She was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Jason Lones, who moved back to Ohio this summer. Her appointment brings to three the number of rookie board members, who joined four veterans led for a second year by Board President Kathleen Lynch.
Nearly an hour’s worth of public comments came after trustees had worked their way through a long agenda devoted largely to the school’s reopening plans, and followed the news that:
— School will begin for students on Thursday, September 10 (later than originally planned)
— As many as 25 new students will join the school community; enrollment was about 200 last year
— Superintendent Brian Doelger, who was hired at the start of the 2019/20 school year, has extended his contract with the district for five years, an announcement that was greeted with sustained applause.
The speakers
Local speakers were Sherri Cavasini; Lisa Kaasik, Henry Binder, Mia Diorio and Emma Gallagher (spoke as a group representing “Change the Shelter Island School Mascot” petition and quoted numerous other petitioners during their remarks); Cindy Belt; Aterhame Lawrence; Dave Gurney; Abby Kotula; Meredith Gurney Page, and Michelle Corbett. Eric LaPointe of the Lakota Sioux tribe, who lives on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota spoke after Belt; he also played a song on a wooden flute.
To give all those who spoke a chance be heard by a wider audience, we are presenting the speakers in their own words, in the order in which they appeared. Lynch said the trustees were there to listen, and would not act until they’d had a chance to publicly discuss the issues raised at a future meeting. At the bottom of this post, we’ve included written correspondence received by the school board at Monday’s meeting. The board had not yet received petitions.
[Editor’s note: We lightly edited the remarks for clarity and to fit our style, and added notes in brackets for context. The audience applauded as each speaker’s remarks concluded; we note how audience members responded at other times.]
1. Sherri Reeves Cavasini (Class of 1976)
[She spoke without notes.]
I come here with the utmost respect, but a lot of passion. We’re all here with a lot of passion, I know. We’re on different sides. I have friends on the opposite side than I am, and that’s OK. I’ve been known to be a pit bull, but right now, I’m an Indian. And a proud Indian. I played sports all my life. I was a cheerleader. I was on the yearbook staff. And I always represented the Shelter island Indian with pride and with respect.
Obviously, this is very passionate, because I don’t want [to lose] the Indian name or the emblem — I’m not so sure about the mascot; I’m not pro-costume — but I’m totally pro-Indian.
The Indians were here first. The Indians were here, and how did they leave? What happened with Sylvester Manor? What happened with Fiske? What happened — we can talk about a million things. Where does this end? Mashomack? Manhansett? It goes on and on and on.
The Indians, the ones that I know, we represented the Indian with pride. We never mocked them. Never even considered that. We were so proud to chant Indian theme songs at games, and etc., so. I’m going to really chop this word up: [here, with a self-effacing laugh, she endeavored to pronounce Manhansack-aha-quash-awamock]. How’s that? That’s pretty bad. I bet a lot of people here don’t know what it means. So its the Indian name for our Island, our sheltered island.
And I also served on the yearbook “Pogatticut”; I’m sure a lot of you know about Chief Pogatticut. Not far from where I live there is a rock or was a rock, and he would sit there every morning and watch the sunrise. So I think whoever did it, I don’t even know the year in the 40s, they named the yearbook “Pogatticut”, I would think in honor of Chief Pogatticut, not to mock him.
And yesterday, I called my long life childhood friend and classmate Linda Jernick Springer who said she apologized that she could not make it (she had a meeting at 6 o’clock) and I said Linda share with me some feelings. You know, talk to me here. Are we all wet? Are we all … You know? Do you ever remember mocking an Indian? Or … Absolutely not. OK?
In the 90s, I guess some mascot appeared. I don’t know anything about that and I would be pretty upset about that. That’s a disgrace. But Linda was a student, she was a school board member, she was a cheerleader coach and she put four children through the school. So we both wanted to say that we served and represented the Indians with pride and respect. And never mocked the Indians.
This is not about Black Lives Matter, not about Red Lives Matter, not about white. It’s about the Indians. It’s not about the Me Too movement. It’s about our Shelter Island Indians. So I’m just asking you to take a step back because I think right now, what’s most important is COVID and protecting our children, and our staff, and our custodians, and everyone, and just no hurry here, I don’t think, to make a decision. And also, if you do, it’s a big expense, removing the school gym floor and I don’t know about all of the banners that serve and hang there with pride. But I would just ask you to just take a step back and not rush into any decisions.
I also am sorry to say, and I’m embarrassed to say, that I have to go back to work. I left the co-op/hotel office empty with no one there to represent me. And that’s how much it meant for me to come here. But I thank you for giving me this time and I respect everyone. I just wanted to say how I love my Indians. Thank you.
2. Group representing “Change the Shelter Island School Mascot” petition
Lisa Kaasik, Class of 2013
[Note: Members of this group, representing a petition to change the mascot at change.org, at times read from prepared remarks. In a printed transcript, the word Indian was sometimes placed in quotes; we carried over this practice where speakers were reading from printed text, even though it may not have been evident to those listening. An opposing petition can be found at change.org by following this link. Another petition at change.org is “Shelter Island Keep Our Mascot, Go Indians.” None had been presented to the board by Monday evening.]
Good evening. My name’s Lisa Kaasik. I graduated in 2013. You probably don’t recognize me, entirely new board, but I’ve been here before. It’s interesting that we started with a person who is non-Native referring to herself as an Indian as we do actually have an Indian here today. I don’t mean to put him on the spot, but it is Eric LaPointe from Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. If he feels so inclined, we invite him to speak. But we do have a number of things to say before then. We being me, Mia Dioro, Emma Gallagher, and Henry Binder. Thank you.
[She began reading from printed remarks.]
