Submitted by Fred DeCaro III, North Mianus
I was disappointed to read of a misguided and misinformed effort by a “lone ranger” to rename the Mianus Pow Wow. (LETTER: Can’t we have fun without being offensive? By Allison Hope, May 2, 2024). In not knowing the local history, the author may be doing more damage than good.
Ms. Hope has written a screed about how the North Mianus Pow Wow is co-opting the term Pow Wow and how offensive it may be to Native Americans.
We are treated to the history of her research with advocacy groups and even Merriam-Webster. I wish Ms. Hope had spent some of that time reading about the history of North Mianus as well, as her suggestion to rename the Pow Wow in fact eliminates one of the last remaining remnants in which North Mianus honors the Native Americans who once lived here.
North Mianus is named after Chief Mayn Myano, who was considered a sachem (a high-ranking Chief) among the Siwanoy Indians who inhabited the area. When the Pow Wow was first started, more than 75 years ago, North Mianus school sports teams were the North Mianus Indians. The Pow Wow was an obvious choice for a school event named for a Native American chief.
When my great uncles were manning the charcoal grills at the first North Mianus Pow Wow, offense of another culture was the last thing they had in mind. My friend Sam Romeo has some of the wonderful pictures taken back then.
Ms. Hope, without the benefit of local history, wants to cancel the last reminder of Chief Myano which is part of the event. What would Chief Myano think of this effort? Some histories suggest the name Myano means “he who gathers together.” Gathering people together…kind of like a pow wow?
Fred DeCaro III, North Mianus