(2-16-25) Since 1928, the Dowagiac school system has used the term “Chieftains” as the district’s mascot. School leaders said recently that the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has supported the use of the moniker and members of the tribe even gave input for the design of the feathered headdress in the district’s logo.

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In October of 2023 the Pokagon Band announced it intended to rescind a resolution from 1990 that approved the district’s usage of the name “Chieftains.” The Dowagiac school adminstrators decided to keep the name and the logo…last week the matter came up again at the (You Tube video below) Dowagiac Union School Board of Education Meeting.

Dowagiac Community members were given the opportunity to voice their opinions last Monday regarding the future of Dowagiac Union Schools’ use of the Chieftains name and logo. The special meeting was held at the Dowagiac Middle School to listen to a presentation from the Tribal Council of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana on the subject as well as receive public input from community members.

Tribal Council Chairman Matthew Wesaw, Tribal Councilmember At-Large Rhonda Keene and Education Director Cathy Stone were on hand seeking to consult with the district regarding its continued use of the “Chieftains” nickname and logo.

Wesaw commented at the meeting-

“I know there’s been agreements over the years with the tribal councils supporting the logo. Nobody thinks any of this was done to be disrespectful. It was all well-intentioned, but times change and I think research shows that time has changed. So I would just strongly encourage you to put together the process, whatever it may be, to look at coming up with something different.”

Superintendent Greg Blomgren

“It’s a hot topic, not only in Dowagiac but obviously across the state, across the country and it’s something that’s I think worth having discussion about.Every community is unique and there’s obviously sides within each community as to what folks believe is in the best interest of the community and the schools and all the kids and the historical ties and connections that this has for Dowagiac is no different than probably many of the others. It’s not easy, it’s challenging. There’s obviously loud voices and passionate people on both sides. There was no intent of coming here tonight to make any decisions. It was just an opportunity to hear and then to ask clarifying questions and I think that’s the path we continue to go down and just try to learn and understand and then continue to work together. That’s the idea, that’s the plan and that’s why the Pokagon Band leadership was here tonight.” 

In August 2023, the Dowagiac Board of Education announced that it was keeping its nickname “Chieftains” and its logo, despite requests from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians to remove both. In October 2023, the Pokagon Band Tribal Council sent a letter to the Dowagiac Union Schools Board rescinding the joint resolution from 1990, which had involved the creation of a new logo by tribal citizen Ron Mix to better represent a Pokagon Band member and created programs to educate students and the public about the history of the tribe.

The Pokagon Band Tribal Council formally adopted a resolution in March 2021 condemning the use of Native American imagery by non-native organizations. Dowagiac Union Schools are located on the homeland of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.  

Many tribes and organizations within the state of Michigan and across the United States have resolutions that condemn and call for ending the use of Native American logos, mascots and nicknames including the Michigan Board of Education, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, United Tribes of Michigan (which comprise the 12 federally recognized tribes in the state), the Michigan Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media, and the National Congress of American Indians.

In 2022, the Native American Heritage Fund announced funding to four Michigan school districts to assist with the cost of replacing their mascots, including Saranac Community Schools (was the Redskins, now the RedHawks), Hartford Public Schools (now the Huskies, was the Indians) Lansing School District (Sexton received an $87,500 grant was the Big Reds, now the J Dubbs), and the Chippewa Hills School District (remained the Warriors, removed Native American mascot for a Knight mascot).

A few of the public comments during the Dowagiac BOE meeting–

Pokagon Band Citizen Julie Dye

“The national trend is away from racial mascots. Imagine using another ethnicity’s culture for the school’s good luck charm. What would that look like and how would it be received? Change is long overdue, and I understand nostalgia, I understand your childhood memories. Nobody’s trying to take those away, nobody’s trying to take your cheerleading outfits or your athletic letters. But that’s in the past. Our children and our grandchildren deserve better.

Dowagiac resident Gerik Nastrom

“I don’t quite understand this grasp on in the ownership of this mascot that is our culture. As a white guy, I don’t think you should walk around and feel shame because you graduated with a mascot that had a Chieftain logo on it. But I think it’s also important to recognize that schools evolve and schools change.’.

Pokagon Band Citizen Judy Winchester

“I had served in 1990 on our tribal council. I was in the past vice chair, treasurer secretary, member at-large and our elders rep and I have been elders council chair since 2019. I have talked to a few elders, and many are afraid to come out publicly and agree or disagree with our own individuals.”

Mike Winchester, a 1968 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School and Pokagon Band member

“I’m kind of disappointed that the Pokagon chairman and the two other people didn’t stick around because they needed to hear the public comments. I don’t think they’re into listening to what we have to say. I’ve talked to tribal council meetings and what it boils down to is there’s no wiggle room. They want everything gone. That struck me as really bad – when you start suppressing history, that’s not a good thing. Our old leaders, they didn’t get paid, they were fighting for our lives to keep us here in Southwestern Michigan. We should embrace what’s here, especially when there’s people from out of town coming in here and telling us what to do.”

Background material…

Below is the reply from the Dowagiac BOE in August of 2023…

From 2017 –

Dowagiac Union Schools is the Home of the Chieftains!

Southwestern Michigan, in particular the Dowagiac area, has enjoyed a rich heritage related to the Potawatomi Indians. This heritage dates back to the mid-17th century when white settlers first came to the area now known as the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 requiring all American Indians living in the Great Lakes area to move west of the Mississippi River. However, members of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians were allowed to remain in Southwestern Michigan because of the Treaty of Chicago signed by Leopold Pokagon in 1833.

Today, there are approximately 1,500 members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians living in Cass, Van Buren and Berrien Counties.

The Dowagiac Union Schools have used the nickname “Chieftains” since 1928; however, there has never been an officially adopted logo. As a result, a variety of Chieftain head renditions have been used throughout the years.

In March 1990, the Potawatomi Pokagon Band Tribal Council and the Dowagiac Board of Education signed a joint resolution to ensure the spirit of mutual cooperation and respect for many future generations. Included in the agreement was the adoption of an official logo accurately depicting a Potawatomi Indian Chief. The logo was created and designed by Ron Mix, a member of the Potawatomi Pokagon Band.

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi: A Song for Everything

PBS Michiana – WNIT