Answer Close-Reading Questions
Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• Which two pro sports teams are changing their names? (Key Details)
The Major League Baseball team in Cleveland, Ohio, is changing its name to the Guardians from the Indians. The National Football League team in Washington, D.C., dropped the name Redskins in 2020 and plans to announce a new name next year.
• What does Leah Salgado mean when she says “We would rather that folks see us as who we are as individuals”? (Making Meaning)
Salgado means that she wants people to understand and acknowledge Indigenous people like her as real people with unique interests and backgrounds, rather than clumping them together into one generalized group. She says that she thinks all Native-themed team names and mascots should be changed because they reduce people to stereotypes.
• How does the sidebar “Sacred Symbols” support the article? (Text Features)
The sidebar gives three examples of Native symbols that are sometimes used out of context by teams and fans. It explains why headdresses, face paint, and tomahawks are significant to Native people. For instance, in many Native nations, only the most respected citizens wear headdresses.