So, good evening and thank you for hearing our voices on this important issue. We are here to urge the Shelter Island Board of Education to change the school’s current mascot, the “Indian”, and remove its imagery from school property. In addition, we would like to see a curricula added that would provide more comprehensive education on indigenous peoples and pre-Colonial history. During this nationwide reckoning with racial injustice and systemic oppression, we are here to ensure that Shelter Island School commits to its obligation of promoting anti-racism in and outside the classroom.
While that is an enormous undertaking, there is an easy place to start. Countless Shelter Island School students and alumni have helped to research this initiative in putting together this presentation and making the efforts to learn more about this issue and grow support for the cause. A lot of them are here today, thank you. I will email you that list because I ran out of paper and ink when I tried to print it.
I ask you to keep in mind that this is not an attack on our history, the school, or the community. Instead, we are trying to push the school away from shameful vestiges of racism and cultural appropriation, and help create a more welcoming and inclusive educational experience. Consider this an opportunity to hold ourselves accountable to a higher standard and to change that which is no longer acceptable. With that, let’s dive in.
While many argue that being the “Indians” is a proud tribute to our history and a way of honoring the first inhabitants of Long Island, the majority of Native people not only disagree but find the use of their culture and history as a mascot to be deeply offensive. Vice-Chairman of the Council of Trustees of Shinnecock Nation Lance Gumbs put it simply, “These names do not pay homage to anyone.“
The word “Indians” is often used to refer to Native American people, however, it is the legacy of the genocidal conquering of the United States by Christopher Columbus after he inaccurately named the Native people “Indians” for his mistaken notion he had arrived on the coast of India. While it is not technically politically incorrect, many people feel uncomfortable using the word given its negative history and that it does not accurately refer to any group of people other than those from the Republic of India, a country in South Asia. The most correct way to refer to native people is by their tribe.
In 1968, the National Congress of American Indians, the largest and most representative organization of its kind, began a campaign to remove “Indian” mascots from sports teams and schools. They maintain their position that they negatively represent the Native community and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
The school logo and the depiction on the gym floor are stereotypes. They are also historically inaccurate. The tribes that inhabited Long Island and Shelter Island never wore that style of headdress. These headdresses, called war bonnets, can be attributed to select Plains tribes, and would not have been found anywhere east of Ohio. The reason this style headdress has come to typify all Native people despite vast cultural differences across Tribes is due in large part to Western movies and TV shows, which glorify the slaughter of Native people and perpetuate a white supremacist narrative.
The use of any headdresses, and no offense here, for something as trivial as a high school sports team is gross cultural appropriation. In Native culture, these war bonnets are reserved for the most important spiritual and ceremonial rituals. To take something so historically and culturally significant and use it to represent a group of predominantly non-Native students is as reprehensible as it is illogical. To speak more on the harmful effects of Native mascots on students, Mia Diorio, former student and current staff in special education.
[She introduced the next speaker.]
Mia Diorio, Class of 2009 and current member of school faculty
In 2005, The American Psychological Association called for the immediate retire of all Native American mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools and athletic organizations. Their decision was based on a growing body of research revealing the harmful impact that racial stereotypes and inaccurate racial portrayals have on the social identity, development, and self-esteem of young Native Americans. Presenting stereotypical images of Native Americans undermines the ability of Native American nations and individuals to accurately and respectfully portray their own culture.
While Shelter Island School does not have a significant number of Native American students, research also shows that these symbols undermine the educational experiences of all students — especially those who have had little or no contact with indigenous peoples. These symbols, images, and mascots teach children that it’s acceptable to participate in culturally abusive behavior and perpetuate misconceptions about Native American culture.
Shelter Island School’s mascot does little to educate students and the community about the indigenous peoples of Shelter Island and the East End. Our school’s mascot helps to perpetuate stereotypes about Native Americans, which leads students to a narrow, simplified, and/or romanticized view of Native people. The students of Shelter Island School are capable and deserving of an education that teaches the history of our Island and the people who used to live here, not one that is reduced to a stereotype.
This form of discrimination against Native Americans leads to negative relations between cultural and ethnic groups. This is of particular importance when considering the alarmingly high rate of hate crimes against Native people. According to the Department of Justice, “American Indians are more likely than people of other races to experience violence at the hands of someone of a different race.” In allowing children to accept a stereotype as representative of a group of people that are still here, we promote the dehumanization and cultural degradation of Native peoples that create the seeds of violent discrimination.
Nationwide efforts have been made to remove offensive Native imagery from schools and municipalities. We have witnessed such a change on Shelter Island when the Town seal was updated to reflect a more historically accurate portrayal of a Native person. Also, of the 11 school districts on Long Island with Native mascots, eight of them are talking right now about mascots and racism in their districts, including us.
Thousands of schools, universities, and professional teams have abandoned offensive Native imagery, including Stanford University (formerly the Indians) in 1972, and the Redskins in 2020. In 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association established an extensive policy to remove the harmful “Indian” mascots.
State governments have also heard the complaints of the Native people. In 2019, Maine became the first state to pass a comprehensive law on the issue, banning the use of Native American mascots in public schools and universities. New York currently has two proposed bills, including one that would cut funding to schools that maintained Native mascots. Given the national and state support for this issue, it can be expected that a version of this law will pass in the coming years.
We have an opportunity here to rectify and atone. An action, or in this case inaction, does not need the intent for harm to cause it. The question is, will we be the ones to hold ourselves accountable and remove the Indians logo, or will we wait for the state to force us to? And now I’m going to call up Henry Binder.
