MetroWest Daily News
Sunday, December 17, 2006

New traditions will embrace diversity

I was pleased to read about the recent Natick School Committee meeting during which teachers, alumni, and committee members voiced their concerns about the 56-year "tradition'' of the Redmen nickname and logo at Natick High School.

Discussions of this sort have been a frequent occurrence during school committee meetings across the country in recent years. The NCAA's August 2005 decision to ban universities that use "Indian''-themed sports team nicknames, logos, and mascots from hosting NCAA-sanctioned tournaments has brought this issue to national prominence.

Groups calling for an end to this practice include the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the NAACP, the National Congress of American Indians, the Intertribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, the National Indian Education Association, the NEA, the United Methodist Church, and the state boards of education of New Hampshire, New York, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Michigan. And the list continues to grow.

Schools like Natick High are choosing to do the right thing.

There are currently [46] high schools in Massachusetts using so-called "Indian'' themes for their sports teams. A staggering figure. It is my hope that by providing education to communities across New England, we can finally bring an end to an outdated practice and encourage school districts to start new traditions that embrace diversity and inspire students to become exemplary citizens and leaders within their community.

For more information about the institutionalized use of Native American culture as sports team nicknames, logos, and mascots, I recommend you visit the following website: www.aistm.org.

PETE SANFAÇON
Framingham