By Bob Katzen

Another bill heard by the Education Committee would prohibit public schools from using an athletic team name, logo or mascot which is associated with Native Americans. The bill bans the current and future use of any of these mascots. Any school that does not comply with this law would not be eligible for discretionary state education grants.

“This bill is long overdue,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “Native Americans are sovereign peoples—not mascots, not caricatures. The continued use of Native imagery in school mascots is dehumanizing. It perpetuates harmful stereotypes and has been shown to cause psychological harm, especially for Native youth.”

In 2024, a similar bill was approved by the Education Committee and was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee where it died from lack of further action.