Madelia Public Schools gets exemption to keep Blackhawks mascot for now

Madelia Public Schools says it has been granted an exemption by the Lower Sioux Indian Community Tribal Council to continue using the “Blackhawks” as its school mascot under Minnesota law.

In a district announcement published June 26, 2026, Madelia ISD 837 points to a letter dated June 23, 2026 from Lower Sioux Indian Community President Joseph O’Brien. The announcement says the Community reviewed the district’s exemption request and confirmed: “After careful review of the information submitted, the Community grants the requested exemption.”

For Madelia families and sports fans, the immediate message is straightforward: the district says it will be able to keep using the Blackhawks mascot as Minnesota’s native-mascot prohibition starts Sept. 1, 2026—with a specific focus on using the image of the hawk rather than other native-themed elements.

Key dates for Madelia families

• June 23, 2026: Date on the exemption/consent letter referenced by ISD 837.
• June 26, 2026: ISD 837 publishes its announcement about receiving the exemption.
• Sept. 1, 2026: Minnesota’s native-mascot prohibition takes effect under Minn. Stat. § 121A.041.

What Minnesota’s native-mascot law requires

Minnesota’s native-mascot statute, Minn. Stat. § 121A.041, sets up both a ban and an exemption pathway:

• Starting Sept. 1, 2026, a public school may not have or adopt a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian Tribe, individual, custom, or tradition as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name unless it has obtained an exemption.
• A school can seek an exemption by requesting a letter of consent from the federally recognized tribal nation located nearest to the school.
• If the school has an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, the exemption also requires a letter of consent from that advisory committee.
• If the school does not have an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, the statute says the school may seek consent only from the nearest federally recognized tribal nation.

What Madelia reported earlier

Minnesota’s legislative reference library includes a state-record “Mascot Progress Report (per M.S. 121A.041)” from Madelia Public School District 837 dated Feb. 24, 2026. In that report, ISD 837 said it planned to send a letter to the Lower Sioux Indian Community—described in the report as the closest community to the district—to ask for permission to keep the Blackhawks name.

The same Feb. 24, 2026 report says the district asserted the mascot is a hawk (bird) that is black (not affiliated with the “Blackhawk” nation), and that it has been under the logo since 1992. It also states the district had replaced all uniforms except volleyball, football, and JV boys basketball uniforms, and that the “last updates” would be made after July 1.

What to watch next in Madelia

Now that ISD 837 says its exemption was approved, Madelia residents may want to watch for:

• District messaging on how the “hawk image” will be used day-to-day—especially as the Sept. 1, 2026 start date approaches.
• Consistency with the district’s earlier progress report, so fans can see what changes were made and what elements the district says it will keep using.

Bottom line: Madelia ISD 837 is treating the Lower Sioux consent as the key step under Minn. Stat. § 121A.041, and the state’s Sept. 1, 2026 prohibition is the timeline residents should keep on their radar.

Sources

• Madelia Public Schools (ISD 837) mascot exemption announcement (Published June 26, 2026; referencing June 23, 2026 letter)
• Minnesota Legislature (Revisor): Minn. Stat. § 121A.041 (American Indian mascots prohibited) — prohibition + exemption requirements
• Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Madelia Public Schools “Mascot Progress Report (per M.S. 121A.041)” dated Feb. 24, 2026