American Indian Sports Team Mascots

Change the Mascot
State-By-State Change The Mascot Petitions

Change the Name and Imagery of the Kansas City Chiefs football team petition from Not In Our Honor

Illuminative
Created and led by Native peoples, IllumiNative is a nonprofit initiative designed to increase the visibility of – and challenge the negative narrative about – Native Nations and peoples in American society.
Reclaiming Native Truth

 First Nations Development Institute

Research Findings: Compilation of all Research

National Congress of American Indians
Comprehensive Native "themed" mascot resource: 
Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports & the Era of Harmful 'Indian' Sports Mascots 
The NCAI is the largest, oldest, and most representative of all American Indian advocacy organizations and has opposed the use of stereotyping practices since 1968.

National Indian Education Association
Resolution calling "for the immediate elimination of race-based Indian logos, mascots, and names from educational institutions throughout the Nation."

American Psychological Association
Summary of  Resolution recommending retirement of American Indian Mascots. 
The full resolution is
here.

United States Commission on Civil Rights
Complete text
of Position Statement on the use of Native American Images and Nicknames as Sports Symbols.  

Also see the 2021 Briefing Report of the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the USCCR on Civil Rights and the Impact of Native American Names, Symbols, and Imagery in School Mascots


Seminole, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muskogee Nations
Inter-Tribal mascot resolution "representing over 400,000 people throughout the United States"

American Indian and Alaska Native Society of Indian Psychologists
Statement on retiring Native American mascots

American Counseling Association
Resolution calling for the elimination of stereotypic American Indian imagery


Council of the American Sociological Association
Statement  on Discontinuing the Use of Native American Nicknames, Logos and Mascots in Sport

Oneida Indian Nation
30 page study shows scientific proof that "Indian" mascots hurt Native Americans

 

United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) 
Resolution calling on the National Football League to end the use of the Washington, D.C.  racially offensive slur team name.   USET    

2022 -
Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health
Colorado School of Public Health

2022:  Twenty Years of Research into the Health Impacts of Native-Themed mascots: A Scoping Review.  

2020 Study:  Unpacking the Mascot Debate
Native American Identification Predicts Opposition to Native Mascots

2020 Study:  The psychosocial effects of Native American mascots:
A comprehensive review of empirical research findings

2008 Study:  Of Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: 
The Psychological Consequences of American Indian Mascots

World Wide Web Exclusive!! 
 
Of Polls and Race Prejudice: Sports Illustrated "Errant 'Indian Wars'" 

Also see  2004 Annenberg Survey Designers Acknowledge Invalid Results  And  11 Reasons to Ignore the old 2004 Annenberg Survey About the Washington Football Team's Offensive Name  


 

NEWS

03/07/24  Charlene Teters, who led efforts to retire university's "Chief Illiniwek," will receive the School of Art and Design 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award      Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

03/06/24  The world’s eyes are on Kansas City’s NFL champs. Time to drop the racist imagery.      Kansas City, Missouri

03/03/24  Lily Gladstone, Chief Standing Bear on KC ‘Chiefs’      Kansas City. Missouri/Oklahoma

02/28/24  Update on over one-dozen schools that have or are in the process of changing their Native "themed" mascots      Capital Region, New York

02/28/24  Warriors no more; Indian River to choose new mascot      Philadelphia, New York

02/27/24  Saint Joseph High School adopts ‘Huskies’ as new nickname      South Bend, Indiana

02/24/24  Hart Students, Staff Set To Vote On New Mascot      Santa Clarita, California

02/23/24  Students want bearcats mascot      Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

02/23/24  Waltham School retires mascot referencing Native Americans      Utica, Illinois

02/22/24  Bill would require Illinois K-12 schools drop Native American mascots      Illinois

