Kah-Bay-Kay Nong is the Ojibwa word for Warroad, which is a significant place in the history of the Anishinaabe and Ojibwa tribes that once and still do live in the area. It’s a land where battles were often fought with the Sioux tribes, and became known as a “war trail” that followed the Warroad River in the early 1900s. That proud past is a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation, as words like honor, respect and pride are hallmarks for any young player who dons a Warroad Warrior jersey. In the 1980s, the Warroad Indian Community, the Indian Parent Committee and the Indian Education Department helped design and approve the current Warrior logo and supports the use of the Warrior name. Every player learns the history, the legacy, and the story of the Kah-Bay-Kay Nong community. The players have the utmost respect on and off the ice to have the privilege to represent Warroad High School, the Warroad community and the Warrior name.

The history of the Warroad Warrior name and logo are also on display at the school and all sporting events.

“The history behind the Warroad Warrior name and logo has a story of it’s own. Many years ago, Ay-Ash-A-Wash was Chief of Warroad and Buffalo Point during the war of the Lake of the Woods southwest region. In one on the final battles between the Sioux and the Ojibwa at Two Rivers, some 40 miles west of Warroad on the War Trail, Ay-Ash-A-Wash was badly wounded and played dead. As he lay there, he was scalped by a Sioux Warrior. Ay-Ash-A-Wash still alive managed to crawl away and hide for a time. Most thought he was lost in battle, but he made it back to Warroad after a few days. There was a great outpouring of joy when he returned to Warroad badly injured, but still alive. Years later Ay-Ash-A-Wash’s son Na-May-Poke, who was thought to be the Chief of Warroad, was a wise man who cherished education. Na-May-Poke decided to sell part of his land allotment on the Warroad River for the first Warroad School. He agreed to sell the land at a very cheap price and asked that the name Warriors be instilled for athletic competition. This would be used to show honor to those whose blood was left on the sacred land and to those who fell in battle. His request was honored and the teams would be carrying the name Warriors with pride.

In recent years the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media upheld and supported the Name and Logo based on the history of the Warrior name in a pipe ceremony and dedication as tribute to the War Trail.

The Indian Community, the Local Indian Education Committee, and the Indian Education Department helped design the Logo to go along with the name Warriors to be used as the only logo moving forward. We as Indian People fully support the use of the name Warroad Warriors and the use of the designed logo in it’s entirety.”