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Jon Collins
St. Paul, Minn.

Warroad nickname opponents end fight

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A group that criticizes racism in sports has dropped an effort to force the Warroad, Minn., school district to change its name and logo after the local American Indian community objected to the change.

Henry Boucha, an Olympic silver medalist and former NHL player who is Ojibwe from Warroad, said he spoke to the board of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media on Monday about the history of the name Warroad Warriors.

"Na-May-Poke, one of my great great uncles, was awarded land through the land allotment in 1905. He was able to sell part of that land for the first Warroad school," Boucha said. "He was a wise old man, because he asked the school, if I sell you the land, will you instill the name, Warroad Warriors?"

Boucha said the area's name came about because it was part of the war trail during skirmishes between Ojibwe and Sioux peoples.

"Warroad is a significant place in the history of the Anishinabe and Ojibwe," Boucha said. "That's the history, it's the blood of our ancestors on that land from those skirmishes and battles with the Sioux over a hundred years."

The logo was revised by American Indian artists about three decades ago after the district, with the support of local American Indian community groups, decided to keep the logo.

The coalition threatened the school district with a lawsuit earlier this month if it didn't change the name and logo. The board released a statement online Monday apologizing.

"Henry Boucha educated the board on the history of the Warroad community and logo. Out of further review, we [...] offer our apologies to the elders and community. We rescind our letter of Friday the 15th to the Warroad School Board with regard to litigation."

Boucha said board members are planning a trip to Warroad for a pipe ceremony and to perform and song to honor the name and logo. As a well-known athlete and educator, he has also agreed to join the board in its efforts to get rid of offensive logos and names.