Communities across country reclaim Indian nicknames, iconography as pendulum swings back

When the Washington Commanders’ Dan Quinn conducted a practice over the weekend wearing a T-shirt featuring an illustration of two feathers, social media exploded with speculation: Was the coach signaling a “Redskins” return?

In 2020, the team — like many colleges and high schools in recent years — abandoned its nickname and any iconography associated with American Indians under pressure from activists and corporate partners.

Since then, the franchise has consistently brushed aside suggestions that the old nickname will be resuscitated. 

But across the country, many communities are pushing back against cancel culture and moving to reclaim logos and nicknames that were axed in the name of political correctness.

In January, the Southern York County School Board in Pennsylvania reinstated an American Indian logo for its Susquehannock High School Warriors — officials had removed the imagery in 2020.

Last year in Sandusky, Michigan, voters recalled three school board members who changed the branding for the local high school sports teams originally known as “the Redskins.”

Another recall effort is underway for two members of the Camden-Frontier Board of Education in Michigan. Jesse Crow and Emily Morrison voted to retire the district’s “Redskins” identity and faced public backlash. 

Utah’s Iron County School Board dropped Cedar High School’s “Redmen” team names in 2019. It could return next year — the school board voted to let the community decide whether to reinstate the name in a referendum that’s currently planned for November. 

The backlash against progressive sensibilities comes as even some groups representing American Indians say the push to rename teams and remove images featuring tomahawks, arrows and headdresses went too far.

Keep American Indian imagery and team names, says the Native American Guardian Association, which sees the removal of logos as an effort to erase history. 

“Educate, not eradicate,” is the group’s slogan. 

NAGA representatives presented a slideshow in Southern York County in January, effectively convincing school board members to unretire the “Warriors” logo.

“We are starting to see a shift. It’s been a one-sided narrative pushed by the mainstream liberal media,” Tony Henson, NAGA’s executive director, told the Washington Times. “Generally, 90% of Native Americans support names and images or have no problem with it.”

Despite what Henson sees as widespread support, several academic studies and American Indian groups have warned about the dangers of these logos and mascots.

“While each individual is entitled to their opinion, when taken as a whole, the will of Indian Country is clear – Native ‘themed’ mascots and the dehumanizing stereotypes they perpetuate must go,” the National Congress of American Indians said in a statement. “We ask that you heed the voices of tribal leaders … not the voices of a few individuals – when assessing where Indian Country stands on this issue.”

Minnesota outlawed American Indian logos last year with an exception — schools could keep the iconography as long as none of the state’s American Indian tribes objected. A Dec. 15 deadline came and went without any complaints for Warroad High School, which retained its “Warriors” nickname.

Though communities and sports around the country are facing renewed discussions about American Indian representations, the Washington Commanders — and other organizations in the D.C. area — for now are happy to leave the discussion in the past.

Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, dealt with similar concerns about its team name. In 2021, after consultation with students and community members, the school shifted from the Indians to the Red Wolves. A school spokesperson said they don’t expect any further changes.

Despite resistance from schools and sports teams, Henson said NAGA will continue advocating for American Indian imagery in sports logos.

“We never give up. The opposition spent decades pounding away at the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins,” Henson said. “We want [the names and imagery] returned … We want to work with them and also involve any local tribes that are supportive to use that powerful platform of athletics to educate about Native Americans.”

The issue unexpectedly resurfaced on Capitol Hill this week, courtesy of Sen. Steve Daines. 

The Montana Republican said he plans to block legislation that could bring a new football stadium to the District — unless the Commanders embrace at least some key portions of the American Indian-flavored branding that is part of the team’s history. 

Daines said the team’s former Indian chief logo was inspired by a real-life Montana Indian, Chief John Two Guns White Calf, and the senator wants the team to do a better job acknowledging history. 

“Make no mistake, this logo was inspired and envisioned … as a tribute to Native Americans,” he said in a statement. “It is not a caricature. It is a depiction of pride and strength. Of courage and honor.”

A Commanders spokesperson said the team met Monday with the family of Blackie Wetzel, the Montana Blackfeet Tribe member who designed the old logo in the 1970s, to discuss ways to honor the designer’s contribution to the franchise. 

Josh Harris, the new owner of the Commanders, has used the team’s old nickname while talking about rooting for the franchise while growing up.

Still, the billionaire says nostalgia doesn’t change the fact that it was time to retire the Redskins moniker.  

“I understand why fans love the former name. But, look, there was a portion of our fan base that felt disrespected by the former name,” Harris told the Washington Post in September. “Sports are supposed to bring people together and not be a distraction. I don’t want distractions.”