To the editor:

 

A majority of the Native American Indians in Massachusetts oppose the use of any Native American mascot.  They include: Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda, United American Indians of New England,  the National Congress of American Indians, the Chappaquiddick Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation, the Herring Pond Wampanoag tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, the Massachusetts Ponkapoag Tribal Council, the Nipmuc Nation, and the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe. There are some members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah who oppose the removal of the Indian logo, although this does not include all members of the tribe. 

 

Bill H.581 is in the Massachusetts Legislature.  This Bill would ban all athletic teams in public schools in Massachusetts from using Native American logos or mascots whose name refers to Native American Indians.

 

The Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe is the only tribe that claims Dartmouth as its native land and they oppose the logo. 

 

There was a time when people were slaves owned by others, they had no rights, and that's just how it always was, until it wasn't! There was a time when women had no rights, they could not own property or vote, and that's just the way it was, until it wasn't!  The time has come for Dartmouth to remove the Native American logo.

 

This is not about me or many others who have written letters on this subject. This is about the majority of Native American Indians who are offended by Dartmouth's logo. I hope Dartmouth Schools continue to have a diversity curriculum which includes the history of the mistreatment of Native American Indians that continues up to this day. 

 

Suzanna Trimble,

Dartmouth