We are the Indians, Not Native Americans

       Many American Professional and collegiate sports teams are branded and have millions of dollars, creating mascots out of the heritage of Native Americans. Last week I reported on a statement that Barrack Obama gave on the logo of  the National Football team the Washington Redskins. In a very short statement Obama says that “If I were the owner of the team and I knew that there was a name of my team even if it had a storied history that was offending a sizeable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” In my opinion Obama was being generous by saying I'd think about it, this is a change that is long over due and is not only offending a sizeable group, The Redskins are wiping away the real identity of Native American Culture. Although not widely publicized, there are over 566 recognized Native tribes, that are all located within in North America. Those tribes are subjected to harmful and negative stereotypes when they are labeled as Indians by Sporting Franchises. These stereotypes are then reinforced by the a believed bond between the fans, organization, and city.  This bond only furthers rips apart the Native Americans from their cultural.

     Arguments that some Mascots that portray Native Americans, Such as Florida States Chief Seminole, are authentic and in fact help with awareness of Native American tribes and cultural practices are in my opinion completely inaccurate. University of Illinois was forced to stop using their mascot Chief Illiniwek in 2007 after years of fighting on both sides. The argument of the university was that not only was "The Chief" a cornerstone of the Universities Athletic history but also is a sign of cultural awareness by the university for Native American people. The Mascot performed a danced that wads suppose to be a traditional tribal dance, and also wore formal head wear and feathers. These "Traditional Practices" were later found out to just to be different movements and the attire had no historical relation to any Native tribe. These Images of Native Americans dancing around were all too common and is a constant fight even now in 2014.

WORKS CITED

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-23/news/chi-u-of-i-works-out-deal-on-use-of-chief-illiniwek-20131023_1_chief-society-roger-huddleston-the-news-gazette


http://www.ncai.org/attachments/policypaper_mijapmouwdbjqftjayzqwlqldrwzvsyfakbwthpmatcoroyolpn_ncai_harmful_mascots_report_ending_the_legacy_of_racism_10_2013.pdf


.http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/president-obama-says-id-think-about-changing-name-of-washington-redskins/2013/10/05/e170b914-2b70-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html