The Mendon-Upton Regional School District has unveiled its new coyote mascot, marking the culmination of a multi-year effort to replace its former Native American-themed mascot while retaining the Nipmuc Regional name.

“Choosing the Coyotes is such an exciting step for our district, and it really came together thanks to thoughtful input from our students, staff, alumni, and community members,” Mendon-Upton Regional School District Superintendent Maureen Cohen recently told the Upton-Mendon Free Press. “All of our schools are embracing the unifying logo and mascot with enthusiasm. It gives our athletic teams and schools a modern brand to rally around, all while keeping that deep respect and integrity for the Nipmuc Nation."

At the Sept. 14 meeting of the Mendon-Upton Regional School Committee, Cohen outlined the process behind the change, which she described as a “deliberate multi-year process” rooted in the district’s strategic plan.

Cohen said the district’s goal was “to develop and adopt a unified mascot across all MURSD schools to strengthen brand identity, unity and school spirit.”

The effort began in 2016 and gained momentum during the 2020-21 school year, when the district began removing Native American imagery. Cohen said the district’s decision was also guided by correspondence from the Nipmuc Nation, including letters in 2016, 2020 and July 2021.

In a July 2021 letter, the Nipmuc Nation expressed opposition to sports mascots, nicknames and logos that impersonate Indigenous people, describing them as harmful and rooted in negative stereotypes. The letter read, in part: 

“The Nipmuc Nation stans in opposition to all sport team mascots, nicknames, logos that falsely impersonate the lives of Indigenous People. We support legislation that will remove and prohibit those mascots, nicknames, logos and prohibit them in Massachusetts school systems…These mascots, nicknames, logos are derogatory and harmful to our people. They perpetrate negative stereotypes associated with Indigenous People. And despite the claims of their supporters, these mascots, nicknames, logos do not honor us in any way.” 

Cohen said retiring the Native American imagery while retaining the Nipmuc Regional name allows the district to recognize the tribal nation without engaging in cultural appropriation.

Cohen also noted that legislation addressing Native American mascots in Massachusetts schools is making its way through the State House, making the district’s decision a proactive step.

The selection process included community participation beginning in February 2026, when the district solicited mascot ideas and received approximately 200 submissions. After evaluating proposals based on uniqueness, local significance and alignment with district values, officials narrowed the choices to eight semifinalists.

In April, approximately 840 ballots were cast to identify three finalists: bears, coyotes and Nor’easters. The final round generated more than 1,000 votes, including more than 600 student ballots and nearly 400 community ballots. Cohen said the coyote emerged as the clear consensus winner among both groups. The district announced the selection at its May 18 meeting.

“We’re learning that not everyone in the community was aware, and I wish I could go back and change something to make more people aware of it,” Cohen said of the process. “But our intent was to get it out to as many possible people as we could.”

During the summer, the district worked with a graphic designer who is also a Nipmuc alumnus to develop the new mascot image and accompanying logos.

At the September meeting, Nipmuc Athletic Director Chris Schmidt said the new branding will provide a consistent visual identity throughout the district.  

“One of the reasons that we liked coyote so much was it was unique. There was no other school in the state, or in the region for that matter, that had coyotes,” Schmidt said. He also noted the connection to the Nipmuc People and said the selection made sense for the district.

To watch a recording of the meeting, visit bit.ly/MURSD-SchoolCommittee-09142026 . 

An Act Prohibiting the Use of Native American Mascots by Public Schools in the Commonwealth (HD.1791/SD.856) is making its way through the legislature. 

The bill would prohibit the use of Native American mascots in Massachusetts public schools. About 25 schools in the Commonwealth currently use such mascots. 

Image shared at the Sept. 14 meeting of the Mendon-Upton Regional School Committee meeting regarding the district’s new logo: the Coyote.

Source: https://maindigenousagenda.org/native-mascots