A suggestion from three students brought the flag of the Iroquois Confederacy to each Middle School classroom.
“The idea of putting the flags up in each classroom was student generated,” relates Assistant Principal Katy Berner-Wallen. “Earlier this year, Layla Jimerson, Kate Kennedy and Payton Stevens wrote to me and Mr. Reidell about representation of the Seneca Nation students within the school community.” Working with Lindsay John, Home-School Liaison, and Melissa Hummel, Native American Support, the students priced out the cost of flags and brackets for every classroom – 65 in all. “I was very impressed with the fact that our students saw a problem, crafted a plan, and worked with us on a viable solution,” said Mrs. Berner-Wallen. “They understood how to have appropriate discourse to help create meaningful and lasting change. That helped bring the Haudenosaunee flags to our classrooms.” The flag represents the six nations of the Haudenosaunee. It is purple with four connected white squares and an eastern white pine in the center. The white pine is the symbol of the Iroquois Constitution, “the great law of peace.” The Iroquois Confederacy leaders are said to have planted a white pine after its founding in the 15th century.
(From left: Layla Jimerson, Peyton Stevens and Kate Kennedy.)