Henry Binder, Class of 2020
I’m going to discuss now statements from the Shinnecock Nation on this subject. We reached out to the most local tribe, the Shinnecock Nation for their thoughts. Chairman of the Council of Trustees, Bryan Polite had this to say:
“To be clear, the Native Americans did not ask to be ‘honored’ with a mascot. It is clearly lost on some people that ‘honoring’ should be recognizing historical injustices against the first people of Long Island. A comprehensive curriculum centered around the study of the pre-Colonial era of Long Island would be a much more sincere way to ‘honor’ Native Americans. Mascots that depict a stereotypical ‘Indian’ is offensive to many in indigenous communities. I understand that a school should have traditions, but they should not be centered around a romanticized image of what people think are the ideals and culture of an entire community.Be proud to be from Shelter Island, but know the history of the Native people and ask them before you think a romanticized mascot is the best approach to educate the youth on Native American qualities and culture.”
Vice-Chairman Lance Gumbs also voiced his support for the removal of all Native American mascots, stating: “We don’t want any type of Native American influence involved in a team name.”
He also brought up an important point which is that Shelter Island students are not the only ones subject to this mascot and logo. He said, “Most of us here on Shinnecock have played sports. And we’ve played against teams that have had these names in high school. And so for us, we’ve seen these things, and we’ve recognized the complete disrespect that these school districts had for our people.”
James Crews, a member of the working group at the Shinnecock tribe, voiced his opinion regarding another Long Island school with an “Indian” mascot. He expressed his hopes that the school will change the mascot and update the district’s curriculum better to reflect Native American history and contemporary life. He also discussed how the mascot puts Native Americans on the same plane as inanimate objects and animals.
He said, “When you think of mascots, usually you see inanimate objects, animals and things like that. I just don’t want native people equated to that level. It feels disrespectful, it’s always felt disrespectful.”
Next, a symbol of division. In its essence, a mascot is something a school is meant to rally behind, to raise school spirit, and unite the community in hometown pride. As is demonstrated by this very debate, the “Shelter Island Indians” has become a symbol of division. The existence of two petitions, one to change and one to maintain, and the ugly social media arguments are further proof that Shelter Island does not have a mascot that brings people together.
In the heat of such online debates, there was name-calling and personal insults. We were most disgusted by calls to vote down the school budget should there be a mascot change. This threat, to hold our children’s education hostage for a petty and racist victory, says plenty about which side of this debate wants to improve the educational experiences of our students.
This discussion will not go away, and if we do not change now, not only will the mascot continue to misrepresent Native people by boxing them into stereotypes, but it will continue to divide our community and school. We deserve a mascot worthy of pride. And there is no pride in racist mascots.
[He introduced the next speaker.]
Emma Gallagher, Class of 2020
We will now move on to statements from students, alumni, and school staff. Please note that many others have voiced opposition to the mascot and that the following may be excerpts from longer statements. We have chosen to highlight what we believe are some of the most compelling pieces.
[She quoted other petition signers, from their published comments at change.org.]
Myla Dougherty (current junior): “I’m signing because having ‘Indians’ as a mascot is dehumanizing to native people. They are still here, they are not in the past. They should not be used as a mascot, which can allow others to see them as less than human. It is not honoring Native people. If we want to honor and respect them, we need to listen and change.”
Brandon Velasquez (current senior): “I see where some people are coming from saying that it’s to memorialize Native Americans but in all honesty, we have not done that. The island and school have not been successful in bringing our Native American past to light. We should be more educated on our rich Island history and if we really wanted to respect and memorialize Native Americans on this Island we should be much more educated than we are. We can do so much better. I do not believe we should stop memorializing Native Americans at the school. That should always stay. But having them as a mascot is not okay.”
Emma Gallagher [here the speaker quotes her own remarks from the petition site]: “While I acknowledge that there are people of Native descent that do not take offense to the mascot and I do not discredit their opinions, I continue to advocate and push for this because it is still harmful to many. In my opinion, harm to some requires attention and action even when others take no offense or are indifferent. If it is offensive to even one individual of the population the mascot is supposedly meant to represent, it is hard to understand why this is still a debate. Personally, I did not learn a single thing about native culture or history from having the “Indian” mascot. While I have done research, I am ashamed of how little I actually know about local Native history. It would have served me much better to have learned from a curriculum, field trips, assemblies, etc., all throughout my years in the school. I know the costume was retired, quote on quote Indian “cries” at sports events, and other such offensive things have been eliminated, but the fact of the matter is that those things will always be connected to the Indian mascot. What I know is that school spirit will not die with the retirement of a mascot. We are all proud to be from Shelter Island. It is the people in the school and pride for this Island that feeds into school spirit. Past accomplishments will not be erased. Memories and friendships will not be erased. A mascot that feeds into stereotypical views of a group of people is wrong.
Katrina Kaasik (Class of 2009): “As someone who played on the Shelter Island girls basketball team and ran cross-country from 7th grade onward, it was a constant source of shame and embarrassment to be known as the Shelter Island Indians. It was hard to feel pride in our school no matter how many games or races we won and the whole point of school sports is to represent and to do your best for your school. It would have made those years as an SI athlete something entirely different; feeling a sense of connection, pride, and confidence in our school’s identity would’ve created much more spirit and camaraderie among us. What an absolute shame it is for any kid to be embarrassed of the school that they represent.”
Henry Binder (Class of 2020): “Racism comes in many forms. Our school’s representation of “the Indians” is undoubtedly one. I have heard many Islanders over the recent months claim that our school has made them “Indians.” That their “Indian pride” may never fade because it is now part of them. When discussed, many do not recognize this as racism, but rather “school spirit.” The fact that racism — no matter the degree — has been normalized to the extent that community members mistake it for pride is disgusting. If the Board and school community stand before us and say repeatedly that our school’s icon is not offensive while Native American groups say it is outright offensive, is repulsive as well, muting our voices and most importantly, you’re muting the voices of the people this offensive icon actually represents. Change the mascot; make it right. Thank you.”
Tristan Wissemann (Class of 2016): “As a proud Shelter Island High School graduate, I fully support the proposed mascot change. It’s time for us to move forward as a community.”
