Mukwonago is ordered to stop using its “Indians” nickname.
A statement from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says the “Indians” nickname and the logo depicting the head of a male person wearing a feather headdress promotes discrimination, pupil harassment and stereotyping; the moniker is unambiguously race-based; and the southeast Wisconsin school district does not have the permission of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe to use the Indians nickname or logo.
A statement from the school Principal Shawn McNulty expresses disappointment in the decision, saying the “dignified logo was a part of our school’s history for nearly 90 years.”
This announcement follows news that the Kewaunee School District has decided on a new nickname. It will be knows as the Storm. A complaint was filed earlier this year with the state DPI, and the Indians nickname was dropped in August.
Spokesman Patrick Gaspar says since the law became effective (in May 2010), the DPI has received only three complaints: 1) Osseo-Fairchild, Chieftains; 2) Kewaunee, Indians; 3) Mukwonago, Indians.
Mukwonago must terminate the use of the nickname and logo on or before October 8, 2011.
Auburndale is looking into changing its Apache nickname.