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Board hears Native American program concerns after flag was raised incorrectly at School 19; principal apologizes
Summary
A Seneca community member told the board the Haudenosaunee flag at Native American Magnet School 19 was raised upside down and urged more Native leadership and a national search for a principal; the superintendent read an apology from Principal Suwala, said the flag was corrected and pledged program support ahead of a 2026 national conference in Buffalo.
At Wednesday’s Buffalo Board of Education meeting, Selena Irene, who identified herself as Seneca from Buffalo Creek and a member of the Wolf Clan, urged the district to strengthen Native American leadership and staffing at Native American Magnet School 19 and flagged what she said were repeated errors, including the school raising the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) flag upside down.
Irene asked the board to consider restoring a director position, creating supervisory roles filled by people with local lived experience, and conducting a national search for a Native American principal for School 19. She said she had emailed the board a photograph showing the flag displayed incorrectly and said this had occurred twice.
Superintendent Tanya Williams Knight acknowledged receipt of the email, read an apology written by School 19 principal Suwala that said the flag was put up incorrectly on Nov. 5 (election day) and was corrected on Nov. 6 before students or staff arrived. The superintendent said the error was unintentional and "met no disrespect," and pledged the district’s support as the Native American program comes under the department of CLRI and prepares to help host the National Indian Education Conference in Buffalo in 2026.
Irene requested additional structural staffing (a director, supervisor and coordinator with lived local experience) and asked that the district carry out a national search for a principal who reflects the Native community. The superintendent said staff will continue to develop the program and work with community members on improvements.
Next step: District staff acknowledged the concerns and said they will continue planning and outreach as the program moves under the CLRI umbrella and ahead of the 2026 conference.
