TURNERS FALLS — The Gill-Montague Regional School Committee voted 6-3 Tuesday night to change the Turners Falls High School “Indians” mascot.
The action, after an hour of discussion on the issue, brought a divisive five-month debate to an unanticipated close. The committee was partially through a process to review the mascot that had been discontinued at its last meeting.
“I keep looking for some part of this that will help people learn from each other and become less polarized and I’m not seeing that,” said Jane Oaks, a committee member who voted in favor of change.
Chairman Michael Langknecht and members April Reipold and Leslie Cogswell voted against changing the mascot, with some citing the shortened process as the reason.
Reipold recommended waiting until the town voted in the referendum that the Montague Select Board put on the May town election last week.
The committee took the vote after a statement from Superintendent Michael Sullivan, who was asked by the committee to speak about the issue from a pedagogical perspective.
After noting that the “Indian” is a symbol of tradition and pride to many, and that those who support the “Indian” have no ill intent toward Native Americans, Sullivan said he believed it was important “to help students understand that there is harm in the status quo.
“On average, each year, three of our students are Native American and these students deserve and are afforded the same civil rights protections enjoyed by all students.”
Sullivan said that over the last several months the board heard from more than 50 local Native Americans who said they did not support the logo and did not feel as though it honored them.
“Indians are not like cowboys or Vikings. They are cultures of real people, our neighbors, and it is inappropriate to treat them or any racial, ethnic, religious or gender group in ways that perpetuate and legitimize stereotypes.”
He also spoke about a possible compromise, like the one proposed within the language of the referendum.
“In my opinion there is no way to retain the name ‘Indians’ that would not continue to present a civil rights problem, a pedagogical mixed message and a misalignment with our mission and core values.”
Supporters of the change erupted in applause when Sullivan finished his statement.
The 70-strong crowd included those from both sides of the debate who spoke passionately about the issue and the process during the public participation portion before the vote.
Alana Martineau, supporter of keeping the Indian and a graduate of the school and parent of a freshman, said the outcome felt inevitable to her but she was disappointed in the process.
“I feel like the decision was already made and we were just going through the motions,” she said.