Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 26, 2007 20:05:11 GMT -5
Chief offers name change
By Kathy Uek
Chief Caring Hands cut through pain, pride and prejudice at Monday evening's School Committee Meeting and offered a suggestion for a new nickname.
After an emotional presentation by seven people over whether Redmen should remain Natick's nickname, Chief Caring Hands talked about history, misconceptions and the future.
As part of the future, she suggested Red Hawk Men as the new nickname.
"It is not offensive to anyone," said Stoughton's Rosita Andrews, also known as Chief Caring Hands. "They can still call themselves Red Men among themselves."
The chief's wants to make the transition from Redmen to Red Hawk Men a gradual process acceptable to both them and Natick.
"So that it is something people can release in a good way and have cheerleaders, football players, graduates and the year book reflect Redmen pride," she said. "I hear the hurt. Our people know about hurt. If our children were in high school here, it would be offensive. It would have been gone a long time ago."
The suggestion Caring Hands made represented a coming together. "You have to take the old and the new to find `the way'," said the chief of the Praying Indians. Chief Caring Hands offered her suggestion in the last minutes of her long passionate speech.
"She broke through and invited people to go beyond the words, the hurts and distress," said Dirk Coburn, School Committee Member.
Dressed in a black buckskin top over a contemporary dress, the chief wore a yellow stone necklace that she referred to as spiritual regalia. Wearing a multicolored beaded band around her head, Caring Hands dispelled any myths about Praying Indians being passive. She spoke softly but took command of her audience.
"This is the first opportunity to hear what Natick felt," said the chief, referring to the seven stirring pleas from coaches, Natick High School graduates and a representative from the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition who spoke before her.
Three of the speakers wanted to replace the nickname. Four wanted to retain it, including 1961 graduate Peggy Spencer, who had 600 signatures in support of keeping what she said was the source of pride.
History was made Monday evening. History was changed.
"After the meeting, we knew that this was history because we felt a shift," said the chief.
Before Chief Caring Hands offered her suggestion for a new name, she talked about misconceptions she read in newspapers about what people said about Praying Indians. She talked about the death of her people.
"We are not passive," she said standing beside her warrior and protector, Strong Bear. "You have to be strong to stand for principle." The Praying Indians of Natick were kept in their villages by Colonial settlers during the King Philip War and later deported to Deer Island in Boston Harbor where 500 from their tribe died.
"Only 167 left the island — what we consider living history," she said.
Natick means light or torch so Natick, Mass., means light on the hill, which she said was improperly translated for this time in history and has come to mean a place of hills.
"There is no town but Natick that can boast it was built by the indigenous people of this land and was the first Christian town," said the Praying Indians chief.
She also informed the audience that Praying Indians do not wear headdresses. "People think it's the same," she said. "It's not."
Chief Caring Hands talked about people going to other Indian tribes to get their opinions on the Redmen nickname, as if "any old Indian will do," she said. "It's very offensive. Natick brothers don't speak on others' land. We speak for ourselves."
But communication improved when Natick Coach Steve Peckham called Chief White Feather, who told Peckham to call Caring Hands to get his input. "This is the true way," she said. "This man I will work with. We are willing to sit down and work together."
Chief White Feather, also known as David Jocelyn, is a member of the Mi'kmaq Tribe. He is also a war veteran.
After Chief Caring Hands spoke Monday evening many in the room, including those who presented minutes before on why the logo should remain, gathered round the chief, talked to her and shook her hand.
Like many, Natick High School Football Coach Scott Dixon, who also presented, was pleased.
"I thought she offered a good solution to a problem," said the coach. "I would like to see it on a referendum."
Dixon would also like to see people educated on the history of the Praying Indians in Town Meeting, in newspapers or as part of the curriculum. "It's such a rich part of our history," he said. "The whole town should be educated."
We are living history, Caring Hands said after her presentation. "It (the meeting) was a birth of understanding."
"I was very impressed with her courage," said Ted Wynne, School Committee Member. "She took a room full of people feeling angry and confused, and made those feeling evaporate."
(Kathy Uek can be reached at 508-626-4419 or kuek@cnc.com.)