Justine Karen (Class of 2018): “At the end of my senior year I made the conscious decision not to buy Shelter Island Spirit wear despite desperately wanting a tangible memento honoring the team and school that I loved— and love still— so dearly. Thumbing the pages of the sales booklet with my friends as we crowded the table across from the gym, my heart sank. Each shirt, sock, hat, and scarf was branded: “Indians.” While I have always proudly been an Islander, I have grimaced, apologized for, and lamented over being an “Indian.” Making a caricature out of the oppressed and perversely claiming it as an honor. During my time on the Shelter Island Cross Country and Track teams, I never ran for “the Indians.” I never ran as “an Indian.” I ran, sweat dripping down my face, legs aching, chest starved for air, teeth ground in determination, as an Islander. For my teammates, school, and incredible community who’s whopping cheers filled my ears and heart every step of the way. To me, Shelter Island is love, support, and inclusion. But the “Indian” Mascot mars that image. Please, I ask that you give me another reason to be proud of the school and community which raised me and change it to something which better reflects who we are and the values by which we define ourselves.”
Kelsey McGayhey (Class of 2012): “I, as a post-Shelter Island athlete have sweat on that floor for 12 years. I, speaking for myself, personally was not properly educated of who or what the mascot could and have offended when I was in school. Growing throughout the years, I have been educated and stand behind the changing of the mascot. At the end of the day, my pride of athletics and fitness stands behind Shelter Island, and that pride comes within, not a mascot. I never want anyone to feel bad or upset, even one person. Change can be fun, and it’s what you make of it.”
Elizabeth Dunning (Class of 2016): “When I was a student in high school, I was lucky enough to have opportunities to work with students from other schools doing scientific research. One of the schools we got to work with was Southampton. I remember meeting one student who grew up on the Shinnecock Reservation. Our ‘mascot’ came into conversation and he fully agreed that it should be changed. It was uncomfortable and embarrassing to have this conversation with someone who comes from the very culture our ‘mascot’ mocks. We have so many conversations debating what is ‘correct,’ but we seldom stop and listen. During these conversations, the people being hurt, our Native American brothers and sisters, are often left out. They are the people whose culture is being misrepresented, yet we ignore their input. We were lucky enough to get feedback from Bryan Polite, Chairman of the Shinnecock Council of Trustees. His comments should matter more than our own feelings. The comments from the boy I worked with in high school should matter more than our own feelings. It is simply not our place to argue with those who are actually hurt by this racist depiction.”
Lauren Gurney (Class of 2020): “I feel this should be changed because other people find our mascot offensive and it is not our place to decide whether it is or not.”
Emily Larsen (Class of 2004): “When I was in high school the topic of changing the mascot was brought up and soon fizzled out. I’ve never understood our school’s attachment to our mascot. It is not culturally relevant to our non-Native American population, it is insulting to the nearby tribes and doesn’t reflect well on us. I played several sports in high school and the mascot meant nothing. The people, the mentors, and the support of the community is what creates pride. Not some laden symbol of our racist heritage. The island boasts a countless number of creatures and historical figures we could embrace as a mascot that reflects our community. Why maintain a death grip on one that does nothing but stain us?”
Mia DiOrio (Class of 2009): “When I attended the Shelter Island School, our school mascot made me feel uncomfortable and at times, ashamed. Now, as a teacher at my alma mater, I strive for my students to be critical thinkers who ask questions and stand up against all forms of hate and discrimination. I preach a growth mindset, where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. I hope that the school board can use the mascot debate as a teachable moment. Let us model for our students that it is okay to think critically, to stand up against discrimination, and to use this as an opportunity to learn, grow and create positive change in our community.”
Laura Leever (current Spanish teacher): “It is time to change the Shelter Island School mascot name and image.
[Gallagher continued, no longer quoting others, but still speaking from prepared remarks.]
I’ve heard people support the continuance of the SI Indian because it is a tradition going back several generations and they have an emotional attachment to the memories the name and image evoked. I understand the power of tradition and nostalgia and school pride, but not when it comes at the expense of an entire culture and our own students’ educational, social, and emotional development.
Some people say the word and image are not at the expense of Native Americans. They say, in fact, that it is a reflection of the respect and admiration they have for them; that it is a way to honor them. In my life experiences, when one gives respect, the recipient should actually have the feeling of being respected. Likewise, one group’s way of honoring another group of people should feel like an honor to said group.
I’ve heard some people say that the Indian name and image wasn’t a problem before so it shouldn’t be a problem now. We’ve seen throughout history that, just because something was once generally accepted, does not mean it should continue to be accepted. When we know better, we do better. Change can be hard, but change can be good.
Some people have fond memories of the Indians’ name and image, but that name and image do not belong to them or to the school or to the community. That name and image belong to a people and a culture that has been in existence for thousands of years. That name and image have a history that supersedes the nostalgia of a couple of generations of the Shelter Island community.
A part of the history of the Native Americans includes the genocide inflicted upon them by the Europeans who came to this continent, along with the systemic denigration and destruction of many aspects of their culture. And today some people in the same dominant culture still want to use the Native American name, image and culture for their own purposes without even knowing the true significance and value they have to the Native people — and without their approval. It is simply a matter of the dominant culture saying that their perspective and their wants matter more than those of the people whose name and likeness they are using. Is this what we want to teach our children?
The first line of our [school] Mission Statement:
“We want our students to cherish our small Island community while applying expanding their learning about, understanding of, and engagement with the wider world.”
Moving on to forward/suggestions for change. Shelter Island has a rich history that isn’t stained by the abuse of native people. We urge the school and the Board to consider a more culturally appropriate, or merely inoffensive, mascot and emblem for the school. We have collected suggestions from students, alumni, and community members and find overwhelming popularity among the names Ospreys, Fish Hawks, and the Islanders. In addition, with the support of Sylvester Manor and the Shelter Island Historical Society, we are confident that the school can adopt a more comprehensive education on indigenous peoples and pre-Colonial history.
