TURNERS FALLS — A local historian says he believes it unlikely that whoever chose the Indian to represent the Gill-Montague school district did so for its historical significance.
Peter Thomas, a retired professor from the University of Vermont, discussed the King Philip’s War and its relevance to the debate whether to keep the Turners Falls High School mascot, currently an Indian, at the first in a series of events set up by the school committee and Superintendent Michael Sullivan. About 20 members of the public attended the talk in the high school auditorium.
The events aim to help inform the school committee as well as the public of the different perspectives in the current debate.
When asked if the mascot was selected to honor local Native Americans, Thomas said it was unlikely, but that he’d like to see proof if that is the case.
“That’s an argument we’ve been hearing time and time again,” said School Committee member Christina Postera, who asked the question.
Thomas discussed what led up to the King Philip’s War, from both the Native American and English perspective, keeping in mind the central question he posed at the beginning of the lecture: “Does an understanding of King Philip’s War shed light on the community’s discussions of keeping or discarding the Indian logo?”
He touched on the major events before and after the Falls Fight, which occurred in the area that is modern day Gill, in May of 1676 as well as the different fronts of the war, and the populations of settlers and Native Americans in the area. He also discussed what happened during the Falls Fight and the aftermath.
Thomas said he hoped he had given the School Committee and the public enough background information about what took place in Turners Falls to help make a decision and decide what historical context can be used in the decision-making process about the mascot.
“I think that’s something you have to decide as a School Committee,” he said.
The talk lasted for about an hour and was followed by questions from school committee members and the public.
Thomas said his slides from the event along with several papers will be available through the school committee’s website: www.gmrsd.org
The next event will be Dec. 8 and will cover the social justice perspective with a presentation by Laura Valdiviezo of the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Education.
Reach Miranda Davis at
413-772-0261, ext. 280
or mdavis@recorder.com.