Before & After: Rebranding New York's Indigenous school mascots

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Schools in New York overseen by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) received the order to phase out Indigenous names and mascots in 2023. The Department accounted for scores of districts needing to update outdated imagery.

Which schools in your area already made the switch? Check out the roundup of updates below:

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) characterizes mascots with imagery associated with Native Americans as harmful stereotypes. Its K-12 database counts thousands of schools across hundreds of districts with such mascots. “Braves,” “Chiefs,” “Warriors,” and “Indians” have been the most widely used.

The regulation did not apply to the names of school buildings, districts, or towns derived from Indigenous people or culture. It did include the team names, mascots, logos, school paperwork, team jerseys, and even the sides of school buildings featuring images or words (or slurs) lifted from Native American culture.

And NYSED has said that you should email them if you know of a district that is not complying.

In November 2022, NYSED sent the ruling to all New York school districts, directing those with a Native American mascot to find a replacement, citing the “need to ensure that district mascots, team names, and logos are non-discriminatory.” The message from NYSED Senior Deputy Commissioner James N. Baldwin added that schools choosing to use Native American mascots is a reflection of “the message their choices convey to students, parents, and their communities.”

In 2001, NYSED first called upon communities to stop using Indigenous symbols in their team branding. In 2012, the Dignity for All Students Act took effect, aiming to ensure that all students experience a safe school without discrimination or harassment.

Finally, after a legal battle in 2021, NYSED and the Board of Regents affirmed that the often offensive mascots must begone. Around the same time, NCAI was among the groups backing the national movement to rename Washington State's NFL team, succeeding in 2022 when they became the Commanders.

Related video below: Indigenous Mascot Advisory Council's review process