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New York school district to keep 'Warriors' logo with Seneca Nation's blessing

Leaders of the Seneca Indian Nation will allow a public school district located on their land to continue using its Warrior nickname and logo despite New York’s ban on schools’ use of Indigenous imagery, officials said Wednesday.

In giving approval, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. said the Salamanca school district represented “the most unique of circumstances” because of its location on the nation’s Allegany Territory, and large percentages of Native American students and staff.

Last month, the New York Board of Regents prohibited public school districts from using Indigenous nicknames and mascots — but included an exception for districts that receive written approval from a federally recognized tribal nation in New York.

NEW YORK SCHOOLS MUST DROP NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOTS OR LOSE FUNDING, STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS

“The regulations recently approved by the New York State Board of Regents and our history of co-existence with Salamanca gave us much to consider,” Armstrong wrote in an statement emailed to The Associated Press late Tuesday. He said he took into account the collaborative relationship between the nation and school district.

“Over the next week, the district’s Native American Curriculum Team will be releasing educational resources that will be used to teach the history and meaning of our logo and what it means to be a Warrior in Salamanca,” he said in a statement. “It is our hope these resources will educate and contribute to the eradication of stereotypes and misunderstandings that lead to bias and racism.”

New York is one of at least 20 states that have taken action or are considering action to address Native-themed mascots used by public schools, according to the National Congress of American Indians, which tracks the issue.

Nationwide, 966 districts have such mascots, according to NCAI’s database, with “Braves,” “Chiefs,” “Warriors” and “Indians” the most widely used.

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