Native American Names &

Symbols in Sports
Todays Controversy
Corinne Smith, April 7, 2015

Some of the most popular sports teams in America are recognized by their Native
American symbols and names; for example, the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland
Indians, Chicago Blackhawks. Though these organizations spend millions of dollars on Native
American related merchandise, uniforms, and advertisements, they capitalize greatly on the
money that fans pay to represent and attend games. The Chicago Blackhawks are valued at 300
million dollars (Forbes 2014), and an authentic Blackhawks jersey, displaying a huge Native
American face with a feather headdress, can sell for $170. However, this money goes directly to
the organization and its owners, but what about the Native Americans that inspired such an
iconic mascot? What role do they play in the preservation and representation of their culture in
sports? This has been a topic of controversy in the US and Canada since 1960, since the start of
the Native American civil rights movement. The National Congress of American Indians has
been working to eliminate any negative stereotyping of the Native American people, including
the symbols and names in sports. They state that it creates stereotyping and oversimplifies and
creates and inaccurate view of their culture (NCAI). In contrast, supporters, a majority found in a
survey of public opinion, say that it honors the Native American culture and highlights their
positive traitsfighting spirit, brave, aggressive, proud, dedicated. Also, like mentioned above,
teams spend millions of dollars on merchandise and uniforms and to change the mascot would be
very expensive. This tension has raised many important cultural and social questions about the
past and current relations between Native Americans and the United States. From conquest and
possible eradication to assimilation and incorporation, this continuing history is a very important
cultural evolution that can, incidentally, be studied through sports. As a result, this paper will
take a look at the Native American mascot controversy through specific examples and compare
and contrast the cultural implications of the tension.

In order to truly understand the controversy, it is necessary to be fully aware of Native

American history and their fight for equal rights. The Native Americans first inhabited the land
we call the United Sates and were the indigenous people when the Europeans arrived to the
western hemisphere. During the thousands of years proceeding European contact, the Native
Americans developed intricate cultures and distinctive tribes. Each tribe contained skills that
made them professionals at living off their specific land. They cultivated plants for food, dyes,
medicines, and textiles; domesticated animals; established extensive patterns of trade; built
cities; produced monumental architecture; developed intricate systems of religious belief; and
constructed a wide variety of systems of social and political organization (Digital History). In
short, the Native Americans were very intelligent and resourceful people. However, the European
colonization of the Americans nearly destroyed the populations of Native Americans through
violence, possible genocide, and destruction of their land. In addition, most were killed due to
the introduction of new diseases brought from Europe that the Native Americans had never
encountered before, creating deadly epidemics. With the start of the American Revolution in
1775, many Native American sided with the Patriots in order to try and preserve their homeland,
as well as receive protection. With the end of the revolution and creation of the United States, the
Native Americans were seen as conquered land and people through the Treaty of Pairs 1783, in
which the Patriots signed over land that the Native Americans inhabited without conversing or
notifying them (National Endowment for the Humanities). This led to the removal and
reallocation of the Native Americans onto Reservations. In the nineteenth century, efforts were
made to assimilate the Native American children by educating them in Indian Boarding schools.
Nevertheless, missionaries ran these schools and the children were forced to convert to

Christianity and forbidden to speak their native language (Carolyn J. Marr). This traumatic
experience is only one example of the oppression of Native Americans throughout history.
Today, there are 561 federally recognized tribal governments in the United States. These
domestic independent nations have their own government, laws, and right to tax, and the Indian
Civil Rights Act of 1968 guaranteed the Bill of Rights applicable within all tribes (Renewing
Native Ways). Members of these tribes also have a dual citizenship in the United States. These
Native American tribes and the 2.7 million Native Americans living in the United States play a
large role in the American landscape and economy. As a result, it is very important to understand
their culture and the role they play in todays society.
Now that you know some Native American history and how they we treated and viewed
throughout history, you can fully appreciate the current cultural controversy at handthe use of
Native American names and images in sports. There are hundred of examples of sports teams
forced to change their mascot due to the pressure of this controversy, but the Miami University
Redskins are an all encompassing example that has authentic roots in Native American history as
well as more modern misuse of the Native American culture.
Miami University was founded in 1809 in the Miami Valley, formally inhabited by the
Miami tribe, hence the name of the University. Miami publicity director, R.J McGinnis is
credited with coining the mascot term Redskins in 1928. However, before this official mascot,
students used terms such as Miami Boys, the Big reds, and the Reds and Whites, which still
contain some Native American references. But where did the students acquire this Native
American influence? There is no clear origin other than the school being located on historically
tribal land. Native American references started appearing in the schools newspaper and yearbook
as early as 1873. Another popular example of the Native American influence is the tradition

