Mascots - The Damage Defined
How 'Indian' Mascots Oppress
First Published in 1998 - Revised: April 9th, 2016 - Updated: January 10th, 2023
Current Name Change Status: Cleveland 'Indians' are now the 'Guardians' - Washington 'R*dsk*ns' are now the 'Commanders'
PRO TEAMS STILL WAITING TO DO THE RIGHT THING: Atlanta 'Braves', Kansas City 'Chiefs', Chicago 'Black Hawks'
What is wrong with "Indian" Mascots and Team Names?
The answer to this question is both complex and simple. The simple answer is that they are disrespectful and hurtful to First Nations people. Some of the names and antics seen at games are nothing less than racist. Not long ago there was a restaurant chain in America called 'Sambos'. Mainstream America didn't get why the name of that restaurant was so upsetting to African Americans. They did not understand what the big deal was. But for African American people, it was a very big deal. The word 'Sambo' had a long and nasty history, having been used as a racial slur against African American people. It took a considerable effort, but eventually the "Sambos" name was no more, and not long after, the restaurants were gone. So here we are, decades later, and names like 'Chiefs' and 'Braves' etc. are still being used by sports teams, colleges and by public schools with no thought of how blatantly offensive these terms and their associations are. And again, mainstream America doesn't 'get it'. Before the Washington 'Commanders' finally changed their name in 2021, sports announcers on TV would regularly say out loud the word 'red****s' like it was nothing, when in fact that word is every bit as toxic to Native people as n****r is to African Americans. It is astounding that any of this could still be new information to anyone, as since the first use of so called "Indian" mascots over 80 years ago, real Indian people have publicly protested against them. Here, we continue that protest, and ask that finally, after so long, people of good heart will listen.
Allow us address next some of the common questions and arguments we First Nations people have all heard, and hopefully provide a clearer understanding as to why these "Indian" mascots and team names and all that goes along with them need to be forever removed from sports teams on the public school, university and professional franchise levels...
1. "We are honoring Native Americans"
There are so many things we can tell you about the sports team names, mascots and imagery that are anything but an 'honor' that it would take up more time than you have to read. So let's just hit the basics - the 'R' word (reds***s) is a racial slur; not an honor. The word 'Braves' is a derogatory term; not an honor. And 'Chiefs' is another derogatory term. Mascots and fans dressing up like 'Indians' is insulting and highly offensive; not an honor. Fans performing 'tomahawk chops' and chanting made up, stereotypical 'Indian' war songs at games are insulting and highly offensive; not an honor. In short, regardless of what it is you think you want to 'honor' someone with, if they tell you it is not an honor, then it's not an honor, plain and simple. Now listen, we realize there are folks who find this hard to understand, and for those people we have a helpful suggestion. If you really want to honor First Nations/Native people, go to where they live. Spend time with the people. Open your heart to who Native people really are, and what their stories really are. Take time to listen, really listen. Maybe then you will begin to understand the deep, complex reasons why "Indian" team names and mascots are so terribly damaging to Native people, especially Native children.
2. "I know Indians who have no problem with "Indian" mascots"
Let us say right here that we are fully aware that some reservation schools use names like 'Braves' or 'Warriors'. This is where the issue gets complex. You see, often these names were usually not chosen by Native people, but by the non-Indian people who started those reservation schools. The difference here is that it is actual Indians in these schools and on these teams. Suffice it to say that you will never see a feathered up, war-painted mascot at these games. You will also never hear a fake 'war song' or see a 'tomahawk chop'. Why? Because REAL Indians don't do those things. Now, having said all that, we are going to go out on a limb here and say that names like 'Braves' etc.. should be changed even on Indian reservations. And there are reasons we take this position. One in particular is this: When non-Indian sports teams compete against these reservation teams, they often use the same kind of offensive imagery in their signage and antics ('scalp the Braves' eg.). Having said that, we know there are those who may disagree. As we said, this issue can be complex. Now let us assert here that, when Rosa Parks decided not to give up her seat on that bus in the south back in the 50's (December 1st, 1955), there were some African American people who were not in accord with her, and understandably so. However, just because some didn't share the same view as Rosa Parks doesn't change the fact that Rosa Parks was right. So just because some Indian people say they don't share the view that "Indian" mascots are wrong doesn't change the fact that they are. And by the way, just because the official position of the Seminole Nation of Florida is that they have 'no issue' with the Florida State University 'Seminoles' name and mascot, doesn't change the fact that the school needs to do the right thing and choose a new team name.
