The clock is ticking for high schools across New York state to eliminate any references to the indigenous population in their names and mascots.

Some have already made major changes and others are still figuring it all out. It’s a change that, with so much history for so many, won’t come easy.

What does it mean to be a warrior?

“Being an Indian River Warrior is about family. It's about connection. It's about the past, present, and future all coming together,” Indian River Central School District Superintendent Troy Decker said. “That warrior name has traditionally meant strength. It's meant togetherness. It's focused on a particular goal. And we've had that throughout our Indian River history for close to 75 years.”

And while the next 75 years will carry on that meaning, it will be done under a different nickname and a different logo.

“The warrior pride, if you will, is something this real is tangible…” Decker said.

New York state is requiring some 60 schools that use Warriors, Chiefs, Braves, Redmen and other terms, to eliminate all references to the indigenous.

“At the same time, I don't know if there's anything that is particularly tied to the ‘Warrior’ piece of that,” Decker added.

Indian River and many other schools now have some work to do changing field lettering, jerseys, signage, scoreboards and more to meet the state's June 2025 deadline. It’s a cost that the schools will also have to pay, but perhaps the most difficult change will be that within the communities, those who are so closely associated with the name and have been for some time.

“I grew up in this area. I graduated as an Indian River Warrior in 1990, so it means something to all of us. So, this change is not easy.” Decker added.

That's why the school has already started the process. Informal surveys have been taken and the more critical, important ones will begin soon, with community, staff, and student input.

“As an educational experience and moment, and also as a way to represent any of our schools and then our community, our students are going to be a very large part of the decision-making going forward,” Decker said.

A decision made a little easier by the fact that this school and other schools like it can keep that main name — like Indian River.

“Those towns, villages, communities, small cities are named after indigenous peoples. Schools are named the same,” he said.

At the same time, changes do not have to erase history.

“That history is going to be preserved here,” Decker said standing at his school’s trophy case area. “It's going to be preserved throughout the district is going to be preserved certainly in the memories and more importantly, their actions are going to help reflect and then drive and promote the same kind of success throughout our history yet to be made.”