When I was younger, my father always encouraged me to be proud of who I was. I come from the Bad River Band of Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin and I grew up with a strong Native American background. But for some reason, my father disagreed with the Washington Redskins. He would tell me that it was disrespectful, but I was too young to grasp an understanding of why. As I got older, I began to understand.
For years, the debate over Native Americans as mascots has been circulating. But why? Athletic teams (professional, collegiate, and high school) have had Native Americans as mascots for years. Why do some find it offensive? Why the demand for change now?
1. Native Americans have faced centuries of oppression.
Simple violations of their human rights, removal acts, genocide, and assimilation have all been apart of the obstacles indigenous people have had to overcome. Making references to the displacement of thousands of Native Americans in athletics is not ideal.
2. It makes them anything less than human beings.
Fact: Native Americans have not even been considered U.S. citizens for a century. When you think of mascots, you may think of a character or animal. Putting Native Americans at that same level can make them be seen as lesser beings.
3. Indigenous people are not all the same.
The United States is home to 562 federally recognized tribes. All of them have different languages, traditions, and ways of life. Categorizing them under a universal symbol can be degrading. The image of the "Redskin" is something that Native Americans find extremely offensive. It is a racial slur that suggests all Native Americans look like the image used by the NFL team.
4. Native people are proud of their culture.
There is a fine line between appreciating someone's culture and appropriating it. Using a culture for a mascot is not a form of honor. Native American people have a strong sense of pride in who they are, but they way they are portrayed in modern-day athletics is not who they are. In 2014, a commercial was released by the National Congress of American Indians in efforts to emphasize who Native Americans actually are. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR-tbOxlhvE
The demand for this change is so great because of the voice that people have in today's society. In a country that is culturally diverse, respect for ALL cultures should be required. It is time for the mascots to be changed.