where the senior class would roast the junior class, then smoke the peace pipe, a Native
American symbol, together and pass the pipe to the junior class (Miami Univerisyt). The
tradition was repeated every year. Once the Redskin mascot was put into place, more traditions
were born. Members of the Glee club would dress wearing traditional Native American clothing
and sing Scalp Song, written by the former President Upham, which represented the Redskins
war song. The students called the main dining hall the Reservation, and the official
representation of the Redskins was an image of an Indian Chief wearing a traditional feather
headdress. All of these traditions clearly reference Native Americans, however, some members of
the Miami Tribe in Oklahoma no longer saw them as a positive representation of their culture
(Marr). This along with the national controversy over the use of Native American symbols in
sports led to Miami Universitys mascot controversy of 1971-1972.
Though it was not the Universitys intention to disrespect the Miami tribe, it was clear
that the administration, as well as the students, wanted to preserve the relationship with the
Miami tribe and show them how much they cared about their influence and culture. A committee
was created to deal with the Miami Tribe relations and for 25 years they tried to gain the support
of the Miami tribe by justifying the use of the term Redskin. In July 1996 at their Annual
Meeting, the Miami Tribe asked Miami University to end the controversy by changing the name
of their mascot. The resolution read.
WHEREAS: We realize that society changes, and that what was intended to be a tribute
to both Miami University, and to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, is no longer perceived as
positive by some members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami University, and
society at large; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma can no longer
support the use of the nickname Redskins and suggest that the Board of Trustees of

Miami University discontinue the use of Redskins or other Indian related names, in
connection with its athletic teams, effective with the end of the 1996-97 academic school
year (Miami University).
Out of respect for the Miami tribe, the mascot was changed from the Redskins Chief logo to
Swoop the Red Hawk. The implementation included the elimination of all derogatory caricatures
of Indians from merchandise, uniforms, and sports facilities. Also, the University placed more
emphasis on Indian heritage and offered Native Americans scholarships. This showed the respect
and admiration the University had for the Native American culture that greatly influenced the
school.
By 2006, when the NCAA took a strong stance against the use of Native American
symbols in sports, many other schools followed Miamis example and eliminated and changed
their mascots. Multiple sources have agreed that honorable intentions are not enough when they
are applied to an unworthy idea (Miami University), and that change is necessary to keep strong
ties with the tribes and Native American people.
On the other hand there have been examples of peaceful and respectful use of Native
American symbols in sports, examples where the Indian Tribe fully supports the usethe Florida
Seminoles. Florida State University has a very unique relationship with the Seminole Tribe. The
Seminole Tribe accepts the Universitys mascot and even takes part in designing uniforms,
mascot costumes, etc. Council members from the Seminole Tribe formally gave their blessing to
Florida State in the 1980s, amidst controversy, to continued to use the Seminole image as their
mascot. When the Universitys football team faced sanctions in 2005 for using, again, hostile
and abusive Native American symbols, the Seminole Tribe stood behind the team and the
NCAA was forced to give them an exemption, removing them from a list of teams banned from
using Native American names (Powell).
6

These two collegiate examples bring forth both sides of the controversy. There is the
argument that the mascots and symbols are by no means offensive but created out of admiration
and respect for Native American traditions, and like the Seminole tribe, Native Americans should
understands and respects this high regard. However, the Seminoles, is only one example, and
according to Culpepper in the Washington post, may be the last standing example in the 22nd
century (Culpepper). As a result, I agree with the NCAA in that it is the right thing to do, do get
rid of Native American symbols in sports. Though seeming harmless to the students and
universities, the population of Native Americans living in the United States is essential to the
countries landscape and economy. In order to preserve this, a peaceful and respectful relationship
must remain across the cultures. If that means eliminating Native American symbols in sports to
stay clear of any controversy, then I agree. Like Miami University did after their mascot change,
more emphasis should be put on the education of the Native American culture and its history and
the acceptance of the current Native American population. These positive actions taken towards
Native Americans will only strengthen the relationship between the US, universities and the
tribes and enable both parties to be enriched.
It is very interesting that sport and culture can be so intricately intertwined and how a
simple mascot costume can have such a profound effect on a group of people and their culture.
Today many teams and organizations including professional, collegiate, and even high schools,
are still debating this cultural controversy. While Sports Illustrated found that 81% of American
Indians living outside a reservation and 53% of American Indians living on a reservation
reported not offended by the use of Native American symbols or names in sports (Price), it seems
to be a matter of political correctness that may be taken case by case, like the Seminoles. I
believe it is more important to preserve the relationship, as opposed to cheering for a specific

mascot. As a student at Miami University, I can declare that the University thrives even though
we are no longer the Redskins. Matter of factly, the previous Native American culture on campus
is more cherished now that it is a respected part of the schools history, not just the mascot we
see at football games.

Works Cited
"Anti-Defamation & Mascots." Anti-Defamation & Mascots. National Congress of American
Indians, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
Culpepper, Chuck. "Florida State's Unusual Bond with Seminole Tribe Puts Mascot Debate in a
Different Light." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2014. Web. 07 Apr.
2015.
"Early History of the Mascot." About Miami. Miami University, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
"The First Americans." Digital History. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
Marr, Carolyn J. "Assimilation Through Education: Indian Boarding Schools in the Pacific
Northwest." University Libraries. University of Washington, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
"Mascot Controversy 1971-72." About Miami. Miami University, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
"The Native Americans' Role in the American Revolution: Choosing Sides | EDSITEment." The
Native Americans' Role in the American Revolution: Choosing Sides | EDSITEment.
National Endowment for the Humanities, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
"NHL Team Evaluations." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
Powell, Robert Andrew. "Florida State Can Keep Its Seminoles." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 23 Aug. 2005. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.
"Renewing Native Ways." Native Voices. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015.
S.L. Price. "The Indian Wars". Sports Illustrated. pp. 6671. 4 March 2002. 7 Apr. 2015.