BOSTON — A debate over the future of the Massachusetts state flag intensified this week as Native American representatives and Democratic State Senator Nick Collins raised concerns about the redesign process and the commission overseeing it.

The Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Commission is required to deliver final recommendations for a new state flag and seal by December 15, 2025. In recent public meetings, draft designs presented by the commission no longer include the figure of a Native American man — a longstanding element of the current seal.

Sen. Nick Collins, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, said he is concerned that proposals under consideration remove Native American representation entirely. In a public statement, Collins said the elimination of the Native figure would mark a significant departure from the state’s historical symbolism and urged the commission to reconsider.

Collins also said Native American residents told him they felt excluded from the redesign process. Several tribal members and representatives have voiced similar concerns in public meetings, including issues about process, participation, and whether the current proposals meaningfully reflect Indigenous history in Massachusetts.

At a recent hearing, Kathryn Akuahaha Watson, an elder and tribal advisor for the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe, criticized aspects of the redesign process and said the proposals “fail to incorporate the perspectives of the very people whose history is most directly represented.” She also raised questions about whether Indigenous feedback had been fully recorded or incorporated during deliberations.

The commission has held multiple listening sessions this year, inviting comment on both symbolic elements of the existing seal and potential new designs. Members have said their goal is to produce a modern emblem that acknowledges the state’s history while addressing longstanding criticism of the current seal, which some advocates consider harmful or inaccurate.

In addition to concerns over imagery, Collins said he supports keeping the state motto in Latin. He argued that because many of the most widely used languages in Massachusetts — including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French — have Latin roots, the motto in its current form offers broad accessibility and historical continuity.

The commission is expected to publish its next round of design refinements ahead of the December reporting deadline. Written public comments remain open, and residents can submit feedback through the commission’s website or by email.