Native American advocates of change Washington Redskins name controversy

protest against name of washington redskins

in 1940s national congress of american indians (ncai) created campaign eliminate negative stereotyping of native american people in media. on time, campaign began focus on indian names , mascots in sports. ncai maintains teams mascots such braves , redskins perpetuate negative stereotypes of native american people, , demean native traditions , rituals. ncai issued new report in 2013 summarizing opposition indian mascots , team names generally, , washington redskins in particular. in trademark case, ttab placed significance on ncai opposition, estimating organization represented 30% of native american population @ time trademarks granted, met criteria substantial composite of native americans finding name disparaging. in amicus brief filed in case, ncai states combined enrollment of member tribes in 2013 1.2 million individuals.

many tribal councils have passed resolutions or issued statements regarding opposition name of washington redskins, including cherokee , comanche nations of oklahoma, inter tribal council of arizona, inter-tribal council of 5 civilized tribes, oneida indian nation (new york), standing rock sioux tribe (north dakota) , united south , eastern tribes (uset). in april 2014, navajo nation council voted in favor of statement opposing name of washington team, other disparaging references american indians other professional sports franchises. other native american groups advocating change include: native american bar association of dc, national caucus of native american state legislators, , society of american indian government employees.

individual native americans or have been actively opposed redskins name include:

author sherman alexie (spokane)
co-founder of american indian movement clyde bellecourt (ojibwe)
former u.s. senator ben nighthorse campbell (northern cheyenne)
historian , author vine deloria, jr. (sioux)
director of national museum of american indian kevin gover (pawnee)
author , recent presidential medal of freedom recipient suzan shown harjo (cheyenne/hodulgee muscogee)
activist/actor russell means (oglala lakota)




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