02/21/24  NFL Team Is Being Urged To Change Their Name As League Gets Called Out For Their Hypocrisy      Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/20/24  University of Texas, San Antonio student publication op/ed: An end zone cannot end racism      Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/19/24  The Sun Chronicle op/ed: Foxboro: Drop offensive logo completely     Foxboro, Massachusetts

02/16/24  Trashy New York City publication provides safe space for racists' attacks on actress Lily Gladstone for her views on antics of Kansas City NFL fans      Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/16/24  Lily Gladstone Calls Kansas City Chiefs Chant a ‘Mockery,’ Criticizes San Francisco 49ers Mascot       Kansas City, Missouri/San Francisco, California/National

02/15/24  Fulton approves final version of mascot/logo       Fulton, New York

02/14/24  Maine Daily News Editorial Board: There’s ‘no honor’ in maintaining an offensive team name        Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/13/24  Grizzlies, Coyotes and Cougars: Mascot changes dot Section 4 landscape       New York

02/13/24  Rochester's Dakota Middle School to change mascot in wake of new legislation        Rochester, Minnesota

02/12/24  Lily Gladstone Said Her Historic Academy Award Nomination Is “Long Overdue” As She Referenced The NFL’s Problematic History Of Misrepresenting Native American People       Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/12/24  Indigenous Demonstrators Continue Opposition to Racism in Sports and Media at Super Bowl LVIII        Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/11/24  Hey Kansas City: Time’s up for Native sports team names        Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/11/24  "Kansas City team continues to mock Native people" Statement from Rhonda LaVelda, founder of Not In Our Honor group       Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/11/24  Native American group renews calls for Chiefs to drop name, logo as Super Bowl LVIII start looms       Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/10/24  Decolonizing the Chiefs       Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/10/24  The Kansas City Chiefs Still Have a Racist Name.  Despite pressure from Native activists, the team refuses to drop its offensive moniker.        Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/10/24  Super Bowl 2024: Native American activists say the Kansas City Chiefs need to change       Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/10/24  For Native American activists, the Kansas City Chiefs have it all wrong       Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/09/24  Two Michigan Schools Change Their Native American Mascots      Michigan

02/09/24  The Chiefs will be in the Super Bowl. Native people will also be there to protest their name.       Las Vegas, Nevada/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/09/24  Interview: Stereotyping Native Americans in Sports is Wrong       Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/09/24  The Real 49ers Were Genocidaires       San Francisco, California/National

02/08/24  New documentary featuring Ho-Chunk athlete, Bronson Koenig, shows why Native mascots are harmful       Wisconsin/Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/08/24  Ahead of Super Bowl, filmmakers challenge 'honor' of Kansas City Chiefs name, Native mascots: 'We are not OK with this'       Kansas City, Missouri/National

02/06/24  'Utah name among a dozen targeted for change, due to use of racially charged language       Utah

02/05/24  'We are not gone': Memories of 1763 massacre resurface with Southern York logo controversy       Glen Rock, York County, Pennsylvania

02/02/24  Backward school board members disrespect Native Americans, reinstate stereotypic, race-related sports team identity       Glen Rock, York County, Pennsylvania

01/22/24  Judge Rejects Gag Order Attempt By Former Chief Illiniwek Ivan Dozier Against U of I Professor        Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

01/19/24  Marquette High School to get new mascot on Monday         Marquette, Michigan

01/16/24  'We should decide': Native American speakers urge Copley-Fairlawn to change Indians mascot        Copley, Ohio

01/15/24  Big Indian Sign Stirs Controversy For Ohio Car Dealership        Cincinnati, Ohio

01/14/24  A greater awareness': Six WNY school districts replace Indigenous nicknames        Western New York

01/14/24  Efforts to change school mascots, state seal make slow, steady progress        Massachusetts

01/12/24  Old Warriors logo: Southern school board tramples Sunshine Law in effort to bring it back        Glen Rock, Pennsylvania

01/10/24  Tonawanda City School District approves new mascot        Tonawanda, New York

01/10/24  The Sachems: Where Middleboro High School stands in push to ban Native American mascots        Middleboro, Massachusetts