In a joint community and school effort, changing the mascot could be a positive legacy for current students and a rewarding intellectual project. While change may be uncomfortable for some, it will not last and that discomfort is a small price to pay for doing what is right.
[Gallagher next referred to a proposed Curriculum Development Partnership Task Force and encourage board members to connect with Melanie LoBue, class of ‘96 for additional details.]
Regardless of the Board of Education’s decision to keep or change the mascot, we must rightfully educate our students and honor the native people of our beautiful home. Our current teachers should not be burdened with curriculum creation. A task force of alumni, students, and community members are standing by to partner with the Board by executing on the following select list of potential solutions:
- Build and implement a comprehensive curriculum that covers the history of local tribes
- Create a regular speaker series inviting members of the Shinnecock Nation
- Provide relevant field trip experiences for students
- Provide informational posters, artwork, or plaques with information regarding local native history
- Build potential educational partnerships or internships with Sylvester Manor and the Historical Society
- Present in school exhibits and training — this past year, [local artist] John Pagliaro did an arrowhead presentation for some of the elementary school students. It allowed a space for positive discussion and learning.
Finally, a school exists to teach, to invite growth and discovery. There are so many creative ways we can honor native people, and using them as a mascot is not one of them. Thank you.
3. Cindy Belt (long-time school volleyball coach)
Hi everybody, I’m Cindy Belt. I’ve been a coach at the Shelter Island High School for 15 years. Both of our children spent their entire school career at Shelter Island School. And I am enormously proud of the education our students receive and the teams they play on when representing our school and community.
[She referred to notes as she spoke.]
Certainly, of course, there’s renewed debate about Shelter Island School’s use of Indians as the representation of our athletic teams and overall image. Some argue that the term is a source of great pride and meant to honor and celebrate the heritage of Native Americans, of Indians, American Indians. Others say that no matter what the intent, using an ethnic group as a team mascot is offensive and demeaning.
On social media, there have been very accusatory posts from both sides. Nobody wants to be told that they are too young or they don’t know their place, or that they can’t appreciate tradition. Likewise, hackles are easily raised when someone senses they are being accused of being racist when they feel they are simply embracing school pride.
While coaching, I trust my athletes to make up their own minds about the use of the term Indian. I do not use it. I base my opposition of the use of the Indian mascot or icon on the opinion of the people whom it directly affects. We’ve heard a lot about our Native tribes and how they feel. My sister-in-law is of Seneca heritage. She was raised in western New York on the reservation and Native lands and she wholeheartedly supports and applauds the movement to stop using indigenous peoples as mascots.
Changing Shelter Island School’s mascot is not a call to erase our history. And no one is suggesting we retroactively cancel or delete past accomplishments. Our community abounds in street names and locations that reflect their Manhansset origins and more appropriately honor the first people of Shelter Island.
Change is hard, but the time has come. Let’s work together to find a new mascot for our school that everyone can be proud of. Thank you for genuinely considering changing Shelter Island school’s mascot. Thanks.
4. Eric LaPointe (member Lakota Sioux from South Dakota)
Hello everybody in the community. My name is Eric LaPointe and I’m from the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, in the southern part of South Dakota. I’ve been coming here for four years now. And we were going to film a movie called “Crazy Horse and Custer” and I’d play my great-great-grandfather Crazy Horse in the movie and my children were going to act in the movie, too. But that’s still in the process.
[LaPointe, who wore an elaborately carved wooden flute hanging from his neck, spoke without notes.]
The place I come from on the reservation, discrimination is alive and well there. It’s like the 1800s in the Wild West in South Dakota and the pipeline is still coming through. Our people are going to end up going to war with the United States government. That pipeline is going to be just nine miles northeast of where my grandparents are buried in a cemetery that’s been there since the mid-1800s.
When I come up here and I see a mural, a painting on the floor of a Lakota elderly with a headdress on. Our Lakota people are the most popular ones when it comes to movies. Some people are not educated on who were are, our Native Americans in this continent here. So they think every native wears a headdress.
But they don’t realize that every feather has a story behind it on the headdress. When a man wears a headdress of feathers, he’s earned all of those since he was a child all the way to an old man. And every time he remembers. The feathers could’ve been given him to him by elders. Grandmothers. Or one was given to him because he went to war. One was given to him because of the good deeds he’s done for people. And all of those feathers were gifts.
And we only wear the headdress when we earned it. We earned every feather. And the headdress is usually worn by old men. Young men can’t achieve all of these things. Young men can’t achieve all of their greatness when they’re such young men. They don’t have that much wisdom. A young child doesn’t have wisdom yet. But a headdress like that is worn to places like this, a council, a talk with government, or [when] you’re going to war.
It’s not really a war bonnet. It’s something of honor. We have to respect that old man because he’s lived his life. He understands his life. We respect our grandmas and our grandparents. They’re older than us. Our mothers and fathers taught us. They raised us right. And that’s what that headdress means when they wear it. The longer it is — when you see a long headdress of feathers, it’s not for bragging rights — people see that this man done many good things.
It could be offensive to many people in this day and age in 2020. We’re educated, but we don’t know everything. No one knows everything; someone always knows more. Some people don’t understand what they know. Some people understand a lot. It all depends on life, your experience. That’s what that headdress means when you wear it. Those feathers.
Our Lakota people believe that everybody’s connected. Everything has a spirit. Everything grows. Everything is born. Everything dies one day. That’s why we respect having the feather, having that war bonnet. That’s why respect all these things. It’s all about manners and respect and decency and walking in the good way of life.
