Tradition vs the Twenty First Century: The Debate Over the Use of Native American Mascots

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It seems like it’s a debate as old as time, but again there is controversy regarding a sports team using Native American mascots and imagery. No, it’s not the Atlanta Braves, or the Kansas City Chiefs, or the Chicago Blackhawks, but an obscure high school in the Long Island town of Massapequa. The State of New York Board of Regents passed a ban on the use of Native American imagery in its public schools in April 2023[1], known as Part 123, and the town of Massapequa sued to enjoin the enforcement of the ban.[2] Massapequa, known as the Chiefs, would have to remove the name and logo from over 2,500 items before the deadline to comply on June 30, 2025.[3] The school had applied for a preliminary injunction that would stay the need for compliance while the lawsuit, filed in 2023 plays out, as this would be a significant expense.[4] It is estimated to cost between $338,000 to $960,000 to replace the items. The school district then sued to get a temporary restraining order to give them time to comply, but there is no guaranty it will receive a decision before the compliance deadline, or risk losing state aid and the removal of board members and district administrators.[5]

More and more school authorities at both the state and local levels are working to ban Native American mascots out of respect for Native American people.[6] But there are some detractors that are stuck in their ways and resistant to the changes.[7] A school district in Pennsylvania had successfully changed the mascot from a Native American man with a tomahawk pipe, only to change it back three years later.[8] Some argue that it is a tribute to the Native people, while others see it as an offensive characterization of a “bloodthirsty warrior” simply used as if there were no living Native Americans.

This is not a new discussion, but just a recent example of how it has come to the forefront over the last few years. There has been increasing opposition to the use of Native American imagery, mascots, and team names, particularly among those who identify as Native American.[9] This debate has divided sports fans as much as rivalries among their teams have.[10] What’s more, some organizations such as the Kansas City Chiefs, take the use of Native American mascots to the next level, in almost a mocking way, by using a made-up war chant and “tomahawk chop” to try and intimidate the opponent, when all it may be doing is alienating the local Native people.[11] On the other side, there are even pushes to bring back the Washington Redskins name by some Native Americans, as it was only changed by the threat of FedEx backing out of a stadium rights deal.[12] [13] This is a delicate subject that must be handled sensitively, but it can be done. Florida State has an open line of communication with the tribe that it derives its nickname from, the Seminoles.[14] The university and the tribe engage in open dialog about how to respect the Native peoples’ heritage and to celebrate the tribe’s history.[15] It doesn’t seem like the discussion will end any time soon, but all we can hope for is a peaceful outcome that all can agree on.

[1] https://www.wivb.com/news/new-york/nys-schools-can-no-longer-use-native-american-names-mascots-or-logos/

[2] NY School District Urges Court To Halt Native Mascot Ban, Elaine Briseno, Law 360 (March 27, 2025 4:41PM).

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Massapequa Union Free School District v. New York State Board of Regents et. Al. 2:23-cv-07052-MKB-LGD (2025).

[6] https://apnews.com/article/native-american-offensive-mascot-pennsylvania-tribe-chiefs-8ed8b35dd683d63e9d3e0e4b095c56cd

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] https://record.umich.edu/articles/study-opposition-high-to-native-american-mascots-names/

[10] Id.

[11] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/learning/is-it-offensive-for-sports-teams-and-their-fans-to-use-native-american-names-imagery-and-gestures.html

[12] https://www.fox29.com/sports/native-american-group-sues-washington-commanders-over-erasure-of-redskins-identity