Attendees of the Turners Falls High School open forum to allow proponents and opponents of keeping the Indian mascot to voice their arguments, show their support of the Indian head mascot at the Turners Falls High School auditorium Tuesday, October 25.
Attendees of the Turners Falls High School open forum to allow proponents and opponents of keeping the Indian mascot to voice their arguments, show their support of the Indian head mascot at the Turners Falls High School auditorium Tuesday, October 25. Credit: Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

For those following of the ongoing discussion about the Turners Falls High School mascot, there will be a third educational forum on Monday that will cover the local Native American perspective.

Chief Cheryll Toney Holley of the Hassanamesit Nipmuc Nation and Dr. Lisa Brooks, Amherst College professor and an Abenaki, are the scheduled presenters.

The two will be discussing the local Native American perspective in relation to the school’s ongoing debate whether to keep the mascot, which is currently the “Indians.” Two previous presentations included a historical perspective and a social justice, multicultural one.

The event will be held in the Turners Falls High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, and the presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The fourth and final event is set for Jan. 5 and will be about the Turners Falls High School alumni perspective. Speakers have yet to be announced by the district.

You can reach Miranda Davis at 413-772-0261 ext. 280 or mdavis@recorder.com.