Massapequa, a coastal hamlet on Long Island, New York, is at the centre of a contentious debate over the use of Indigenous imagery and mascots in local schools, reigniting broader discussions about cultural representation and sensitivity. The controversy involves the Massapequa High School Chiefs, whose mascot features a stereotypical Native American figure wearing a headdress—a symbol that has drawn significant criticism for its historical inaccuracies and perceived insensitivity.
Adam Drexler, a former player for the Chiefs hockey team and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, has publicly shifted his viewpoint, reflecting a growing awareness of his Indigenous heritage. Speaking to The Associated Press, Drexler said, “There was no tribe east of the Mississippi that ever wore a headdress — ever. How can you argue for a symbol that has no significance or relevance here, while at the same time claiming you honour and respect the culture and history of the people this town is named after?” Drexler, 60, was adopted and raised by a white Jewish family, underscoring the complex layers of identity connected to the issue.
The mascot and Indigenous imagery are visible throughout the town of Massapequa, where about 90 percent of the population is white. The Chiefs logo decorates local schools, as well as the police and fire department buildings. In recent years, students painted a mural featuring the mascot on a commercial building near the high school as a statement against efforts to change it. Near the town’s post office, a statue of a Native American figure wearing a headdress stands among other historical representations, including a buffalo, a horse, and a totem pole.
The name “Chiefs” and the related iconography are deeply embedded in local pride. Forrest Bennett, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, explained, “When you think of Massapequa, you think of the Chiefs.” Similarly, Christina Zabbatino, a local parent of two, said, “It’s not that we’re trying to do anything disrespectful. Actually, I would be honoured if it was my face, you know what I mean?” Another student, Lucas Rumberg, shared, “Even though it’s not necessarily what they look like here, I feel like it still conveys that we are respectful of Native Americans. I get that people might be offended by it, but I just feel that it’s been here so long that it should stay.”
Despite local sentiment, New York State has aimed to eliminate Native American mascots in schools for over two decades, dating back to the administration of former Republican Governor George Pataki. In 2022, the state issued a mandate requiring schools to retire such mascots by the end of the academic year. Massapequa, along with three other Long Island school districts, has challenged this directive through a federal lawsuit, citing First Amendment protections for their choice of team names and mascots.
The districts had the option to seek exemptions by obtaining approval from Native American tribes, but state officials say Massapequa remained silent on the matter. The local school board declined to comment on the controversy, instead releasing a statement commending a federal education agency’s investigation into the issue. This investigation has been initiated under the Trump administration, which is also reviewing whether New York State officials have unlawfully discriminated against Massapequa by threatening to withhold funding over the mascot dispute. Notably, President Donald Trump has shown support for Massapequa's resistance, stating on social media: “Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population.” He was also photographed wearing a Massapequa Chiefs sweater in the Oval Office.
The debate over Native American mascots is not unique to Massapequa, as similar controversies have affected professional sports teams. The NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs have retained their name despite protests and have imposed restrictions on fans wearing headdresses or face paint, while teams like Washington’s football team and Cleveland’s baseball team have rebranded themselves in recent years.
Critics of the Massapequa mascot, including Joseph Pierce, director of Native American and Indigenous Studies at Stony Brook University and a Cherokee Nation citizen, argue that the mascot reduces Native Americans to a generic stereotype. “It is as if this image were a shorthand for any and all Indians,” Pierce said. “And that reduces us to a type, rather than portray us as distinct peoples.”
Joey Fambrini, a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and an advocate working with the New York Indian Council, highlighted the harmful consequences of such imagery. According to Fambrini, “That dehumanisation isn’t harmless: It directly contributes to why our struggles are ignored or minimised,” pointing to ongoing challenges faced by Native communities, including poverty, inadequate housing, lack of clean water, and limited education access.
Further historical context draws attention to Massapequa's troubled past. John Kane, a member of the Mohawk tribe from upstate New York, characterised the mascot as obscuring the town’s history of violence against Native Americans. “The town, after all, was the site of a massacre in which scores of Native men, women and children were killed by Europeans in the 1600s,” Kane said. “They’re not trying to honour us. That’s why accuracy of the logo doesn’t matter to them. So the idea that this is some sort of honour to us? I mean, come on. It’s an absurd proposition to even suggest.”
The situation in Massapequa encapsulates a broader and ongoing national debate about how Indigenous culture is represented in public symbols, especially in educational and sporting contexts. As the town faces both local and federal scrutiny, the intersection of identity, history, and community pride continues to fuel this complex dialogue.
Source: Noah Wire Services