It's a small example of how this can make a difference to a person who's not a protester. But the mascot is also part of larger cultural ambivalence toward American-Indian issues. They are supposedly wise and have a better appreciation for nature. But positive images of American Indians doesn't mean that it's not stereotyping. The fact is that American-Indian reservations have high rates of alcoholism.
Few people leave the reservation.
High school basketball stars on the reservation aren't even recruited because of their high drop-out rates. Presenting them as a noble warrior ignores these problems and allows them to continue. Anti-Chiefers want to eliminate all American Indian culture. Most don't want to change 'Chicago' or 'Illinois' just because they happen to be American Indian words. Those don't present images, they simply identify places.