Sewanhaka High School officials announced May 28 the mascot will be changing from Indians to Ravens to comply with a New York State mandate that requires schools to replace Native American mascot imagery by next June.
The announcement follows a yearlong process involving a committee of 34 alumni, students, faculty and community members tasked with deciding on a new school mascot.
“I know this is an announcement that everyone’s been waiting for. I’ve received many, many texts and emails and phone calls,” Principal Nichole Allen said. “The desire of the committee was to honor the traditions of Sewanhaka and pay homage to the Native American culture for which we are named.”
The raven was chosen from a large group of community suggestions, which included Aviators and Wolves, because of its ties to native culture, Allen said. The raven was often invoked during healing rituals and it represents metamorphosis, transformation, clarity, health and harmony, the principal said.
The committee first met in August 2023 with a marketing representative who sent a survey to community members asking for mascot suggestions. The initial survey received more than 500 responses.
The committee met multiple times, narrowing the 500 responses down to just two. Community members voted between the final two options, Ravens and Wolves, and results were tallied on May 24.
Sewanhaka is not the only high school on Long Island racing to replace native imagery before the June 30, 2025, deadline.
Manhasset students and community members are still awaiting a decision on a new mascot for Manhasset High School, which officials previously said would be announced by the end of the 2023-2024 school year. The school is choosing from three options: Eagles, Mavericks or Manhasset, also called “Set.”
“This was a decision that was, in fact, imposed upon us,” Interim Superintendent Thomas Dolan said, “Because of that, we were able to reach out to some of our elected officials.”
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont), a Sewanhaka district alum, secured $200,000 in grants for renovations at the school, such as changing the mascot logo on the football turf and basketball court.
“The work that will go into the rebranding of the school as the Sewanhaka Ravens has begun in some subtle ways, but over the next few weeks and months, the school community will see this new emblem adorned in numerous other spaces,” Dolan said.
Officials presented mockups of new logos at the May 28 board meeting, which maintain the same school colors of purple and gold and depict ravens from a front-profile with wings spread and a side-profile.
“We honor those students and alumni who attended as Indians, and we welcome those who will now be known as the Ravens,” Dolan said.