3. "It's our 'tradition'"
This one always blows our minds. Your 'tradition'?? Really?! 80 years? Native people have cultural tradition that is countless tens of thousands of years old. And none of those traditions bear any resemblance whatsoever to the stereotyped, caricatured images and antics associated with so-called "Indian" mascots and team names. Enough said.
4. "I wouldn't be offended, so why are you?"
The answer to this is obvious, but hard to relate without sounding prejudiced. Suffice it to say that this comment often comes from 'people of privilege', and it can be difficult for these folks to comprehend what racial oppression is, and what it feels like to actually suffer from it. When we say 'people of privilege', we do not mean they are 'rich', but rather so accustomed to the 'hand-me-downs' of privilege that they literally have no concept that oppressed people never get these 'hand-me-down' privileges. These 'people of privilege' also have little to no history of racial oppression. So, if we were to create an 'offensive' name or mascot for these folks, they really would not be terribly offended. And the reason is, again, they have little to no history of racial oppression. So when they hear that Indian people are offended by oppressive, racist imagery they simply cannot comprehend what that feels like, thus they often see our offense as an over-reaction and wonder to themselves "what's the big deal?".
5. "This is just 'political correctness' run amok"
Let us first state that we detest the term 'political correctness'. What, after all, is so 'political' about being correct? In our view, complaining about 'political correctness' is just code for not wanting to do the right thing and show a little respect and decency. Nothing is political about that. "Indian" mascots and team names, and the stereotypical antics associated with them are racist, insulting and damaging to Native children, culture and even the socioeconomic realities of Native communities. Getting rid of them has nothing to do with 'politics', and everything to do with respect and decency. Anyone who complains about 'political correctness' when being asked to be respectful and do the right thing is, in our estimation, in desperate need of education and empathy.
6. How do these mascots/team names hurt Native/First Nations people?
Well, for starters, they insult. More importantly, they cause Native children to feel embarrassed and ashamed of who they are. We have watched American Indian children from 9 year old girls to 17 year old boys weep as a direct result of the damage caused to them by "Indian" mascots and team names. This is why some Native people can get so upset. These racist images and antics are hurting the children, and that is intolerable and unacceptable. On a larger scale, "Indian" mascots serve to trivialize Native people. This has gone on for centuries, and it served it's purpose then as it does now. Then, it served to mobilize the 'Manifest Destiny' belief that justified the genocide of American Indian people for the 'progress of civilization'. In those days Native people were portrayed as soul-less, war-mongering savage warriors. And the portrayal was highly effective. The 'mascot' worked. Mainstream America bought the lie the 'mascot' told, and Indigenous people were assaulted and massacred from sea to shining sea to the tune of countless millions. Today the "Indian" 'mascot' serves to trivialize, subjugate and relegate Native people to second-class citizens, and reduce them to mythological status. Native people are like a fairy tale to most Americans. And the result is that they are not taken seriously, and thus, not included in the national conversation. When presidential candidates talk race, Indigenous groups are rarely mentioned. When the Academy Awards takes heat for its lack of diversity and not nominating people of color for Oscars, American Indians are not even considered. In fact, only TWO Native American actors have ever been nominated for an Academy Award, and there has never been a winner. Native people are left out at every turn, because America would rather have their 'mascot'. 'White, Black, Hispanic and sometimes Asian'... and that's it! Never a mention of Native people. This is how "mascots" hurt First Nations people. They render them invisible, and totally and completely trivialize who they are, and insult their ethnicity, race, and culture.
