The bittersweet gift. Some will say it is racist. Some will say it is history; acclaiming both despair of ignorance and on the other hand unifying years of a collective spirit of souls venturing though their academic youth. Some will say it is a mascot. Some will say it is art. I say it is a bittersweet gift.
I am not one to jump on the band wagon without facts, so after I discovered the ‘78 Class Gift was possibly being removed, I went searching. After much researching of Native American misrepresentation, my eyes were opened to a past never realized by myself, and possibly by many others of my time. As with many pieces of American history, there were progressive intentions shrouded by ill impacts. As youth, with a world yet to discover, we voted to bestow our school with what we thought an amazing, honorable, and beautiful Gift to last many years. It was not with racist or ill intentions as we were unaware of them at the time.
In 1978 we students were unfamiliar with the tomahawk chop, the war paint, the chants. I had never thought about the degradation of a race made to look frightful; large nosed, bald-headed, half-dressed with spear in hand, all of which were wrong and misrepresented Native Americans. For that, I am sorry. I found a few such depictions on old Mohawk graduation programs and on a few pages in a yearbook, I even found it in some sports clippings as the girls basketball headline read: “Mohawks scalp the Panthers.” I didn’t get it then, now, I get it.
As students then, we were unknowingly guilty of it, but this gifted painting has been an icon at the school since we commissioned it to be painted in 1978. It is bittersweet that it will likely be removed due to a probable Massachusetts law removing all such high school mascot images, so let us learn from the Gift.
Bittersweet that it is sad to think for many who innocently view it as a symbol of honor and pride in their school, it has created a surge of memories and cohesiveness of thousands of students passing through Mohawk Trail Regional High School’s halls. Bittersweet that it has provoked minds to remember with sorrow and anger of the plight of Native Americans before our time, such outcomes accomplished by our own ancestors. Bittersweet that these movements can come together for a positive outcome for both the school and the community.
I am hopeful that if removed, that there can become a new painting, of the beauty of the nine Town area that Mohawk Trail School District educates. I am hopeful, that the Warrior name is left behind; as when phrased with Mohawk Trail, is an even deeper misrepresentation than the artwork itself would ever be. If the end effort of this exercise is truly to remove misrepresentation, I hope we achieve this accurately and not hypocritically; of the 40 high schools remaining in Massachusetts with Native American mascot images, 12 are named “Warriors.”
I hope that the entire school community, past and present, can work together to find a new logo and new shared excitement from this endeavor, and that the school administration will be open to informing and inviting both current and past students to participate, with many creative minds, by offering accessible communications, to the end that parental and community interest might be revived to participate in educating and supporting all aspects of the Mohawk District, and not just this issue alone, and that there is sincere commitment to adding a higher concentration of Native American curriculum, especially since the school title includes that of Native American association.
The BOE has offered to find a permanent place to honor the Gift in some way, as it was gifted with no malice, only as a tribute. I hope to work with someone designing prints of the artifact it will be, with an inscription of not only its original intent but its Gift to the ages.
To those with negative comments regarding any of this, please remember that passion should evolve into compassion, not opposition. Let this educate those who yearn to learn, let’s not make accusations, let us remember that efforts by all of us can achieve a positive outcome; our students, schools, towns, country, need no more divide.
So yes, I am proud of our Class of ‘78 Gift, I sincerely hope it has opened eyes, minds, and hearts to history, knowledge, and memories. I am especially proud if in its bittersweet way, the Gift has “made a difference”.
With hope and hometown heart.
Lisa Nartowicz Jablonski, of Colrain and Colchester CT, is the Class of 1978 Vice President.