A Sign of Respect

For more than a century, the professional baseball team in Cleveland, Ohio, has been called the Indians. But that won’t be the case for much longer. The Major League Baseball (MLB) team is officially changing its name to the Cleveland Guardians before the 2022 season.

The Washington Football Team, based in the nation’s capital, is also set to announce a new name and logo early next year. That National Football League (NFL) team dropped the name Redskins in 2020.

The teams’ decisions to replace their Native-themed names is part of a trend. At least 43 U.S. schools have also removed such names or symbols this year, the National Congress of American Indians says.

“Folks believe that [team] mascots are who Native people are,” says Leah Salgado, a citizen of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. She runs IllumiNative, a group that works to make sure all Indigenous people are accurately represented. “We would rather that folks see us as who we are as individuals,” she says.

For more than a century, a professional baseball team has been called the Indians. But that will not be true for much longer. The Major League Baseball (MLB) team is officially changing its name before the 2022 season. It will be called the Cleveland Guardians. The team is in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Washington Football Team is a National Football League (NFL) team based in the nation’s capital. It, too, is set to announce a new name and logo early next year. The team dropped the name Redskins in 2020.

The teams’ decisions to replace their Native-themed names is part of a trend. At least 43 U.S. schools have also removed such names or symbols this year. That is according to the National Congress of American Indians.

“Folks believe that [team] mascots are who Native people are,” says Leah Salgado. She is a citizen of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. She runs IllumiNative. That group works to make sure all Indigenous people are accurately represented. “We would rather that folks see us as who we are as individuals,” Salgado says.

Today, more than 1,800 teams across the U.S.—from elementary school to the pros—have Native-themed names. The most common ones are Indians, Braves, and Chiefs. 

Critics argue that such names reduce Native people to stereotypes. There are 574 federally recognized Native nations in the U.S., and they are diverse in ethnicity, culture, and language.

Some names, experts say, are especially offensive. For example, “redskins” is considered a racist insult against Native people. 

“Sports teams are supposed to inspire,” says Vincent Schilling, who is Akwesasne (ah-kwuh-SAHS-nee) Mohawk. “But these teams ignore the suffering of Native people even though they have been told over and over the pain the names cause.” 

Today, more than 1,800 U.S. teams have Native-themed names. The teams range from those in elementary school to the pros. The most common names are Indians, Braves, and Chiefs.

Critics argue that such names reduce Native people to stereotypes. There are 574 federally recognized Native nations in the U.S. And they are diverse in ethnicity, culture, and language.

Experts say that some names are especially offensive. For example, “redskins” is considered a racist insult against Native people.

“Sports teams are supposed to inspire,” says Vincent Schilling. He is Akwesasne (ah-kwuh-SAHS-nee) Mohawk. “But these teams ignore the suffering of Native people even though they have been told over and over the pain the names cause.”

Many teams with Native-themed names, however, say their monikers reflect positive characteristics such as power and strength.

Supporters say such names also offer an opportunity to educate people. For example, Florida State University (FSU) uses the nickname “Seminoles,” with the support of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The tribe participates in school events to share its traditions with students. 

But many teams with Native-themed names say their monikers reflect positive traits like power and strength.

Supporters say such names also offer an opportunity to educate people. For example, Florida State University (FSU) uses the nickname “Seminoles.” It has the support of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The tribe participates in school events. It shares its traditions with students.

Still, critics say even accepted Native-themed names can be harmful. For example, some teams have imagery showing weapons. Native people say these symbols spread the inaccurate idea that all Indigenous people are violent.

Native-themed names can also encourage disrespectful behavior. Fans of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, MLB’s Atlanta Braves, and FSU do the “tomahawk chop”—waving their arms in a chopping motion while chanting a fake “Native” song.

“This action has never been done by a Native American nation,” Schilling says. “My ancestors were forced to not speak their own language. A crowd of thousands singing a fake song is more painful than you can imagine.”

Researchers have also found that exposure to Native American mascots lowers the self-esteem of young Native people.

But critics say even accepted Native-themed names and symbols can be harmful. For example, some teams have imagery showing weapons. Native people say these symbols spread the inaccurate idea that all Indigenous people are violent.

Native-themed names can also encourage disrespectful behavior. Fans of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, the MLB’s Atlanta Braves, and FSU do the “tomahawk chop.” That means waving their arms in a chopping motion while chanting a fake “Native” song.

“This action has never been done by a Native American nation,” Schilling says. “My ancestors were forced to not speak their own language. A crowd of thousands singing a fake song is more painful than you can imagine.”

Researchers have also found that exposure to Native American mascots lowers the self-esteem of young Native people.

Salgado has vowed to push for more progress. She hopes other teams will follow the lead of Cleveland and Washington and replace their Native-themed names and mascots.

“It’s good that some names are changing, but all should be gone,” Salgado says. “We all want to be treated with respect.”

Salgado has vowed to push for more progress. She hopes other teams will follow the lead of Cleveland and Washington. She wants them all to replace Native-themed names and mascots.

“It’s good that some names are changing, but all should be gone,” Salgado says. “We all want to be treated with respect.”