By Kathy Uek
Chief Caring Hands cut through pain, pride and prejudice at Monday evening's School Committee Meeting and offered a suggestion for a new nickname.
After an emotional presentation by seven people over whether Redmen should remain Natick's nickname, Chief Caring Hands talked about history, misconceptions and the future.
As part of the future, she suggested Red Hawk Men as the new nickname.
"It is not offensive to anyone," said Stoughton's Rosita Andrews, also known as Chief Caring Hands. "They can still call themselves Red Men among themselves."
The chief's wants to make the transition from Redmen to Red Hawk Men a gradual process acceptable to both them and Natick.
"So that it is something people can release in a good way and have cheerleaders, football players, graduates and the year book reflect Redmen pride," she said. "I hear the hurt. Our people know about hurt. If our children were in high school here, it would be offensive. It would have been gone a long time ago."
The suggestion Caring Hands made represented a coming together. "You have to take the old and the new to find `the way'," said the chief of the Praying Indians. Chief Caring Hands offered her suggestion in the last minutes of her long passionate speech.
"She broke through and invited people to go beyond the words, the hurts and distress," said Dirk Coburn, School Committee Member.
Dressed in a black buckskin top over a contemporary dress, the chief wore a yellow stone necklace that she referred to as spiritual regalia. Wearing a multicolored beaded band around her head, Caring Hands dispelled any myths about Praying Indians being passive. She spoke softly but took command of her audience.
"This is the first opportunity to hear what Natick felt," said the chief, referring to the seven stirring pleas from coaches, Natick High School graduates and a representative from the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition who spoke before her.
Three of the speakers wanted to replace the nickname. Four wanted to retain it, including 1961 graduate Peggy Spencer, who had 600 signatures in support of keeping what she said was the source of pride.
History was made Monday evening. History was changed.
"After the meeting, we knew that this was history because we felt a shift," said the chief.
Before Chief Caring Hands offered her suggestion for a new name, she talked about misconceptions she read in newspapers about what people said about Praying Indians. She talked about the death of her people.
"We are not passive," she said standing beside her warrior and protector, Strong Bear. "You have to be strong to stand for principle." The Praying Indians of Natick were kept in their villages by Colonial settlers during the King Philip War and later deported to Deer Island in Boston Harbor where 500 from their tribe died.
"Only 167 left the island — what we consider living history," she said.
Natick means light or torch so Natick, Mass., means light on the hill, which she said was improperly translated for this time in history and has come to mean a place of hills.
"There is no town but Natick that can boast it was built by the indigenous people of this land and was the first Christian town," said the Praying Indians chief.
She also informed the audience that Praying Indians do not wear headdresses. "People think it's the same," she said. "It's not."
Chief Caring Hands talked about people going to other Indian tribes to get their opinions on the Redmen nickname, as if "any old Indian will do," she said. "It's very offensive. Natick brothers don't speak on others' land. We speak for ourselves."
But communication improved when Natick Coach Steve Peckham called Chief White Feather, who told Peckham to call Caring Hands to get his input. "This is the true way," she said. "This man I will work with. We are willing to sit down and work together."
Chief White Feather, also known as David Jocelyn, is a member of the Mi'kmaq Tribe. He is also a war veteran.
After Chief Caring Hands spoke Monday evening many in the room, including those who presented minutes before on why the logo should remain, gathered round the chief, talked to her and shook her hand.
Like many, Natick High School Football Coach Scott Dixon, who also presented, was pleased.
"I thought she offered a good solution to a problem," said the coach. "I would like to see it on a referendum."
Dixon would also like to see people educated on the history of the Praying Indians in Town Meeting, in newspapers or as part of the curriculum. "It's such a rich part of our history," he said. "The whole town should be educated."
We are living history, Caring Hands said after her presentation. "It (the meeting) was a birth of understanding."
"I was very impressed with her courage," said Ted Wynne, School Committee Member. "She took a room full of people feeling angry and confused, and made those feeling evaporate."
(Kathy Uek can be reached at 508-626-4419 or kuek@cnc.com.)