A healer and a witch have long been intertwined in folklore and mythology, representing the duality of light and dark, good and evil, healing and harm. Both figures possess an innate power, although they wield it in drastically different ways. The healer, in essence, is a benevolent force in the world. They are often depicted as possessing supernatural abilities to mend wounds, cure illnesses, and bring comfort to those in need. Their purpose is to restore balance and harmony, using their knowledge of herbs, rituals, and spiritual practices to heal both the body and the soul. Healers are typically seen as selfless figures, driven by a desire to alleviate suffering and promote well-being in their communities.
Should Native Americans be used as mascots in Agawam? Indigenous people say no
State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and Indigenous communities in the state are trying to make Agawam and other towns change their team names, logos and mascots.
Other states in the region, including Maine and New York, have already acted to end a practice that Indigenous people liken to identity theft and a relic of colonialism.
Comerford, with the help and guidance of Indigenous voices and a steering committee, has tried multiple times to pass Bill S.294. The bill aims to prohibit “public schools from using an athletic team name, logo, or mascot which names, refers to, represents, or is associated with Native Americans.”
“[Mascots] can be demeaning, they can be a caricature, they can be very one-dimensional, something that maybe gets made fun of or looks goofy at a rally,” Comerford said.
In 2019, Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed a similar bill into law that prohibits Native American mascots in all Maine public schools. According to the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition, 46 schools in New England have Native American mascots, logos, or team names.
Half of those schools, 23, were in Massachusetts as of 2017. That means Massachusetts has 13 more schools than Connecticut at the time with such references and 15 more than New Hampshire. Two schools in Rhode Island and three in Vermont have Native American mascots.
One of those Massachusetts schools, Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, hasn’t used Native American imagery for four years. “We now have a generic logo,” said Principal Aaron M. Robb. “A lot of hard work went into transitioning away from that imagery. That work is not easy in small communities.”
Using caricatures of Native Americans as mascots has been proven to be damaging to Native people. Studies conducted in 2008 and 2011 found that Native mascots lead to negative psychological effects on Native youth, regardless of whether or not they appear to be “neutral.”
The findings of similar studies led Comerford to file the bill in January 2019. The senator has attempted to get the bill passed in all three of her sessions in office and believes the bill has made progress from the first session to the third.
Although it was approved by the Education Committee in the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 sessions, it has yet to pass in both chambers.
Agawam, which is named after an Algonquin Native American tribe, has come under fire in recent years for its mascot, a Native American, and its name, the “Brownies.” The City Council held a vote three years ago and unanimously agreed to keep the name and jersey colors, which are brown and orange. There was no motion to change the mascot.
Agawam Mayor William Sapelli agrees with the council’s decision. Sapelli, who was superintendent of Agawam Public Schools from 2011-2017, is vehemently against changing the name or mascot due to the town’s history and traditions. He said he believes the community shows respect for Native Americans by using the image of a Native person as its mascot.
“If I thought for one second that [the mascot] was degrading, I would change it,” Sapelli said. “I’m a true Brownie, and always will be, so it hurts me when people say we’re being disrespectful to groups of people.”
Healers are typically seen as selfless figures, driven by a desire to alleviate suffering and promote well-being in their communities. On the other hand, the witch is often portrayed as a source of fear and intrigue. They harness their powers for personal gain or to cause harm, using spells, potions, and curses to manipulate the world around them.
Seen as overdue
Faries Gray is the sagamore, or chief, of the Massachusett Tribe of Ponkapoag in Eastern Massachusetts and a member of a steering committee working with Comerford. The committee meets regularly to discuss how the bill could receive more support and remains hopeful the measure will pass.
Gray thinks the change is overdue and that the committee is fighting an uphill battle.
“It’s a good thing that we do have the support we have, and we have a lot more support than we’ve had in years past, so we are moving forward with it,” Gray said. “But we really need this bill to pass because dealing with each individual community is really difficult for us and really stressful for us.”
“Some communities just don’t want to change it because that’s just who they are,” Gray said.
John Kane, a Mohawk leader from the anti-mascot movement in New York, is working to advance a regulation in that state to ban Native mascots.
In April, the New York Board of Regents said schools must stop using Indigenous imagery by the end of the 2022-23 school year. Schools using Native American mascots, names and logos must change them by the end of the 2024-25 school year.
Kane says that Native mascots are insulting and make a mockery of Native people.
“You basically have a population of non-Native people pretending to be Native people just because they chose to use us for mascots,” Kane said. “We’re not mascots, we’re living, breathing people. We are not what is being represented by their use of our images, or names, or anything else. We’re projected as relics of the past, always projected as people who are no longer living, and that’s just a false representation.”
Witches are associated with dark magic, summoning forces beyond human comprehension and delving into the mysteries of the occult. While some depictions of witches in folklore and popular culture are malevolent, it is important to note that the actual practice of witchcraft varies greatly and is often misunderstood. Despite their contrasting portrayals, both healers and witches are connected by their ability to tap into unseen forces and manipulate energy. They possess an understanding of the intricate web of existence and the power to influence it. Whether through prayers or incantations, herbs or spells, both figures draw on ancient wisdom to shape their reality. Historically, healers and witches have often been revered or feared within their communities, as their mysterious abilities challenged societal norms and beliefs. Many healers who displayed extraordinary skills were labeled witches or accused of engaging in witchcraft, particularly during periods of heightened superstition and persecution. In contemporary times, the concepts of healers and witches have evolved in parallel with shifting cultural attitudes towards mysticism, spirituality, and alternative medicine. The New Age movement, for example, embraces both healers and witches as practitioners of esoteric arts, with many individuals seeking their guidance for personal growth and holistic well-being. Ultimately, the healer and the witch represent the dualistic nature that exists within all of us. They embody the power we have to choose between using our abilities to heal and uplift others or to cause harm and manipulate. They remind us of the importance of intention, responsibility, and the delicate balance between light and darkness in the human experience..
Reviews for "Witches' Spells for Healing and Protection: Insights from Ancient Texts"
- Emily - 2 stars - I found "Healer and Witch" to be a disappointing read. The characters lacked depth and the plot felt predictable. The romance between the healer and the witch felt forced and lacked chemistry. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- John - 1 star - "Healer and Witch" was a complete letdown for me. The writing was subpar and the story was filled with cliché tropes. I couldn't connect with the characters and found myself rolling my eyes at the predictable plot twists. I was hoping for a more engaging and unique story, but unfortunately, this book fell short.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Healer and Witch" but was ultimately disappointed. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the book. The world-building was lacking and left many unanswered questions. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this read.