But when people call themselves Indians and they’re not, we don’t believe. You should be born what you’re born. To be who you should be. If you’re born to be African American, you should be that. If you’re born Native American, I believe you should be that. If you’re born Jewish or whatever, you should be that. We always believe it’s not right to try to be someone you’re not. And when the people watch you, it is kind of embarrassing when you’re trying to be someone you’re not. It could draw a lot of offense.
If it’s going to be a mural, it should be painted as the Natives that were from here, from this Island and this area. But in all my travels in California and everywhere I go, I see people, non-Natives, singing our songs and portraying themselves as Native Americans. I just use my sense of humor and try to portray myself as a white man. And they look at me and I just use my sense of humor and don’t try to offend people. But just imagine if I have a team; I’m from Rosebud and imagine if our team’s the Rosebud Caucasians. [laughter].
[He mocks a cheer:] “Go caucasians!” [more laughter]
Lots of long-haired Indian natives and they’re trying to be Caucasians and being proud of being white and the white people are all like, “What? You don’t look like no Caucasians” [more laughter].
I always tell people, a dairy cow wouldn’t make a good warhorse. It was born a dairy cow, it should be a dairy cow. Don’t try to be a warhorse. A stud horse wouldn’t make a good dairy cow. We should just be who we’re born to be. You’re born to whatever color you are, be that, and be proud of that. We all share this land together and share our cultures, our songs, everything together. That’s what I believe in.
It’s good to make jokes. You can’t go to war on a dairy cow because your enemies will smell all that spoiled milk everywhere and they’ll just track you down. That’s just my joke about things. Things should match up. If you’re educated and if you’re going to portray yourself and call yourself an Indian from India, you should try to [here he briefly affected a stereotypical accent] talk like this, talk like an Indian “I’m from India.”
Things should be correct, you know. It does get offensive after a while. After all the travels. “Are you an Indian?” I’m like, “No”. “Are you an American?” “No”. “Were you born in America?” We’ve been here for thousands of years. Whatever you want me to be I guess, but I’m Lakota. I just try to teach people.
My own people, we have this problem on our reservation; we have the same thing. We go through the same stuff. Our own Native American people on my reservation make fun of the other Native Americans. The shaved head Native Americans make fun of the ones with the long hair. We’re divided there too. We need to educate ourselves too, on the reservation and all over the place. No matter what reservation, no matter what state we go to.
It would be good to be politically correct and do things the right way. If Native Americans are going to use anything about the English, we should teach it right; we should teach our children right. The English people, or people from Scotland, or whatever, it should be taught right. As parents, as adults with children, as grandparents with grandchildren, we should teach it right what a Native American is, or what an African is, where they come from. I think education should be taught the right way where everybody originally did come from and the truth.
As parents, that’s the wisest thing to do. Teach our children to try not to be someone your not. It’s OK to understand other cultures and other languages; and that’s beautiful to understand each other and know each other. But an Indian trying to be a White and a White trying to be an Indian, you know, that to me is not right because it’s not who you’re born to be. That’s all I’ll have to say on that.
I brought my flute and I’d like to share a flute song with you. Take this out with a flute song. Thank you for letting me come and voice my opinion.
[LaPointe played a song; it was met with applause.]
Thank you.
5. Aterhame Lawrence (Class of 2014)
[She read from notes on her phone, and shared the transcript; we’ve included her use of quotation marks.]
Hello everybody. I want to make this quick because I know we’ve all been here a very long time. But I didn’t want to not come up and speak because I do think what I have to say is equally as important. First and foremost I want to say thank you to the board for allowing me to speak today. My name is Aterahme Lawrence. I’m a Shelter Island alumna from the Class of 2014.
I’m not only here to show my support for changing the Shelter Island school mascot but to stand in solidarity with the Native people who have been damaged by the effects that negative stereotypes like that of our school mascot. Our mascot represents so much more than a symbol and if we feel this mascot defines us, it’s more of a reason to change it.
As a Black woman, I know the damage historical and modern stereotypes continue to have on a wide range of people. Whether we feel it’s necessary to change them or not, the fact that we continue to ignore this issue directly violates that of our [school] mission to engage, explore, and empower.
We are here as more than mere individuals of the Sheter Island community but with us are the hundreds of tribal nations, national, regional and civil rights organizations, school boards, teams, and media personalities, who — like us — have called for the end of harmful “Indian” mascots.
It was mentioned earlier that the current political climate, recent events, and the Black Lives Matter movement have nothing to do with the issue we’re presenting today. But I’d like to challenge this idea. It’s all connected by the violence and history of the symbols that continue to affect entire communities of people, the Natives, and African American and Black Americans, alike.
We are asking our community, school board, and students to uphold our mission, to envision to the fullest extent. To engage accurately with not only our small Island’s unique history and the tribes that once inhabited this land, but changing beyond us, not only our small community but the past, present, and future of the world we live in.
To explore new ways to educate and fund the retirement of the Shelter Island Indian for good but also honor the Native Americans that once inhabited this land. And lastly to empower others to be beacons of hope and change in the world and our community. We have to allow this change to happen here first. We have the opportunity to show what we stand for as a school with the truest definition of pride in hearts.
Dismantling stereotypes has to go hand in hand with an educational institution in order to provide a healthy, safe, and positive environment for its students and better prepare them for the society that exists beyond our ferries. This would be a great way for everyone who’s a part of the Shelter Island community to engage with our school, educate past, present, and future students on the Shelter Island history.
At the end of the day, people are not mascots and never asked to be honored as such. We have to take this issue more seriously and we create that change right now. We don’t have to let it go another seven years. We don’t have to wait for it to be mandated by our nation. But we can really change a lot of the things and stand for what we hope our students will go out and reflect in the world.
Thank you for allowing me to speak.
6. Dave Gurney (Class of 1991)
Hey, everybody, I’m Dave Gurney, If you don’t know me, my family owns on the hardware store on the Island. I graduated here in ’91. My sister graduated here, my wife graduated here, my daughter graduated this year with Emma and Henry.
