POCATELLO — Trustees in the Pocatello-Chubbuck School District on Tuesday approved replacing Pocatello High School’s “Indians” mascot with “Thunder.”
The change takes effect June 1, 2021, the district announced.
The Board plans to call for related artwork and imagery proposals using criteria set forth by a mascot selection committee. The district will release details on the design process once they are finalized, but the school will “maintain its red and blue school colors.”
Trustees voted in September to retire the school’s controversial and historic mascot at the end of the school year, amid debate the mascot was offensive.
That decision sparked blowback among some in the community — and contributed to an effort to recall three trustees if they refuse to resign.
The Shoshone-Bannock tribes last year asked Idaho schools to get rid of all American Indian mascots. Several districts have met the request. Teton dropped its controversial and longstanding Redskins mascot in July 2019. Boise trustees changed Boise High School’s “Braves” mascot to “Brave” a month later.
American Indian-themed mascots still in place include:
- Buhl High School (Indians).
- Preston High School (Indians).
- Salmon High School (Savages).
- Salmon River High School (Savages).
- Shoshone High School (Indians).
