How does the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi feel about Saint Joseph's 'Indians' nickname?

SOUTH BEND — Since becoming Tribal Chairwoman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in 2021, Rebecca Richards has worked with two Michigan high schools to change their Native-American oriented team monikers.

She hopes to add her first Indiana school this year with South Bend Saint Joseph.

"We appreciate the support and are glad people understand and honor the Native-American heritage," Richards said via phone call last week, "but being a mascot is not the best way to honor Native-American heritage."

More:New nickname in store for South Bend Saint Joseph 'Indians?' Committee to consider moniker

Saint Joseph, a private diocesan institution in the city since 1953, recently established an evaluation committee to consider replacing its "Indians" nickname and mascot, according to a letter sent Tuesday to members of the Saint Joe community.

Richards, speaking on behalf of the Band to The South Bend Tribune, said her people support the moniker change in furthering distancing the school from native imagery and perceived or outdated likeness.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is the only federally recognized tribe in Indiana with more than 6,000 citizens spread throughout the country, but mostly in a 10 county service area in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana. Many of the Band reside in Saint Joseph County, some even attend Saint Joseph High School.

Richards said the moniker change will have mostly a positive affect on Native-American youth, even though such a change can be difficult for alumni and community to understand because of their own histories and connections with the school.

"It is hard to understand how it is negative because they embrace the heritage and are proud to have that as a nickname, mascot or logo," Richards said. "They don't view it as negative. That can be difficult for the Native-American students to deal with and could have a detrimental affect in them. We want to make sure the youth are protected going forward. This is on a national level."

And it has been for decades as both college and professional teams have retired derogatory nicknames and mascot imagery of Native-Americans. The NFL's Washington Commanders franchise that was established in 1932 dropped its "Redskins" name in 2020 after years of vocal public debate. Major League Baseball's Cleveland franchise became the "Guardians" in 2022 after being the "Indians" since 1915.

Locally, Goshen High School formed a similar committee that in 2015 and decided to retire its former "Redskins" moniker in favor of the RedHawks. Several high schools in Northern Indiana continue to use Native-American oriented nicknames, including Knox, Wawasee (Syracuse) and Westview (Shipshewana-Topeka).

More:New York public schools must drop Native American mascots or lose funding, state officials say

In the past, the Pokagon Band has also worked with Michigan's Hartford and Paw Paw high schools for previous name changes, according to Richards.

"If we can learn from how those other schools went through the process and try to utilize that in working with Saint Joe, it is a positive," Richards said. "... We want a seat at the table to discuss how Native-American imagery and the negative impact of mascots and nicknames can stereoetype Native-American youth."

In a letter sent to its school community, Saint Joseph principal John Kennedy said that there will be two town halls conducted to gather input on the potential school nickname change — an in-person meeting on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. at the high school's Black Box Theatre and a virtual session on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.

Though the town halls are said to be open to the public, only "Saint Joe community members" were sent invites.

Over recent weeks, communication between the school and Pokagon Band leaders has grown, according to Kennedy.

"We have had some conversations and it went fantastic," he said. "And now that the committee is in place we plan to have additional and more in-depth conversations and expect it to go wonderfully."

Kennedy previously said Saint Joe's school board engaged in "research and discussion" that led to a vote to initiate the name changing process.

The committee, comprised on 13 current and former students and faculty is expected to make a recommendation to the school board by May. If it's determined a change is needed, a second phase of choosing a new nickname and mascot will begin, according to the letter.

Richards said the Pokagon Band is forming its own committee that will speak at the town halls, drawing from past personal experiences, facts and data to support a change.

"This isn't about alumni, parents or trying to erase culture or history," Richards said. "We are trying to have a better place for students going into the future. We want to have a partnership (with Saint Joe) and try to do this in a positive, respectful way. ... Hopefully there is an understanding within the community."

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Native-American nickname: Pokagon Band of Potawatomi support change