The answer to this question is both complex and simple. The simple answer is that they are disrespectful and hurtful to First Nations people. Some of the names and antics seen at games are nothing less than racist. Not long ago there was a restaurant chain in America called 'Sambos'. Mainstream America didn't get why the name of that restaurant was so upsetting to African Americans. They did not understand what the big deal was. But for African American people, it was a very big deal. The word 'Sambo' had a long and nasty history, having been used as a racial slur against African American people. It took a considerable effort, but eventually the "Sambos" name was no more, and not long after, the restaurants were gone. So here we are, decades later, and names like 'Chiefs' and 'Braves' etc. are still being used by sports teams, colleges and by public schools with no thought of how blatantly offensive these terms and their associations are. And again, mainstream America doesn't 'get it'. Before the Washington 'Commanders' finally changed their name in 2021, sports announcers on TV would regularly say out loud the word 'red****s' like it was nothing, when in fact that word is every bit as toxic to Native people as n****r is to African Americans. It is astounding that any of this could still be new information to anyone, as since the first use of so called "Indian" mascots over 80 years ago, real Indian people have publicly protested against them. Here, we continue that protest, and ask that finally, after so long, people of good heart will listen.
Allow us address next some of the common questions and arguments we First Nations people have all heard, and hopefully provide a clearer understanding as to why these "Indian" mascots and team names and all that goes along with them need to be forever removed from sports teams on the public school, university and professional franchise levels...
1. "We are honoring Native Americans"
There are so many things we can tell you about the sports team names, mascots and imagery that are anything but an 'honor' that it would take up more time than you have to read. So let's just hit the basics - the 'R' word (reds***s) is a racial slur; not an honor. The word 'Braves' is a derogatory term; not an honor. And 'Chiefs' is another derogatory term. Mascots and fans dressing up like 'Indians' is insulting and highly offensive; not an honor. Fans performing 'tomahawk chops' and chanting made up, stereotypical 'Indian' war songs at games are insulting and highly offensive; not an honor. In short, regardless of what it is you think you want to 'honor' someone with, if they tell you it is not an honor, then it's not an honor, plain and simple. Now listen, we realize there are folks who find this hard to understand, and for those people we have a helpful suggestion. If you really want to honor First Nations/Native people, go to where they live. Spend time with the people. Open your heart to who Native people really are, and what their stories really are. Take time to listen, really listen. Maybe then you will begin to understand the deep, complex reasons why "Indian" team names and mascots are so terribly damaging to Native people, especially Native children.
2. "I know Indians who have no problem with "Indian" mascots"
Let us say right here that we are fully aware that some reservation schools use names like 'Braves' or 'Warriors'. This is where the issue gets complex. You see, often these names were usually not chosen by Native people, but by the non-Indian people who started those reservation schools. The difference here is that it is actual Indians in these schools and on these teams. Suffice it to say that you will never see a feathered up, war-painted mascot at these games. You will also never hear a fake 'war song' or see a 'tomahawk chop'. Why? Because REAL Indians don't do those things. Now, having said all that, we are going to go out on a limb here and say that names like 'Braves' etc.. should be changed even on Indian reservations. And there are reasons we take this position. One in particular is this: When non-Indian sports teams compete against these reservation teams, they often use the same kind of offensive imagery in their signage and antics ('scalp the Braves' eg.). Having said that, we know there are those who may disagree. As we said, this issue can be complex. Now let us assert here that, when Rosa Parks decided not to give up her seat on that bus in the south back in the 50's (December 1st, 1955), there were some African American people who were not in accord with her, and understandably so. However, just because some didn't share the same view as Rosa Parks doesn't change the fact that Rosa Parks was right. So just because some Indian people say they don't share the view that "Indian" mascots are wrong doesn't change the fact that they are. And by the way, just because the official position of the Seminole Nation of Florida is that they have 'no issue' with the Florida State University 'Seminoles' name and mascot, doesn't change the fact that the school needs to do the right thing and choose a new team name.
