Warrior History

Nipmuc receives approval to continue to use Warriors logo

By Bonnie Adams, Staff Reporter

Reprinted with permission of the Upton Town Crier

What's in a name? If that question refers to the Warriors, the nickname used by the Nipmuc Regional High School sports teams, it means plenty – plenty of history, tradition and respect for the Nipmuc Nation, the Native American people with whom the school shares it name.

Recently there have various stories in the media discussing the fact that a lot of Massachusetts schools had nicknames, like Nipmuc, that were perhaps offensive in some ways to Native Americans. In the Commonwealth, there are at least 46 high schools with a nickname that has Native American connections, such as King Phillip Regional High School in Wrentham, (which are also Warriors), Assabet Technical High School (the Aztecs), Algonquin Regional High School (the Tomahawks) and Natick High School (the Red Men).

Many of the schools in the past have had mascots as well, with some of those "performing" what many consider offensive actions, such as having their mascot simulating "scalping" someone.

 At question of course, is the divide between what is politically correct and what is a time honored tradition?

Nipmuc Regional High School works hard to instill a strong sense of propriety and respect for others through their curriculums. So recently Principal Joan Scribner approached the Nipmuc Nation to ask them if they would be receptive to allowing the school to continue to use the Warriors logo.

"We know how sensitive this issue can be," she explained, "and we wanted to make sure they were not offended in any way." 

So she was very pleased to receive a letter back from the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council Chief, Walter A. Vickers, stating that the Council approved the school's continued use for the Nipmuc Warrior logo.  But, they would not, he added, approve "the use of any mascot should that ever be considered."

Mrs. Scribner noted that "there is a great history here," between the school and the Nipmuc Nation.  

"When we designed the center on the floor of the gym, we had one of the Nipmuc Indians pose for it and then it was drawn by a former faculty member - Paul Papadonis," she said.  

"You will also notice when you look at the logo he is not wearing a full Indian head dress," she added. "So we make sure whenever the logo is ever used, it is duplicated in the correct and proper way."

And there is another nice connection as well between the two Nipmucs. Deb Linehan, Mrs. Scribner's secretary, has a sister in law who is also the daughter of Chief Vickers.

According to the Nipmuc Nation's website, the Nipmucs were the original people of Worcester County and much of Central New England. They were also present in parts of Southern New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Although they were often thought of wanderers, the website said, "They were instead, careful planners and good stewards of the land upon which they lived."

In the book Upton's Heritage, the History of a Massachusetts Town, by Donald Blake Johnson, it is noted that when Mendon was incorporated in 1667, at the time, it was "surrounded by Nipmuc Indians, jealous of their ancient rights until now unencumbered by anything so foreign as landownership, and altogether suspicious of white men in general."

Unfortunately for them, they too were treated with suspicion - by the white men. The Nipmuc Nation website confirms this, noting that in 1675-1676, during a very bitter winter, English colonists force marched some 500-600 Nipmucs to Deer Island in Boston Harbor where they were abandoned without sufficient provisions, resulting in the deaths of many.   

Just over three hundred years later, other incidents occurred that while not as physically cruel, were still disappointing blows to the Nation.  

According to the website, in 1977, "The Nipmuc Tribal Council and tribal members petition the State to gain access to 500 acres at the former Grafton State Hospital for the purposes of creating a “Nipmuc Newtown” that will provide an Indian community for tribal members. The State, however, chooses to sell the land to Tufts University for $1."

The Nipmuc Nation to this day continues to work towards Federal Acknowledgement. In spite of much support from elected officials in Washington, DC, Boston and central Massachusetts, (and was even recognized during the Clinton era) the Acknowledgement was reversed during the Bush administration due to what the website said was a "negative Proposed Finding."

"The Bureau of Indian Affairs has still not adequately explained this course of events or the reversal of the decision," the website states.