Tribal-backed Fund Supports Projects in Ten Michigan Communities; Today Zero Schools Have “R-word” Mascots

BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — The Native American Heritage Fund (NAHF) Board has selected ten Michigan communities as recipients of the fund’s 2024 grants. At the Board’s June 12 meeting, projects were chosen from a pool of 13 applicants. Grants totaling nearly $484,500 were awarded to support community projects, academic programming updates, mascot changeovers and other initiatives that honor Native American culture and history in the area.

Priority was given to funding the decommissioning of inappropriate mascots among Michigan public schools, recognizing the financial burden schools face when updating facilities, uniforms and more.

“Over the past several years, we have helped 15 schools retire and rebrand their mascots. In 2018, we started with six ‘R-word’ mascots. After this year, we will have zero in Michigan,” said NAHF Chairperson Dorie Rios, who is also the Tribal Council Chairperson for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP). “Our approach goes beyond merely addressing the issue superficially; we aim to be an integral part of the solution in transforming these mascots. Our commitment extends beyond financial assistance; we are here to offer guidance and support to communities as they navigate away from offensive names and towards more respectful and inclusive identities.”

The NAHF urges schools to consult not only students, but also local Tribes when reconsidering a school mascot, and specifically funds schools that have identified the new branding and are prepared and approved internally to make the change.

The 2024 NAHF grants include:

• Albion College — $35,000 to create a culturally appropriate exhibit and site co-management plan at the Whitehouse Nature Center.
• Camden Frontier School — $105,061.20 to rebrand the current mascot from the “R-word” and to rebrand signage, floors, athletic facilities and apparel with the new “RedHawks” mascot imagery.
• East Jordan Public Schools — $12,570 to implement the Nbwaachiwedaa miinwaa Kinomaagedaa: Let’s Visit and Learn Program. This grant is in addition to the NAHF grant that East Jordan Public Schools received in 2021, as NAHF continues to work with and support schools as they make ongoing changes.
• Gladstone Area Schools — $18,575.05 to maintain and protect Native American statues that have been in their park since 1988 and to implement educational and community engagement initiatives.
• Grand Ledge Public Schools – $3,200 to create a culturally appropriate Anishinaabe history lesson for third graders.
• Grand Valley State University — $63,467.20 to support Native and Indigenous students at GVSU and to expand all of GVSU’s awareness of Anishinaabe culture.
• Okemos Public Schools — $8,000 to develop inquiry-based Michigan history lessons for all third graders in the district, with a focus on the Anishinaabe people and their impact on the Okemos community. This grant is in addition to the NAHF grant received in 2021.
• Plymouth-Canton Community Schools — $145,894.40 to replace the “Chiefs” mascot at Canton High School with the new “Cobras” mascot.
• Port Huron Area School District — $86,052.24 to replace the mascot at Michigamme and Roosevelt Elementary Schools and High School. This grant is in addition to the NAHF grant received in 2023, as NAHF continues to work with and support schools as they make ongoing changes.
• Suttons Bay Public Schools — $6,600 to further develop cultural curriculum, which is in addition to the NAHF grant received in 2020 and 2018.

The awards will be distributed and shared with the public at the NAHF Grant Award ceremony at FireKeepers Casino Hotel on Friday, September 13, 2024, following the NAHF Board Meeting at 11 a.m.

The NAHF Board is composed of: Chairperson Dorie Rios (NHBP Tribal Council Chairperson); Vice Chairperson Melissa Kiesewetter (Michigan Dept. of Civil Rights Tribal Liaison/Native American Specialist); Secretary Elizabeth Kinnart (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Citizen); Treasurer Robyn Elkins (NHBP Tribal Council Vice-Chairperson); and Board Member Kimberly McClellan (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians).

To learn about past recipients and about future application requirements, visit nahfund.com.

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For media inquiries or to request an interview with NAHF Board Chairperson Dorie Rios, please contact NHBP Director of Communications Amber LeClear at 269.704.8316.

For questions regarding the NAHF grant process, please contact Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott at 269.781.0966.

About The Native American Heritage Fund

The NAHF was established in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) and the State of Michigan. The amendment allowed for a portion of NHBP’s annual state revenue sharing payment to be deposited into the NAHF.

The fund serves to promote positive relationships between public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, local units of government and Michigan’s federally recognized Native American Tribes. The NAHF provides resources to help improve curricula and educational resources related to Michigan Indian history, as well as to replace or revise mascots and imagery that may be deemed as offensive to or inaccurately conveying the culture and values of Native Americans.

For more information, visit: nahfund.com.