Thunderhawk on the chopping block? District officials say mascot was denied exemption to new state law

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks mascot could be on the chopping block in the wake of new legislation banning those depicting or referring to American Indian tribes.

In a Wednesday, Dec. 13, letter to parents, Superintendent Matt Grose said the district was notified it was denied an exemption sought for the Thunderhawk mascot.

Based on the new Minnesota law, schools may seek exemptions for mascot names, but those exemptions must be approved by all 11 tribal nations and the Tribal Nations Education Committee.

The Thunderhawk mascot was first adopted in 1995, replacing the Indian mascot in Grand Rapids. It refers to Chief Thunderhawk, important in Hunkpapa and Lakota history and a companion of Sitting Bull in the 19th century.

The law states public schools "may not have or adopt a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian Tribe, individual, custom, or tradition to be used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name of the school, district, or school within the district, unless the school has obtained an exemption."

Schools and districts within a tribal reservation in Minnesota that have 95% American Indian students will be exempt from this legislation.

The law requires the name changes to occur by September 2025, but Grose told parents much remains unclear about the path ahead. There is no funding allocated by the state to offset the costs associated with replacing mascots on places like signage and uniforms, according to the district.

"At this time, that cost would need to be borne by the district’s general fund, which is already stressed," Grose wrote.

Grose said the district will continue to use the Thunderhawks mascot until there’s more clarity surrounding how to proceed.