Do Native Americans (American Indians) have a problem with Native American (Indian) mascots on sports teams?

Question

I ask this question because I agree that it steroetypes Indians, yet it stereotypes them as brave warriors. And also, on top of this, how often would people (Non-Indians) think about Native Americans if it wasnt for these team names subtly reminding us. In so many ways, it is a reminder of the Native American past...both the strong, brave side of their culture as well as the extermination side created by European explorers.

Answer 1

I am white; however, my boyfriend who is 70% Native American (Osage and Delaware) said he likes the idea of schools using American Indian names for their sports teams. After all, the teams aren't using the names because they're trying to belittle them but to make them warrior like, strong, athletic, etc, just as the original American Indians were. But there is a line. I teach at a high school in California with the Warriors moniker and before I taught there, the Warrior image was a Dufus-looking character named Willie the Warrior. Someone sued because it was ridiculous looking and did make fun of Native Americans. (The area is also a strong mixture of white with Hispanic and strong agricultural base.) Now we have a very dignified looking American Indian tribal chief with his profile showing and a full headpiece.

I also take exception to the comment made by dew that the Native American tribes killed each other off and the U.S. Government just continued the tradition. According to my boyfriend, who has been schooled in American Indian history and culture by his Delaware tribe grandmother, the tribes would fight but it was more of a warrior against warrior thing, not to kill each other off, as the U.S. government did with its genocide. Some tribes were more warlike than others. For example, the Chowtaw were aggressive, while others were not. Also when the white man arrived, they played one tribe off against other tribes, which made the situation worse. Where did dew get his research?

Answer 2

I fail to see how the goofy caricuture of the Cleveland Indians represents a brave warrior, but that's just me.

Lemme see the playoffs of the future, the New York Whitey's play against the Minnesota Darkies....in order to see who plays the Washington Redskins.

Sorry, we are not mascots and we don't belittle other cultures the way you do.

Answer 3

I think that the tribes that cry foul about it are looking for attention in a negative way. I personally do not thiunk that it puts them down in any way. You want to have a strong name for a team mascot, The Braves, Redskins, Seminoles, Chiefs...these are all proud teams and proud of their names. I'm sorry that the native Americans got a bad deal, but it is history, it was over 100 years ago, get over it, don't forget your heritage, but get over it because it is not going to change. You did the same to other tribes at one point in time. Someday someone is going to come and kick our a$$es and take our land, thats the way the human animal works. It has been repeated over and over throughout history, all over the world!

Answer 4

All the schools are changing their mascots. I would think the native American would be proud to be viewed as a warrior. Guess we're too PC for that these days. I'm waiting for PETA to complain about the animal names for mascots.

Answer 5

I know that the Seminole Nation (in Florida) loves the name. Have you ever heard of a Seminole? Outside of collegiate sports? They like it because it brings immense amounts of public awareness to their tribe. It all boils down to people massively overreacting to what they see as a problem. Pretty soon, we could have small rural cities suing the big four professional sports organizations for discrimination.

Answer 6

The Seminole tribe of Florida proclaimed support of the use of their tribal name to represent Florida State University sports. But, then, the Seminoles have thrived and FSU football doesn't suck.

Answer 7

And how!