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Not In Our Honor
Not In Our Honor
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the problem with the Kansas City Chiefs name and imagery?
The use of Native American themed names, symbols, and traditions, such as the “Arrowhead Stadium,” banging on a Native American styled drum, the “war song” played on the sound system by the team to encourage fans to start the “tomahawk chop” and stereotypical chant, along with fans dressing in faux headdresses and regalia promote stereotypes and contribute to erasure of identity. These stereotypes reduce Native culture to costumes, take away cultural significance, and mock us as cartoonish savages. Research has consistently shown actual harm is caused to both Native American and non-Native people and communities by these stereotypes, images, and branding, regardless of whether they are intended as “positive” portrayals.
Why are Native Americans offended by the use of Native American mascots, imagery and branding in sports?
It is a matter of recognizing the actual harm caused to our communities and our youth in addition to taking personal offense. Native Americans have always condemned sports mascots and brands for promoting inaccurate, demeaning, and harmful portrayals. Branding like the Chiefs further perpetuates the stereotypes of Native Americans as “warriors,” “savages,” or relics of the past, even if the word itself is not a slur. The portrayal contributes to the ongoing racism, discrimination, erasure, and a lack of understanding about real Native history, sovereignty, and lived experiences today.
Is it really harmful, or are people just being “too sensitive”?
Research has consistently shown the harm caused by use of Native mascots and imagery.
Please see our research section for additional information.
The National Indian Health Board has found that Native mascots have led to internalized stereotypes and limit a sense of potential, along with lower self-esteem and community worth amongst Native high school and college students.
“When our children walk into a classroom or onto a field and see themselves mocked as a mascot, it sends the message that who they are is not worthy of dignity or respect. Our young people deserve representation that uplifts them, not images that dehumanize them.” – William “Chief Bill” Smith (Valdez Native Tribe), NIHB Chairman
Additionally, in 2005, the APA called for the immediate retirement of all American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams and organizations, stating “Research has shown that the continued use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities has a negative effect on not only American Indian students but all students…” https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/indian-mascots https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/policy/mascots-justif.pdf
But they say their traditions “honor” Native Americans. Is that true?
Intent does not erase impact. Many tribes and Native-led organizations have voiced opposition to the use of Native culture as a sports brand. Honor comes through listening to Native communities, respecting their sovereignty, and not using sacred cultural practices, such as drums, face paint, headdresses, as entertainment. Many tribes view it as disrespectful, especially because it distorts and mocks sacred practices tied to identity, spirituality, and ceremony and have passed official tribal resolutions
Are all Native Americans against the Chiefs’ name and imagery?
Native Americans are a diverse group that have varied opinions, however, major Native-led national organizations, tribal governments, health organizations and providers, advocates, scholars, and artists overwhelmingly support eliminating Native American branding and imagery in sports. Many local KC football fans remain fans in spite of, not because of, the name and imagery and would still be fans of the local team if the name and imagery was changed. Others have a different viewpoint and lived experience and are fans of both the team and the imagery.
Not In Our Honor Coalition gives voice to the most vulnerable in our community as many of us work directly with Native Americans and youth in the greater Kansas City area as clinicians, social workers, educators, etc., and recognize the direct and indirect harm..
Doesn’t the team work with Native American groups to make sure they are honoring Native Americans?
Throughout history, those causing harm have used the tactic of tokenism of members of the community being harmed to deny or deflect the harm and delay change. The team has listed on its website that it works with several individuals, however individuals cannot give permission to cause harm to other human beings, even if they belong to that community of people. The team also includes a list of various tribes as having participated in the Native Heritage Month celebration, but that is inaccurate. The participants have been individual citizens of those various tribes. Many of the tribes on the list have passed official tribal resolutions against the use of Native American mascots, imagery, and branding. Additionally, an individual’s attendance at a game, being a fan of the team, or participation in the celebration should not be equated with acceptance of all of the imagery, tomahawk chop or chant.
Isn’t the “Tomahawk Chop” just a fun tradition?
No, the chop mimics a stereotypical “warrior” gesture created by non-Native people and is accompanied by a stereotypical Hollywood type of song and chant that is a mockery of our songs.. It is dehumanizing and reinforces the “savage” misconception.
Don’t other racial or ethnic groups have mascots too?
NO major sports teams uses another living racial, ethnic, or cultural group as a mascot because it would be immediately recognized as racist. Native mascots persist because of long-standing stereotypes and the historical dehumanization of Native Americans in American culture.
Why does this matter? Aren’t there bigger problems affecting Native communities?
Everything affects everything else. Stereotypes and mascots reinforce and contribute to the erasure of diverse Native American cultures. The harmful imagery fuels discrimination, misunderstanding, and minimizes humanity, sovereignty, treaty rights and contributes to other urgent issues, such as health and behavioral health disparities, missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP), and environmental racism. Research has shown an increase of implicit and explicit bias when people are exposed to teams using Native American branding. If we are not seen as contemporary human beings, the easier it is to disregard our humanity.
What can fans do to help?
Fans can:
- Avoid using Native-themed costumes, face paint, and gestures and encourage other fans to do the same.
- Educate others about why Native themed sports branding is harmful.
- Support Native-led organizations and artists.
- Demand the team rebrand in a way that honors Kansas City and all Kansas Citians..
- Contact the sponsors of the team and tell them to encourage the team to change their branding
- Contact city, county, and state legislators to demand your taxpayer dollars no longer support the inherent discrimination of the team’s racial branding, imagery and instigated fan behavior occurring in public infrastructure
TERMINOLOGY DEFINITIONS
Stereotypes: Stereotypes (or “characterizations”) are generalizations or assumptions that people make about the characteristics of all members of a group, based on an image (often wrong) about what people in that group are like and can be positive or negative and harmful whether positive or negative.
Team Branding & Imagery is more than just the logo, color scheme, mascot, and font, it is the way the team identifies and creates opportunities for people to identify with the team, build an emotional connection with and feel like they are a part of it. .
Cultural Appropriation: Author Maisha Johnson’s definition of cultural appropriation: “a particular power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group.”
Bias: Bias is a natural inclination for or against an idea, object, group, or individual. It is often learned and is highly dependent on variables such as a person’s socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, educational background, gender expression, gender identity and religion. Biases can be conscious or unconscious – explicit or implicit. In addition, bias can be institutionalized into policies, practices and structures.
Institutionalized Racism can be defined as the racial attitudes found in traditions, beliefs, opinions, and myths that are firmly ingrained in the very fiber of a group’s cultural paradigm, where such traditions, beliefs, opinions, and myths have been practiced and sustained for so long, that they are accepted as common facts, understood to be normal behavioral practices whereas, such practices in effect marginalize, and demonize the human worth of another.