3. "It's our 'tradition'"
This one always blows our minds. Your 'tradition'?? Really?! 80 years? Native people have cultural tradition that is countless tens of thousands of years old. And none of those traditions bear any resemblance whatsoever to the stereotyped, caricatured images and antics associated with so-called "Indian" mascots and team names. Enough said.
4. "I wouldn't be offended, so why are you?"
The answer to this is obvious, but hard to relate without sounding prejudiced. Suffice it to say that this comment often comes from 'people of privilege', and it can be difficult for these folks to comprehend what racial oppression is, and what it feels like to actually suffer from it. When we say 'people of privilege', we do not mean they are 'rich', but rather so accustomed to the 'hand-me-downs' of privilege that they literally have no concept that oppressed people never get these 'hand-me-down' privileges. These 'people of privilege' also have little to no history of racial oppression. So, if we were to create an 'offensive' name or mascot for these folks, they really would not be terribly offended. And the reason is, again, they have little to no history of racial oppression. So when they hear that Indian people are offended by oppressive, racist imagery they simply cannot comprehend what that feels like, thus they often see our offense as an over-reaction and wonder to themselves "what's the big deal?".
5. "This is just 'political correctness' run amok"
Let us first state that we detest the term 'political correctness'. What, after all, is so 'political' about being correct? In our view, complaining about 'political correctness' is just code for not wanting to do the right thing and show a little respect and decency. Nothing is political about that. "Indian" mascots and team names, and the stereotypical antics associated with them are racist, insulting and damaging to Native children, culture and even the socioeconomic realities of Native communities. Getting rid of them has nothing to do with 'politics', and everything to do with respect and decency. Anyone who complains about 'political correctness' when being asked to be respectful and do the right thing is, in our estimation, in desperate need of education and empathy.
6. How do these mascots/team names hurt Native/First Nations people?
Well, for starters, they insult. More importantly, they cause Native children to feel embarrassed and ashamed of who they are. We have watched American Indian children from 9 year old girls to 17 year old boys weep as a direct result of the damage caused to them by "Indian" mascots and team names. This is why some Native people can get so upset. These racist images and antics are hurting the children, and that is intolerable and unacceptable. On a larger scale, "Indian" mascots serve to trivialize Native people. This has gone on for centuries, and it served it's purpose then as it does now. Then, it served to mobilize the 'Manifest Destiny' belief that justified the genocide of American Indian people for the 'progress of civilization'. In those days Native people were portrayed as soul-less, war-mongering savage warriors. And the portrayal was highly effective. The 'mascot' worked. Mainstream America bought the lie the 'mascot' told, and Indigenous people were assaulted and massacred from sea to shining sea to the tune of countless millions. Today the "Indian" 'mascot' serves to trivialize, subjugate and relegate Native people to second-class citizens, and reduce them to mythological status. Native people are like a fairy tale to most Americans. And the result is that they are not taken seriously, and thus, not included in the national conversation. When presidential candidates talk race, Indigenous groups are rarely mentioned. When the Academy Awards takes heat for its lack of diversity and not nominating people of color for Oscars, American Indians are not even considered. In fact, only TWO Native American actors have ever been nominated for an Academy Award, and there has never been a winner. Native people are left out at every turn, because America would rather have their 'mascot'. 'White, Black, Hispanic and sometimes Asian'... and that's it! Never a mention of Native people. This is how "mascots" hurt First Nations people. They render them invisible, and totally and completely trivialize who they are, and insult their ethnicity, race, and culture.
