- Details
- By Levi Rickert
SAUGATUCK, Mich. — The Saugatuck public school district in Southwestern Michigan on Monday released its new “Trailblazers” logo to replace the old “Indians” logo that was retired by school board action in August 2020.
Located 40 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, Saugatuck is a resort village that sits on the Kalamazoo River which leads to Lake Michigan.
Want more Native News? Get the free daily newsletter today.
The transition from Indians to Trailblazers began about a decade ago when there was talk in the Saugatuck community about changing the name and logo.
“I was principal of the middle school back then,” recalls Tim Travis, Ph.D., superintendent of Saugatuck Public Schools. “There was a discussion about the name change and there were strong opinions on opposite sides of the issue. Through the years, we replaced the word ‘Indians’ in the football field’s end zones to ‘Saugatuck’.”
In advance of a July 2020 school board meeting, Travis thought it was time to renew the discussion to possibly retire the Indians nickname. The discussion began soon after the Washington National Football League team decided to drop the racist “Redsk*ns” nickname and shortly after the death of George Flyod triggered discussions of racism throughout the United States.
He invited Julie Dye, a tribal citizen of the Pokagon Potawatomi Nation and longtime anti-Indian mascot advocate, to make a presentation to the school board. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the meeting was held virtually.
“Julie Dye provided us an excellent presentation that went into the reasons why the use of Indian imagery can be harmful to students,” Travis said. “She really made her case.”
During the next scheduled school board meeting in August 2020, the school board voted to retire the Indians name. The school system then formed a committee to rebrand the image of the school and select a new nickname. The new Trailblazers name was the result of the committee that tested the name with faculty, staff and community members. The name was advanced to the school board and received approval in February 2021.
Donate today to help us share Native Voices, Native Perspectives, and Native News.
When school districts or sports teams decide to change their logos, the changes come with a cost. In order to offset the logo change, the Native American Heritage Fund provided $43,022 to the Saugatuck Public Schools to rebrand its logo. Established in 2016, Native American Heritage Fund through an amendment of the tribal-state gaming compact between the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi and the State of Michigan that allows for some of the tribe’s state revenue sharing payments to go into the fund.
The allocated funds are distributed in the form of grants to schools, colleges and universities, and local governments to assist with initiatives to improve curricula and resources related to Native American issues, and mascot or imagery revisions.
Travis says he applied for a grant from the Native American Heritage Fund to help with the logo rebranding.
“Fortunately, our costs were not as high as some school districts have experienced. We had already removed ‘Indians’ from the football field. So, I wrote a grant that will help us pay for rebranding a wall and a gym floor,” Travis said.
On Monday, the district unveiled the new logo, which features a trail heading toward the sun that “represents inspiration and intuition.” The trail shape is also representative of the Kalamazoo River that runs through the city and the letter “S.” The primary logo is used for the district, individual schools and academics.
The new Trailblazers crest retains the district’s longtime blue and orange colors. The pathway disappearing into the horizon is meant to represent the district’s new identity: Trailblazers Leading the Way.
The school system feels it is important that the new logo is accompanied by a district new manifesto, which is: “At Saugatuck Public Schools, we lead, we explore, and we learn, together. And while we’re forging our own paths, we move forward as one. In the classroom, on the field, on stage, and in our community, we give everything we have, because together, we are Trailblazers. And Trailblazers lead the way.”
Saugatuck had 807 students enrolled for the 2019-20 school year, according to state data. Ninety percent of the district’s student population is white, while only .37 percent are classified as American Indian or Alaska Native. The rest of the minority student population breaks down as follows: Hispanic/Latino, 7.31 percent; Asian, 0.5 percent; Black, percent; and 1.36 percent are of two or more races, data shows.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Shadow Wolves Improvement Act to Boost Tribal Border Security and Law Enforcement Careers
White House Council on Native American Affairs Updates Access to Capital Clearinghouse for Indian Country
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
