Grand Rapids Allowed to Keep Thunderhawks Mascot

Grand Rapids & Deer River Mascots Approved to Stay

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- Back in 2023, a state law was passed that banned high schools from using american indian mascots. That put schools such as Grand Rapids and Deer River in limbo for a possible mascot name and logo change. Two years later and the schools finally have an answer. In a Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council on Wednesday night, the council unanimously granted the two schools permission to keep their mascots, the Thunderhawks and…

Grand Rapids allowed to keep Thunderhawks mascot

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids School District will maintain its “Thunderhawks” mascot after receiving unanimous approval to keep it from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council. The decision by the Council comes after the district was nearly forced to rebrand in light of a 2023 state law barring nicknames, symbols, or images that depict or refer to an Indigenous tribe, individual, custom, or tradition, which Grand Rapids was told applies …

Leech Lake Band OKs Continued Use of Grand Rapids, Deer River School Mascots

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council has unanimously granted consent for the Grand Rapids and Deer River school districts to continue using their mascots. A 2023 state law banned American Indian mascots unless all 11 of the state's federally recognized tribes and the Tribal Nations Education Committee gave…