The Chiefs are asserting their identity.
At Massapequa High School, students have delivered a resolute message to Governor Kathy Hochul in response to efforts by her administration to compel them to abandon their traditional team moniker: “Once a Chief, Always a Chief.”
This bold declaration has been emblazoned on a sprawling mural outside their Long Island school, a direct challenge to state education officials who are contemplating the removal of the Chiefs nickname following a 2023 directive from the Board of Regents banning Native American imagery.
“Everyone loves the Chiefs,” said Brodie Smith, a senior, as he held a paintbrush on Friday.
“This Chief pride is strong—we take immense pride in our school and our staff. We constantly hear car horns from supporters as they pass by.”
For years, Massapequa’s art classes have concluded the semester by crafting whimsical, lighthearted murals on the wall next to the school. However, this year’s project has taken on a new significance.
The students instead spoke loudly, creating a statement piece and response to Albany’s ultimatum for the district to fork over nearly $1 million to rebrand their mascot or risk losing out on state funding.
“This is theirs. They design, they pick, they vote, and they paint it,” said school board president Kerry Wachter.
“It’s not being imposed on them. This is who they feel they are, and it just makes us want to fight that much harder for them.”
Massapequa has been mired in a lengthy legal battle with Albany that remains ongoing in both federal and state courts.
But the school district also has its notable backers. The anti-woke Native American Guardians Association supports them and the conservative town’s don’t-tread-on-me attitude even won the support of President Trump.
“LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!” Trump, who held up a navy Chiefs sweatshirt in the Oval Office, posted to Truth Social last year.
Education Sec. Linda McMahon also visited the Long Island campus last May and was left with a lasting impression of how seriously Massapequa is battling to keep the locally adored moniker.
“They’re incredibly behind their school, behind their Chiefs,” McMahon told The Post at the high school.
She also emphasized that chief is synonymous with leadership — a message that resonates with 11th grade artist Rowan Silva.
“Once you go to the school, you become a Chief,” he said.
“You leave the school, you’re always going to be a Chief. It’s really that simple.”
Even if New York leveraged Massapequa into dropping the name, the students’ masterpiece couldn’t be touched by the state since the wall sits on private property of an adjoining shopping center.
Wachter said that’s a symbol of how moot Albany’s efforts are.
“They may take it from the sports teams, but it’s everywhere in the community. It’s our fire department, it’s our village of Massapequa Park [emblem], everybody’s still going to be wearing their Chief sweatshirts,” she added.
“It will never go away … they can never extinguish it. Their objective will never be reached.”
But if it is the Chiefs’ curtain call, Smith, the 12th grader, can’t think of a better legacy than what he and dozens of other students have sweated over and will likely complete by the week’s end.
“I would feel so honored if this were a lasting memory for the Chiefs,” he said.