I have a lot of friends that I still communicate with that I went to school here with and we’re very proud of Shelter Island School and being an Indian.
Back in the 1900s [laughter] when I went here, I remember a lot more education was brought forth on the history of Shelter Island whether it was Sylvester Manor or what, but I remember a lot about Manhansett Indians being talked about. My sister has a lot more information.
I think that the one thing I agree with the other side is that the school needs to re-embrace teaching students about the history of the local tribes of Shelter Island. If there was one thing that I would change, it would be the icon or logo to make it more historically correct to the tribe that lived here.
The name ‘mascot’ keeps coming up. We haven’t had a mascot for 13 years and that was like the biggest mistake that Shelter Island had, as far as I’m concerned. That costume was a disgrace and it should’ve been destroyed. I know that there’s pictures floating around representing it. That using that, it might be racist. The mascot hasn’t been used in 13 years and it shouldn’t even be a discussion, the mascot.
We should be talking about our logo or an icon and just be proud of Shelter Island. I’m proud of being an Indian, and that’s all I’ve got for you today. Thank you.
[He spoke without notes.]
7. Abby Kotula (Class of 2020)
I’m Abby Kotula and I graduated in June with Henry and Emma, as well. I wasn’t going to get too involved in this but I recently went to South Dakota myself to visit my sister and we went all across the state. We saw Crazy Horse, we saw Mount Rushmore, we saw everything and I learned about a great deal about the Native Americans there.
And I actually got in contact with a woman named Davidica Little Spotted Horse. She is an activist on the Pine Ridge Reservation and she has many connections across the county. She wanted me to read this quote to you:
[She referred to notes on her phone.]
“In this day and age, we need to take every opportunity to be a good example of a racist-free future for the children of this country. That includes showing true respect to the original peoples of your community.”
“The image you are using is not only mocking but is disrespectful to the tribal people of that area as well as to my Plains tribe whose image you’re using.”
“I know it’s hard to imagine or understand that using a race as a mascot is not a respectful gesture, but I’m hoping you as a community and school board choose to educate yourselves on how it is offensive to use a whole race as a mascot. I know we as Native people would never use someone’s race as a mascot for any of our schools.”
“Even if you choose not to change the mascot of your school, that will just show your own standard of ethics and morals. Sending you all prayers for courage to do the honorable thing your your children who are looking to you for leadership.”
I just want to say that. And I think that’s all that should have to be said. Thank you.
8. Meredith Gurney Page (Class of 1993)
[Page, who spoke without notes, first handed a packet of materials to the board president for distribution to members. She gave us a copy (see details at the end of this post).]
I’m Meredith Page. I graduated in the Class of ’93. I can’t come here and not say something. However, I do have respect for everybody that has talked, has spoken before, — and well-spoken. Props to you guys. I respect everything you’re saying.
I do agree, like David said, that we should bring back some more education about our original Native Americans.
We need to stop using the word “mascot”, that I agree, and start using the word “icon” or “symbol”. There are many schools that use those words — “icon” and “symbol”— and not have an actual mascot that runs out in the middle of the games and acts like an idiot.
And, I think that we can adjust how our icon looks. Just like everybody else said, it doesn’t depict the people that were here before. So let’s change that. Let’s make it like the Manhansett tribe.
But I still think that we should keep the Indian logo because I know everybody says “Oh, yeah, its tradition,” but, yeah, it is tradition. I’m proud of it. I’m wearing it. [She indicated to a school T-shirt she was wearing.]
I’m proud to be an Indian. My kids — one already graduated from here, one still goes here — we’re all Indians. Not an Indian (as Eric said) that you grew up as or what you’re born into. That’s your school identity; I feel it’s a little bit different. I don’t want to just ramble, so that’s all I have to say.
9. Michelle Corbett (Class of 1993 and current faculty)
[She spoke without notes.]
I’m Michelle Corbett. I’m actually a member of the Class of ’93 along with Meredith. I’m also a teacher here. I teach Special Ed and Social Studies.
I just wanted to let the community, and let everybody here know that before this second round of trying to change this came up, an educational team had formed with the Historical Society and started bringing in lessons to the elementary school to teach them about the Native peoples of Shelter Island. We were already on that.
Mia Diorio and I met this summer with Yvonne [Purcell] and Moriah [Moore] from the Shelter Island Historical Society in trying to figure out ways to bring it to the secondary level students, too.
An idea I love is getting to have the secondary students learn about it and then also bring it down and they teach it to the younger students. So that’s something that we’re working on and hoping that the board will put forth curriculum writing for and the activity of it. Of course, in COVID, it will be virtual, I guess.
But, you know, I went to school here and I will tell you, I was a cheerleader when we picked that mascot. And I’m not questioning anyone else’s recollection of what the education was like here in the 90s, but no one told us that it was wrong to pick that mascot.
I was a dumb 16-year-old girl who cared more about herself than anything else going on in the world at the time. Now, I’m an adult and I’ve been educated and I went seeking out the peoples that lived here and found out that there haven’t been Manhansett people here since before the Revolution. And that they actually kind of moved into the Montaukett tribes or the Shinnecock tribes. So if I want to know what someone who is, like a Native person from here feels, that’s who I’d talk to. Because the actual Manhansetts are all gone.
When I was young I acted as a young person and I was foolish and I didn’t know any better. And now I do. And because of what I know now, I fully support changing our name to the Islanders. When someone asks me who I am, I’m an Islander. I just think it makes so much sense. And as for the cost of repainting a floor, that shouldn’t be a consideration.
I am so incredibly proud of the students that spoke here today [applause]. Four students of mine. These are amazing young people that we’ve turned out here. We do a really great job and this, like one of the said, is a teachable moment. And whether it was started because of Black Lives Matter, I don’t care. But it’s a teachable moment. Let us show them. And let us listen to them.
