Braintree Removes Native American Imagery From School Logo

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree School Committee voted to remove all Native American imagery from the high school's logo, but the nickname "Wamps" will remain at least for the time being.

The logo, which depicted a Native American man in a feathered headdresss, will be replaced with a block letter "B" for Braintree.

"From now on, that imagery is gone," school committee Chairman Tom Devin said following the vote.

Devin said the name will be revisited after the committee completes its school reopening plan and has more discussions with Faries Gray, the sagamore of the Massachusett Native Americans.

Gray is a descendent of Josiah Wampatuck, the tribal leader who inspired the high school's nickname. In 1665, Wampatuck signed the Braintree Indian Deed, giving colonists the land that is now Braintree, Quincy, Holbrook and Randolph. The deed remains in the town clerk's office.

Gray met with Mayor Charles Kokoros several times and advocated for changing the name and mascot. According to Gray, using the name "Wamps" and Native American imagery dishonors Native Americans and their struggles at the hands of colonists.

"We've experienced atrocities at the hands of the colonists, for those that don't understand why," Gray told the school committee. "This wasn't a peaceful interaction. We were conquered."

Gray commended the school committee for taking a "huge first step," but said the name should also be changed. He said some arguments he's heard for keeping the name included residents believing they were honoring Wampatuck and the "fighting spirit" of the tribe, but Gray didn't agree.

Gray said using an abbreviation is a sign of dishonor and wanting to honor this "fighting spirit" paints an inaccurate picture.

"The Massachusetts [tribe] were not primarily warrior," Gray said. "We were primarily farmers and fisherman. People like to romanticize us as warriors when we were peaceful people. We were farmers, but a farmer might not make a good mascot."

Gray also said the tribe doesn't believe Wampatuck would want to be a mascot.

"Of course he'd want to be remembered, but we believe he wouldn't want to be a mascot because of what he had to endure at the hands of the colonists," Gray said.

Several school committee members and many resident that spoke agreed with Gray that the "Wamps" name should be dropped as well.

Some school committee members and many members of the public who spoke after the vote said the school should drop the name as well.

Committee member Karla Psaros, who is part Cherokee, said dropping the Native American imagery only goes halfway.

“I feel it completely abhorrent that this is still being discussed," Psaros said.

Committee member Jen Dolan also favored getting rid of the name. She said the mascot was always intended to be an honor, but "the statement of the tribes that come forth against this really need to be the things that we listen to."

Joe Malone was among residents urging the school committee to set a firm fate for a decision on the school nickname. He said the school should rid itself of both the logo and the name and "put this tired and racist mascot to rest."

"If we're removing the iconography of the mascot, then we are admitting as a committee and town that it's hurtful."

Karim Mouline, a senior at Braintree High School, was disappointed the name wasn't changed yet as well.

"Just to get rid of the imagery isn't enough if we want to work to be more respectful to indigeneous people," Mouline said.

A few did disagree with getting rid of the school logo. Resident Bridget Lee said she thinks "it's sneaky this topic is being put through in a pandemic." She said students did not get any input, and the reopening of schools needs to come first.

The school committee voted 6-1 to drop the Native American imagery. Member Cyril Chafe cast the lone vote in opposition. Chafe did not comment on his vote during the virtual meeting.