With the beginning of Native American Heritage Month and the KC football team “celebrating” it at Monday’s game, Not In Our Honor Coalition, the Kansas City Indian Center, Imagining the Indian, and Rena Flying Coyote Collective continue the call for the immediate retirement of the Kansas City football team’s name, logo, and any and all Native American objects, symbols, and imagery appropriated by the team’s leadership.
The use of KC football team’s chosen branding contributes to unhealthy stereotypes of our people and their “American Indian Heritage Month Game” does not actually honor us or our heritage. Team leadership is continuing their tactic of bringing in a handful of Native Americans to “honor” in order to give the illusion that using us as a prop for entertainment is acceptable to all of us..
There is no number of Native Americans they can bring onto the field that will undo the fact that Native American mascots and stereotypes cause harm to Native American children and increase the explicit and implicit bias and racism against all minority people. No one has the right to say it is okay to cause harm.
The American Psychological Association called for the immediate retirement of Native mascots in 2005 and many other Native organizations, as well as Native leaders, educators, historians, and artists, have long called for the end of Native mascots, names and imagery. There has been more than 20 years of scientific research concluding this causes harm and needs to stop.
The “festivities” that are not okay include, but are not limited to, banging the “big drum” at home events, the “tomahawk chop” and the stereotypical chant. Despite the “ban” on face paint and headdresses, fans have continued going into the stadium in Kansas CIty wearing those items and they are not “banned” in other stadiums. Team leadership is aware this behavior is at least problematic or they would not have “banned” it. They have also previously banned the “tomahawk chop” before reversing their decision, modifying the chop, and now stating the “chop” is under review.
We want the fans to know the use of Native-themed mascots, props, and branding are demeaning, perpetuates stereotypes of Native people, falls in line with mass cultural appropriation, and does not signify honor.
We all deserve better.
Not In Our Honor 