Deerpark Assemblyman Brabenec Urges School Teams Keep Indigenous Names

The completely redone Glennette Field in Port Jervis, N.Y.. Courtesy of James VanHorn via Port Jervis School District

ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y.—New York Assemblyman Karl Brabenec has urged locals to sign an online petition to keep historic school team names and mascots referencing Native Americans.

According to a state Department of Education regulation, all public schools must ditch team names, mascots, and logos associated with Indigenous people by June 30.

“These names have been a part of our communities for decades. They symbolize the strength, resilience, and courage of our students and athletes, as well as the communities that support them,” Brabenec said in an April 9 statement, citing Port Jervis Raiders and Minisink Valley Warriors.

The six-term Republican assemblyman is a graduate of Minisink Valley High School and a resident of Deerpark, which belongs to the Port Jervis School District.

Last year, the Port Jervis Raiders football team, after years of carrying the section title, won the first-ever state championship in the school’s history.

“I am urging everyone who believes in the importance of tradition and community to sign the ‘Save our Names’ petition,” Brabenec said, referring to a newly launched petition on Change.org that has garnered more than 950 signatures in a week.

“Let’s show that we stand united in protecting our names and preserving what makes our towns unique. Our children, athletes, and communities deserve to have their history respected.”

According to a policy paper by the state Department of Education, the revamped regulation on Indigenous school teams and mascots—which was unanimously passed by the state Board of Regents nearly two years ago—reflects a longstanding department policy.

Citing research by the American Psychological Association and university professors, the department said the use of indigenous names and images at schools promotes prejudiced stereotypes and disrespects the spiritual beliefs of American Indians.

“Speaking for myself as a tribal leader and as an Indigenous person, the message that is being sent by this is that we are not a symbol; we are not a mascot; we are not history. We are real people that are still here and still exist,” the department cited a tribal leader in the paper.

The new regulation only applies to names, mascots, and logos used by school teams; it does not affect names of schools, school buildings, or school districts.

John Bell, superintendent of Port Jervis School District, said in a video address last November that though it is not the school’s choice to change team names, it is something the district must do to ensure continued state funding and major sports participation.

The small district by the west bank of the Delaware River draws roughly $60 million in state aid every year, according to Bell.

Bell urged residents to share ideas for a new team name for the district through an online survey.

In March, Brabenec introduced a bill in the state Assembly to amend the state education law to permit public schools to use or display Native American names in most cases.