Obviously Racist
Or are they? Obviously it is not so obvious to some that these images above are racist. Are the perpetrators really racist through and through? Well, we have two thoughts about that. Here is a famous quote to ponder by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Inaction to racism IS racism." There is a lot of truth to that. If we stand by and do nothing when we see racism in action, then we are culpable. So, in that sense, it is not only the red-face-painted, feathered up, tomahawk chopping, fake 'Indian war song' chanting folks who are committing racism, but those who know it is wrong and stand idly by and do nothing; sit silently and say nothing. Dr. King also said this, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Our second thought is this; we are not convinced that the people in the feathers and red-face paint in the photos above are all racists. In fact, they are probably more ignorant than consciously racist. We would bet that they actually think 'Indians are cool'! This is part of the problem. This is why they think they are 'honoring' Native people. They think they truly 'like Indians', when what they are actually 'liking' are the one dimensional stereotypes of Indigenous people perpetuated by mainstream American propaganda for centuries. These feathered up folks have certainly never spent any significant time with real American Indian people. If they had, they certainly would not have donned red paint and feathers to 'honor' the 'Indians' of their imagination. Their misguided 'honor' is part of the larger problem of deeply systemic, cultural, institutionalized racism.
So, now for the obvious....
It should go without saying that the word 'Reds**n' is racist. Even the dictionary defines it as a racial slur. Not only that, but the 'Indian head nickel' image that was used on the Washington NFL team's previous helmet is as old a stereotype as there is. Next up, the red faced, big nosed, big toothed, big feathered 'Chief Wahoo' mascot and image that was used for years by the team formerly known as the Cleveland 'Indians'. Anyone who thinks that image is not blatantly racist is in abject denial of reality. Then we have the Atlanta 'Braves'. The term 'brave' as a descriptive for a Native American man is a demeaning, dehumanizing term, plain and simple. Add to that the offensive tomahawk chop antics associated with their logo, and the racist imagery is complete. And finally, the Kansas City 'Chiefs'. The word 'chief' is, at best, a misnomer, and at worst, a denigrating term. The problem with use of the name 'Chiefs' by the Kansas City NFL team is all the stereotypical, offensive and racist imagery and antics that are directly associated with the name. The stylized arrowhead on the helmet (and the name of the stadium) says, 'Indians!', and thus the tomahawk chops and fake 'Indian' war songs ensue.
EXPLANATION:
Savages
This one doesn't need a whole lot of explaining. American Indian people are not beasts, and never were, but were considered to be 'uncivilized', blood-thisty, demon 'savages' by European invaders merely because Native societies were foreign to them. This term was part of the reason for the genocide of Indigenous people, as it was used by the mainstream media of the time to portray Indians as horrifying subhuman creatures. It worked. Early Americans believed it, and the mass genocide of Indian people and the theft of Indian land in the name of 'Manifest Destiny' began. Mascots work.
Squaws
This is a word that has been used to refer to First Nations women. Used as a name for many parks, valleys, mountains etc. The term 'squaw' is VERY offensive to Native women. The term was taken from an Algonquin word which made reference to female genitalia. The word was taken and twisted by those European immigrants who would rape Indian women. They used the term in much the same way the "C" word is used today, as a denigrating term to women. It is NOT funny. It is a racial slur.
Redsk**s
A dictionary defined racial slur, this word is offensive by its very nature. In it's origin, it refers to the bloody scalps of Indian children, women and men that were sold for bounties aside animal skins in the USA. During this sad period in American history, Indian people young and old, male and female, were hunted like animals by bounty hunters. They were killed, and then scalped. When these bounty hunters would come to the trading post, they would receive payment for their deer-skins, their beaver-skins, their raccoon-skins, and their red-skins. Those scalps were called that because of the dried red blood, so the word redsk**s has nothing to do with skin tone. And even if it did, that would be as offensive as referring to African Americans as 'blacksk**s'! The Washington NFL team was finally forced to do the right thing and change their team name. Now schools that bear the name for their teams need to follow suit.