It needs to change. It just does for all the reasons we’re hearing now. And I thank you for the opportunity to let me speak.
10. Henry Binder
Before it downpours on us, I just wanted to mention that the Board currently has two letters. One email from the National Congress of American Indians and another from the Native American Guardians Association to change the mascot. That’s it.
11. Board president Kathleen Lynch
Thank you everyone. I couldn’t be more impressed with our ability to have a community conversation. This is exactly what I hoped would happen. Thank you everyone. Thank you Mr. LaPointe for educating us so beautifully and for that beautiful music.
As I mentioned, we have a lot to deliberate over, but not discuss. Discussion takes place with you guys. We’ll discuss and have an answer to all these thoughts and opinions at our next meeting which is August 31.
Additional materials
As noted, Meredith Page provided members of the board with a packet of additional materials, including a letter from Shelter Island resident Ed Brown, as well as reprints of posts and articles relating to discussions about this issue taking place elsewhere on the local, state and national level.
Here is the text of the letter from Ed Brown:
“In my lifetime I have never, ever approached the School Board on any matter except to help. The Native American history is all over this Island in so many ways. The Indian logo has brought a lot of admiration and pride to so many that have graduated here on Shelter Island. Teach the kids that history and RESPECT matters to a lot of people. Let’s rise above and not follow and mimic what’s going on in this country on both sides of the aisle!”
Below are available links to materials she provided:
From iloveancestry.com, a post that argues the word “Indian” derives from the Spanish for “Children of God” and does not refer to the republic that came to be known as India.
From sports journalist Michael David Smith, two posts about polling regarding the use of the name Redskins for the NFL team. A 2019 post from profootballtalk.nbcsports.com that says a Washington Post poll found “proud” was the word most often selected by Native American respondents when asked to choose among options. And a 2016 post from profootballtalk.nbcsports.com about a 2015/16 Washington Post poll that found a majority of Native American respondents said they weren’t offended by the team’s use of the word Redskins.
From 2004, the results of an Annenberg Public Policy Center poll that found a majority of Native Americans surveyed during the previous year agreed the name Redskins did not bother them.
We could not find an active link to an item entitled “APA Native Research Questioned” from the Facebook group SaveTheName, but interested readers can probably join the group to find out more.
Written correspondence
The school board also received two items of written correspondence. The first is an email from an organization called the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA); the second is an email from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
NAGA email
Received from Nicholas Willis in Southern Utah, on behalf of the Native American Guardians Association:
“My name is Nicholas Willis I am a representative of the Native American Guardians Association and am located in Southern Utah. The Native American Guardians Association leadership team has asked me to forward a letter of support regarding your Native Themed School. NAGA has been involved in many battles across the United States. It has come to my attention you are under attack. They believe in Educating individuals on Native American History and Culture. I will attach the education website below and believe it would be beneficial to check out. I also stand behind and fully support the leadership team. I would ask that you carefully study the information on the letter as it is very detailed and informative. I would hope you make the best decision to educate versus aiding in [the] removal of Native American Culture. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.”
NCAI email
Received from Ian Record, Ph.D.Vice President, Tribal Governance and Special Projects, 1516 P St. NW, Washington, DC 20005:
“On behalf of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), I am writing in response to a request for assistance that we received from a member of the Shelter Island School community. This individual informed us that the Shelter Island School community is currently engaged in a conversation about whether to retire its ‘Indians’ name and mascot, and asked if NCAI would provide the school and school board with some general information about the facts concerning the harms caused by the continued use of Native ‘themed’ mascots in sports and popular culture. That is the purpose of this email.”
“NCAI is the oldest, largest, and most representative national organization representing tribal nations and peoples. It has been leading Indian Country’s consensus-driven movement to eradicate offensive Native ‘themed’ mascots from sports and popular culture for the past fifty years. As a resolution passed by NCAI’s membership in 2005 explains, ‘the use of ‘Native American’ sports mascots, logos, or symbols perpetuates stereotypes of American Indians that are very harmful. The ‘warrior savage’ myth has plagued this country’s relationships with the Indian people, as it reinforces the racist view that Indians are uncivilized and uneducated and it has been used to justify policies of forced assimilation and destruction of Indian culture’.”
“Below are linked resources that provide additional details about NCAI and tribal nations’ broad and longstanding opposition to the use of the mascots, as well as the harms that they cause. Please let me know if you have any questions or require additional information as you deliberate this critical issue. I look forward to hearing from you.“
NCAI Statement on Washington Football Team’s Retirement of Racist Mascot
NCAI’s “Ending the Legacy of Racism” Report
Washington Post: NCAI President Op-ed: Ridding Football of Racial Slurs
Cleveland Indians manager says it’s time to change the team name
American Psychological Association Resolution – Retiring American Indian Mascots
Study finds only harmful effects from Native themed mascots
CNN: Maine to become first state to ban Native American mascots in public schools
NCAI: Ending the Era of Harmful “Indian” Mascots
NCAI 2005 Resolution: Support for NCAA Ban on “Indian” Mascots
Op-ed: The destructive dynamic of dehumanizing Native Americans
Why Educators Can’t Ignore Indian Mascots
How to contact the Shelter Island Board of Education
If you have an opinion or information that you’d like to share with the Shelter Island Board of Education, you can write to District Clerk Jacki Dunning, who can distribute copies to all board members and include your correspondence in the board’s official records.
Send correspondence to jacki.dunning@shelterisland.k12.ny.us or send it c/o District Clerk, Shelter Island Board of Education, PO Box 2015, Shelter Island, NY 11964.
If you have questions, you can call her at 631-749-0302, extension 101.
You can also reach out to individual board members at the email addresses listed on the school district website, at www.shelterisland.k12.ny.us.
