With a unanimous vote by the Canton Board of Education on June 8, a Dancing Warrior image will be adopted as the official district symbol replacing the current mascot image.
According to Lou Daniels, chairman of the Board of Education, the new image is a more historically accurate drawing as opposed to the cartoon-like mascot that was used in the past. Instead of a full headdress, the new Dancing Warrior image will only have two turkey feathers, more historically accurate to the Farmington Valley Native Americans. All public schools in Canton will use the same Dancing Warrior image and a committee has been formed under the direction of Canton High School Principal Gary Gula to monitor use of the image.
The Dancing Warrior issue was bantered around for about a year in Canton. Gula was the first to raise concerns about the Dancing Warrior mascot to former Board of Education Chairman Larry Minichiello. Daniels appointed a committee of 25 in March 2006 to study the issues. Former First Selectman Kathy Corkum headed the committee that made the final report.
"I'm glad the Native American Warrior will stay in Canton," said Daniels.
Daniels said that a display case will be created at the high school to recognize the history of the Canton Dancing Warrior Mascot over the years.
"There was a lot of controversy and a lot of study," said Daniels.