Braves
This is a word that has been used to denigrate Native men. It dehumanizes the American Indian male and equates him to something less than human. The terms 'buck' and 'doe' were also used by early European immigrants as a way to patronize First Nations men and women. As you can see, they also infer that the American Indian person is in some way inhuman or even animalistic. This same line of thinking is what causes some to believe they have the right to reduce Native people to a sports team mascot.
Chiefs
This is a word that is commonly thrown around today as an epithet which insults Native men. The term 'chief' itself is incorrect. Indian leaders were never 'chiefs', but headmen, or clan mothers, and so on. Not 'chiefs'. And there was never only one headman or clan mother, but many. Native leaders were highly disrespected by the USA. So calling a Native American man 'Chief', is just a way to continue that disrespect.
So, now for the obvious....
It should go without saying that the word 'Reds**n' is racist. Even the dictionary defines it as a racial slur. Not only that, but the 'Indian head nickel' image that was used on the Washington NFL team's previous helmet is as old a stereotype as there is. Next up, the red faced, big nosed, big toothed, big feathered 'Chief Wahoo' mascot and image that was used for years by the team formerly known as the Cleveland 'Indians'. Anyone who thinks that image is not blatantly racist is in abject denial of reality. Then we have the Atlanta 'Braves'. The term 'brave' as a descriptive for a Native American man is a demeaning, dehumanizing term, plain and simple. Add to that the offensive tomahawk chop antics associated with their logo, and the racist imagery is complete. And finally, the Kansas City 'Chiefs'. The word 'chief' is, at best, a misnomer, and at worst, a denigrating term. The problem with use of the name 'Chiefs' by the Kansas City NFL team is all the stereotypical, offensive and racist imagery and antics that are directly associated with the name. The stylized arrowhead on the helmet (and the name of the stadium) says, 'Indians!', and thus the tomahawk chops and fake 'Indian' war songs ensue.
EXPLANATION:
Savages
This one doesn't need a whole lot of explaining. American Indian people are not beasts, and never were, but were considered to be 'uncivilized', blood-thisty, demon 'savages' by European invaders merely because Native societies were foreign to them. This term was part of the reason for the genocide of Indigenous people, as it was used by the mainstream media of the time to portray Indians as horrifying subhuman creatures. It worked. Early Americans believed it, and the mass genocide of Indian people and the theft of Indian land in the name of 'Manifest Destiny' began. Mascots work.
Squaws
This is a word that has been used to refer to First Nations women. Used as a name for many parks, valleys, mountains etc. The term 'squaw' is VERY offensive to Native women. The term was taken from an Algonquin word which made reference to female genitalia. The word was taken and twisted by those European immigrants who would rape Indian women. They used the term in much the same way the "C" word is used today, as a denigrating term to women. It is NOT funny. It is a racial slur.
Redsk**s
A dictionary defined racial slur, this word is offensive by its very nature. In it's origin, it refers to the bloody scalps of Indian children, women and men that were sold for bounties aside animal skins in the USA. During this sad period in American history, Indian people young and old, male and female, were hunted like animals by bounty hunters. They were killed, and then scalped. When these bounty hunters would come to the trading post, they would receive payment for their deer-skins, their beaver-skins, their raccoon-skins, and their red-skins. Those scalps were called that because of the dried red blood, so the word redsk**s has nothing to do with skin tone. And even if it did, that would be as offensive as referring to African Americans as 'blacksk**s'! The Washington NFL team was finally forced to do the right thing and change their team name. Now schools that bear the name for their teams need to follow suit.
Braves
This is a word that has been used to denigrate Native men. It dehumanizes the American Indian male and equates him to something less than human. The terms 'buck' and 'doe' were also used by early European immigrants as a way to patronize First Nations men and women. As you can see, they also infer that the American Indian person is in some way inhuman or even animalistic. This same line of thinking is what causes some to believe they have the right to reduce Native people to a sports team mascot.
