Herberg students across several classes worked on getting the plaque acknowledging the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans as a civics project.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Herberg Middle School students have collaborated to honor the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans in a long-lasting way.

Last week, a land acknowledgment plaque was installed on the school just in time for Indigenous Peoples' Day. The effort stemmed from an eighth-grade civics project and has spanned over a couple of years.

"When students are exposed to unjust history they really want to contribute to reparations.  Additionally, our middle schoolers are civically minded and looking for opportunities to be involved in our local community," social studies teacher Jen Jaehnig said.

"Last year they collected money for Damar Hamlin's charitable cause and our local first responders. We look forward to seeing what other causes they want to support in the future."

About two years ago, a group of about 20 students started on the project while fulfilling a state-required civics project, or "good citizenship hours," which focuses on the environment, government or social needs. Others have joined in the effort over the last couple of years.

There had been conversations about the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans, native to the area, and about the renaming of Taconic High School's mascot. Last year, the Taconic Braves were renamed Taconic Thunder.

Jaehnig asked an educator from the tribe what would be the best civil action and was told that a land acknowledgment would be favorable. Reportedly, when members of the tribe return to visit their homeland, they don't see many acknowledgment signs.

The group favored the suggestion and they ran with it, beginning fundraising efforts with a movie night.  They also wrote to the tribe in Wisconsin for approval of the land acknowledgment wording.

It reads:

"We are all on the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans Native American Land. We acknowledge that we are learning, speaking, and gathering on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican people, who are indigenous peoples of this land. In spite of the tremendous hardship of being forced from their homeland, today their community thrives in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. We pay honor and respect to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community's ancestors past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all."

After being contacted about the project, the School Committee covered the cost of the approximately $750 plaque. The money raised by the students was then donated to the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican language program.

The plaque was mounted outside of Herberg's auditorium right across from the main entrance where it is well seen.

"There has been nothing but positivity about it," Jaehnig said.

She explained to the students that the tribe is not asking for the land that was taken from them but would like for it to be acknowledged that they were once there and that it was taken.

This has also been tied into a lesson, leading to conversations about current conversations such as the mascot debate and making sure that people are being respectful and not just using the likeness of indigenous groups without permission.

Students all wore blue to school on the same day to represent the "People of the Waters that are Never Still."

"They seem to really be proud of it," Jaehnig said about the plaque, adding that staff members are also glad to see it.

A website was also generated by teachers to incorporate lessons used, tribal history, and local action for reparations.

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