To the editor:

Perhaps the fervent stance on display in Dartmouth by some (but most assuredly not all) to retain the Indian mascot is intended to honor the legacy of Native peoples who thrived on this land before colonialism.

Perhaps the position to retain the Indian symbol espoused by some (but not all) of the Wampanoag Aquinnah Tribe is due to their firm ties to Dartmouth and its public schools. I get that.

Perhaps the position to retain the Indian symbol is a way for supporters to show their esteem for another culture–the First Peoples who have lived on North American lands for 13,000 years. 

Perhaps the position to retain the Indian mascot is an attempt to remember the 400-year-old legacy of contact with the colonists which eventually spelled oppression, defeat, and genocide for the Native peoples, spreading like an annihilating cancer throughout this land. 

Perhaps, perhaps — but that’s not how it looks to me.

I am among those who want to see a new Dartmouth mascot/logo/symbol. I do not subscribe to “cancel culture” nor am I just “woke,” to use the parlance of the day. My biggest regret is not speaking out sooner. 

The position to retain the Indian logo in the Dartmouth schools does not pay enough attention to moral principles about diversity and inclusivity, about compassion, empathy, and respect for other civilizations, other races, and ethnic groups, their culture, customs, social history, and beliefs. 

I’m strongly in favor of introducing a variety of educational programs to teach Native American history in Dartmouth schools, including extracurricular activities. I mean really teach Native American history, not the Cliff notes. And most importantly, in partnership with the Native Tribes in this area. 

I am an outsider that some have railed about. One year after I became a resident of Dartmouth in 1998, I became a volunteer for the town and haven’t stopped since. I love Dartmouth just as much as anyone. I’m here because I want to be, not by some accident of birth. 

I have faith that the younger generations will see the folly of this mascot and initiate change to replace the two-dimensional Indian image with another symbol that represents the values of diversity and inclusivity, which we must all embrace. The leaders of tomorrow will have no fear in doing the right thing.

Diane Gilbert,

Dartmouth