New Law Could Save Benson Schools From $1 Million Mascot Change
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A new law passed during the 2025 legislative session provides schools like the Benson Braves a clearer and more reasonable path to preserve their current American Indian mascots. Instead of the strict law passed by the DFL trifecta in 2023, which required approval from all 11 of Minnesota’s tribal nations, schools now need permission from only the nearest tribal nation and the school’s American Indian Parent Advisory Committee to retain their mascot.
While the updated law simplifies the approval process, it still does not provide any state funding to help schools cover mascot removal or redesign costs. The compliance deadline remains Sept. 1, 2026, as modified in the 2024 law. However, the law does not include a specific enforcement mechanism or penalty if a school fails to comply with the mandate.
“This is a big win for Benson and other rural communities that were facing this ridiculous mandated change by a group of DFL leaders,” said Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria). “Furthermore, schools simply do not have the money to make these kinds of changes, and it defies most people’s common sense. It allows schools to work directly with a nearby tribal nation, if it is a concern, while protecting limited local resources.”
This development may provide significant relief to school districts like the western Minnesota Benson Braves or the Ashby Arrows, which have expressed concerns about the considerable financial burden associated with the mandated mascot changes. The Benson Braves previously settled a lawsuit that required them to change their original headdress mascot to a B and feather logo—a costly change for the district at the time. Benson officials now estimate that replacing their mascot again could cost approximately $1 million, a sum the district says it cannot absorb without impacting educational resources.
Republican lawmakers opposed the mandate from the beginning and, after its passage in 2023, pushed to repeal it. However, legislative Democrats and Governor Walz would not relent.
“Hopefully, this resolves the expensive, unfunded mandate that some schools were facing. This mascot issue should never have become so controversial. Nearly everyone I’ve talked to sees it as a matter of pride and respect toward Native American culture and history—not something racist,” Westrom concluded.