01/08/24  Iroquois school district announces new mascot        Elma, New York

01/04/24  Bradford Central School District to change mascot in coming years        Bradford, New York

12/29/23  'Honoring a terrorist.' Mass. faces reckoning with Indigenous school mascots, state seal         Massachusetts

12/26/23  Name changes dump Confederate leader, honor Native American past         Montana

12/14/23  Appellate Court Tells School No in Their Fight to Keep Offensive Mascots         Cambridge, New York

12/12/23  Iroquois ‘Chiefs’ mascot change narrowed to 5 finalists        Elma, New York

12/08/23  West Canada Valley reduces mascot choices to four          Newport, New York

12/07/23  Court upholds ouster of 'Indians' nickname for Cambridge school district         Cambridge, New York

12/02/23  Southeast Texas high school brings controversial traditions to Houston         Port Neches, Texas

12/01/23  Native American tribe of Kansas City fan, 9, distances itself from him         California/Kansas City, Missouri

11/30/23  'They are mocking our traditional songs': Oneida official speaks out against Kansas City fans' chant         Green Bay, Wisconsin

11/28/23  As Kansas City comes to Lambeau Field, calls to change nickname continue         Green Bay, Wisconsin

11/27/23  The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress          Kansas City, Missouri/National

11/27/23  Canton Cobras: Students vote for new mascot         Canton, Michigan

11/23/23  The Saugus Sachem and the power of portrayal         Saugus, Massachusetts

11/20/23  Native groups protest outside of Chiefs game, call team's American Indian Heritage Month efforts 'lip service'         Kansas City, Missouri

11/16/23  Rome Braves, High-A affiliate of the Braves, announce new identity as the Emperors         Rome, Georgia

11/14/23  Sidney CSD Reveals New Nickname         Sidney, New York

11/13/23  ‘We are people’: Many urge legislators to prohibit Indigenous mascots in Mass. public schools         Massachusetts

11/13/23  Mass. lawmakers weigh ban on Native American mascots in public schools          Massachusetts

11/10/23  Four Schools Take Mascot Fight To Federal Court         New York

11/09/23  Ketcham drops 'Indians' moniker in favor of 'Storm', drawing mixed reaction from community         Hopewell Junction, New York

For many more news articles visit  the Archives Section.

How Hollywood stereotyped the Native Americans

"Proud to Be"
2 minute National Congress of American Indians' PSA


1992 Oprah show on mascots and other American Indian issues
 

Video  We Are NOT Your Mascots
We are not your mascots

from Let's Talk Native TV with John Kane

From Disney's 1953 Children's Cartoon Movie "Peter Pan"  "What Makes the Redman Red"  

Timeline: A Century of Racist Sports Team Names

This mascots database lists thousands of schools that use Native American related sports team tokens.

Salon - Nothing scarier than a nervous white man: The 'Redsk*ns' debate is really about white privilege 
The debate about the Washington Redsk*ns name is all wrong: It's really a symbol of white fear in a changing nation

The following categories provide useful information but are largely dormant and not all have been kept current

Educators' Resources
Scholarly articles, resolutions, 
school related material

Psychological aspects
A summary of some primary psychological issues related to the use of "Indian" sports team tokens

Archives
Past news articles, videos, books, etc.

 

List of oranizations endorsing changes to "Indian" sports team, logos, mascots, nicknames, and symbols

Trailblazers
List of schools and Others 
That Have Changed "Indian" Mascots

Related links
(Under constructio
n)

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Redskin, Tanned Hide: A Book of Christian History
Bound in the Flayed Skin of an American Indian:

The Colonial Romance, christian Denial and
the Cleansing of a christian School of Theology.  

- A scholarly paper from the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
by Dr.  Tink Tinker, Wazhazhe / Osage Nation
-




American Indian Sports Team Mascots  © 1998 - 2024
All rights reserved.