The Peru Gazette

“We like schools and local governments to look at the image they are projecting and how it reflects on them.”

By John T. Ryan 

Peru – A debate, especially on social media, has been ongoing since July 14th when the Peru Central School Board voted to retire the school’s “Indian” mascot/nickname. Most people commenting on media commenters oppose the change, while others believe it was justified and inevitable. People on both sides of the issue have pointed to Native American chiefs who support their opinion. 

Ben White is the Communications Director at the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation (Akwesasne) near Massena. He often receives phone calls on the mascot issue. It’s a frequent subject at school districts across the state. White commented, “We like schools and local governments to look at the image they are projecting and how it reflects on them. If there is any utilization of any indigenous caricatures, we ask that it be in a positive, honorable matter, that it be a true reflection of the indigenous people.” 

White encouraged school districts to reach out to local Native Americans stating, “It’s nice when school districts reach out to us for our thoughts on this matter. Our local school district recently changed its mascot from the Massena Red Raiders, a depiction of a western-style native. It wasn’t a correct representation of the Mohawk people. We’re utilizing this as an educational opportunity to go out into the surrounding school districts to share our culture, our language, our history, and to have a respectful relationship going forward.” 

White is aware that many people take great pride in Indian symbols. He stated, “I think the vast majority of people who attach themselves to native mascots have good intentions and have goodwill toward the indigenous people they are trying to honor.”  Still, he asked, “What other race or ethnicity is used to represent sports franchises or school districts?”  White also pointed out the word “Indian” is not a Native American name. It was Christopher Columbus, who called the indigenous people he encountered in this hemisphere Indians believing he was in India or South Asia. 

Coach Gary Edwards recalls speaking with a St. Regis Mohawk chief in 2001 about Peru’s mascot. The chief said he had no objections and had more important things to worry about. What has changed? Ben White said, “I think our consciousness as indigenous people has heightened over the years. There have been contributing factors such as the Elouise Cobel lawsuit against the U.S. government over the management of billions of dollars of trust funds. It’s the residential school experience that many of our elders went through. More of our youth are going to college, getting professional degrees and becoming more educated.” 

White also mentioned the awareness movements taking place across the country as having an influence. He stated, “Tribal communities are still the last people on the list to get additional resources. Some of that may be related to us being humble, quiet, reserved people. The time for that has passed. We need to speak up and voice our concerns on various issues. We can no longer be overlooked.”