TURNERS FALLS — A nonbinding referendum asking voters to retain the Turners Falls High School Indian — with some changes — will appear on the May 15 Town Election ballot.
The Montague Select Board Monday night unanimously approved the referendum, which recommends the school keep the Indian but change the image to be more accurate of Native American tribes in the area. Currently, it is more representative of a Great Plains Native American.
“We advise that Turners Falls High School retain its Indian logo but alter the image to be more consistent with indigenous cultures in our region,” the language of the referendum reads. “We also advise that the Gill-Montague School District implement this change in conjunction with the expansion of its curriculum to include Native American history and culture, collaborating with tribes and Indian organizations in the region in this effort.”
Select Board Chairman Rich Kuklewicz allowed only one speaker from each side of the debate, and reminded the crowd at the meeting that this does not mean the board has taken a position. He said the Select Board still believes the School Committee has the final decision.
“This meeting has nothing to do with whether the Select Board is in favor of, or opposed to the mascot, or logo or whatever you choose to call it,” he said.
Three advocates for keeping the Indian presented the referendum, with Jeff Singleton speaking on behalf of the group.
“This is not designed to short circuit the School Committee or change the School Committee process,” Singleton said. “In the end, they’re going to make this decision but we very strongly feel that the opinions and feelings of the people in this community should be listened to.”
About 50 people who oppose the referendum showed up to Monday’s meeting. Several became disruptive once the board made their decision.
The pro-Indian group had been working to get 600 signatures, or 10 percent of the registered voters, to sign a petition that would automatically put the referendum on the ballot. However, the group presented 10 verified signatures to the Select Board and with its approval, the referendum can go on the ballot.
“This will go on, one way or the other, we’re already halfway there,” Singleton said.
Kuklewicz said the decision was not based on how the Select Board felt about the issue, but whether it was practical to wait until the group gathered 600 signatures and have the Town Clerk spend several days verifying all of the signatures, which would come at a cost to the town.
David Detmold spoke on behalf of the crowd of people calling for the school to stop using the Indian to represent its sports teams.
“There are, as of the 2010 census, 10 Native Americans living in Montague, and thousands of white alumni and friends of alumni of the Turners Falls High School,” he said. “Really, what are you hoping to prove?”
Detmold said several issues in American history, like slavery, wouldn’t have changed if the representative government allowed the people to vote.
“You are our leaders representing us, and it is the responsibility of our leaders to balance the passions of the majority against the rights of the minority,” Detmold said.