Chiefs
This is a word that is commonly thrown around today as an epithet which insults Native men. The term 'chief' itself is incorrect. Indian leaders were never 'chiefs', but headmen, or clan mothers, and so on. Not 'chiefs'. And there was never only one headman or clan mother, but many. Native leaders were highly disrespected by the USA. So calling a Native American man 'Chief', is just a way to continue that disrespect.
Stereotypes are fake, one dimensional and romanticized. Native people are real, multifaceted and diverse. First Nations/Native/Indigenous people are rendered invisible by racist mascots and stereotypes. Because mainstream America cannot seem to let go of its romanticized, imaginary, stereotypical 'Indian', the authentic images, stories, culture and struggle of real Native people go unseen, untold and unheard. This is the very real damage that very not-real 'Indian' mascots inflicts. We implore the players on these sports teams - especially those players who are minorities - to stand up, speak up and do something. And we implore anyone who knows that the time for change is long past, to find the courage to do what is right.
Further Explanation....
'Indian' mascots/team names oppress Native people. They oppress because they continue in the use of extreme negative stereotypical antics, words and images. Antics like the 'tomahawk-chop', mock 'Indian war-chants', non-Indian people painting their faces and dressing-up like 'Indians', mascots performing mock 'Indian' dances or throwing fiery spears etc.. Words like 'red***n', 'brave', 'Chief Wahoo' etc.. And images like the guy that used to dress up in fake "Indian" regalia at the Washington NFL team games, and the highly offensive, racist 'Chief Wahoo' of the former Cleveland 'Indians' ("Tha Tribe").
American Indian children cannot possibly look at a stadium full of thousands of people mocking their ethnicity and traditions and feel good about being who they are. This is what 'Indian' mascots do. They glorify all the stupid old stereotypes and steal the pride Native children could have in the beauty of their culture and race. They insult the entire American Indian race.
Insulting an entire race.... the very real definition of racism....
Many thousands of institutions, public-schools, colleges and universities have made the decision to do the right thing and remove their "Indian" mascots and team names in exchange for names that are non-racial, non-ethnic and non-racist. It is the morally right choice. If your school, university or franchise hasn't made that choice yet, now is the time. Stand up and speak out, and change will come. We look forward to the day when this page on our site is no longer needed (this article has been on the Native Circle site in one form or another since the site was born in 1998), and it can be transformed into a historical account of what once was....
Further Explanation....
'Indian' mascots/team names oppress Native people. They oppress because they continue in the use of extreme negative stereotypical antics, words and images. Antics like the 'tomahawk-chop', mock 'Indian war-chants', non-Indian people painting their faces and dressing-up like 'Indians', mascots performing mock 'Indian' dances or throwing fiery spears etc.. Words like 'red***n', 'brave', 'Chief Wahoo' etc.. And images like the guy that used to dress up in fake "Indian" regalia at the Washington NFL team games, and the highly offensive, racist 'Chief Wahoo' of the former Cleveland 'Indians' ("Tha Tribe").
American Indian children cannot possibly look at a stadium full of thousands of people mocking their ethnicity and traditions and feel good about being who they are. This is what 'Indian' mascots do. They glorify all the stupid old stereotypes and steal the pride Native children could have in the beauty of their culture and race. They insult the entire American Indian race.
Insulting an entire race.... the very real definition of racism....
Many thousands of institutions, public-schools, colleges and universities have made the decision to do the right thing and remove their "Indian" mascots and team names in exchange for names that are non-racial, non-ethnic and non-racist. It is the morally right choice. If your school, university or franchise hasn't made that choice yet, now is the time. Stand up and speak out, and change will come. We look forward to the day when this page on our site is no longer needed (this article has been on the Native Circle site in one form or another since the site was born in 1998), and it can be transformed into a historical account of what once was....