Native American mascot controversy The propriety of using Native American mascots and images in sports has been a topic of debate in the United States and Canada since the 1960s . Americans have had a history of drawing inspiration from native peoples and " playing Indian " that dates back at least to the 18th century . Many individuals admire the heroism and romanticism evoked by the classic Native American image , but too many view the use of mascot s as offensive , demeaning , or racist . The controversy has resulted in many institutions changing the names and images associated with their sports teams . Native American images and nicknames nevertheless remain fairly common in American sports , and may be seen in use by teams at all levels from elementary school to professional . History . During the 1960s , the National Congress of American Indians created a campaign to eliminate negative stereotyping of Native American people in the media . They focused mainly on cartoons and movies ; however their protests of sports organizations garnered the most attention . The National Congress of American Indians has long been opposed to mascots that portray Native Americans in a negative light . They feel that teams with mascots such as the Braves and the Redskins perpetuate negative stereotypes of Native American people , and demean their native traditions and rituals . Proponents of Native American mascots , however , believe that Native American mascots pay respect to these people and promote a better understanding of their cultures . Despite this issue emanating during the civil rights movement , it still continues today as many teams continue to possess mascots with controversial names and images . Varying degrees of offensiveness . To further complicate this issue , many feel that there are varying levels of offensiveness with team names and mascots . Anil Adyanthaya from the " Boston Globe " writes on June 5 , 2005 : According to polling results published in Sports Illustrated in February 2002 , In 2004 , a poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania essentially confirmed the Sports Illustrated poll ' s findings , concluding that 91 % of the American Indians surveyed in the 48 states on the mainland USA found the name " Redskins " acceptable . However , despite this varying degree of degradation , the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) , the ruling authority on college athletics , distributed a “ self evaluation ” in June 2005 , for teams to examine the use of potentially offensive imagery with their mascot choice . Some college teams , however , are changing their names and mascots without instruction of the NCAA . For example , Marquette University changed their team name from the Warriors to the Golden Eagles in 1994 . The school ’ s president stated : Stonehill College also changed their mascot from the Chieftain to the Skyhawk “ " out of respect to Native American culture . " ” Additionally , teams that are not directly affected by this controversy have issued their opinions . The University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Iowa have both refused to schedule non - conference games against schools with Native American mascots . Ironically , the University of Iowa ' s own nickname , " Hawkeyes " , has Native American origins ( Iowa is the " Hawkeye State " ) , although the team uses a hawk as its symbol rather than an Indian . The University of Oregon , following the example set by " The Oregonian " newspaper , declined to refer to the University of Illinois team as the " Illini " in a basketball game in 2005 . The University of Utah , Ute mascot : In 1996 Swoop , a red tailed hawk , became the new mascot for the University of Utah . Swoop symbolizes the soaring spirit of the state of Utah and the institution itself . For many decades , the school did not have an official Western Athletic Conference mascot . As early as the 1950s , the University of Utah created a Ute Indian boy , named " Hoyo " , as its mascot . The University of Utah club organizations , such as the Associated Students of the University of Utah , the University of Utah Alumni Association , the Daily Chronicle , and many other social organizations highly celebrated " Hoyo " at homecoming events , before and after football games events , and at other social events for many years . Even though Swoop is now the University of Utah ' s official mascot , Utah fans and its clubs alike still use " Utes " as their nickname at sporting events . This is done with permission from the Ute Tribal Council . Argument supporting the use of Native American mascots . Some individuals who support the use of Native American mascots state that they are meant to be respectful , and to pay homage to Native American people . Many have made the argument that Native American mascots focus on bravery , courage and fighting skills rather than anything derogatory . Karl Swanson , vice - president of the Washington Redskins professional football team , declared in the magazine " Sports Illustrated " that his team ' s name " symbolizes courage , dignity , and leadership , " and that the " Redskins symbolize the greatness and strength of a grand people . " Others claim Native American mascots help promote the culture to those who might be unaware of its significance . Chief Illiniwek , the former athletic symbol for the University of Illinois , has been another figure who has come under scrutiny . However , in 1990 the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois called the mascot a dignified symbol : However , the tribal costume was not of the Illini confederacy , but that of the Lakota tribe . The Chief was retired on February 21 , 2007 , due in large part to the negative criticism . Steven Denson , director of diversity for Southern Methodist University and member of the Chickasaw nation , while not issuing a blanket endorsement , has nevertheless stated that there are acceptable ways to use Native American mascots if it is done in a respectful and tasteful manner . He states , Argument opposing the use of Native American mascots . Opponents of Native American mascots feel that the mascots breed insensitivity and misunderstanding about native people . Opponents also highlight the seeming double standard for racial mascots where there are no mascots based on African Americans , or Asian Americans depicted in sports . The University of Notre Dame ’ s “ Fighting Irish . " and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette ' s " Ragin ' Cajuns " are notable exceptions to the debate , as those schools selected symbols that represent " themselves " historically . Another exception is the " Braves " of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke , a school originally created to educate Native Americans . A big issue in the Native American mascot debate is the use of Indian mascots by elementary , middle and high school sports teams . Opponents of Native American mascots feel that children should be exposed to realistic and positive portrayals of American Indians during their educational years . Kathy Morning Star , director of the American Indian Cultural Support , states : Many opponents also take offense to proponents of Native American mascots that claim they are simply paying tribute to native people . Considering many Native Americans ’ stance on this issue , opponents of Native American mascots feel that the mascots should be deemed offensive by the people being imitated , not by those who are imitating . Opponents also deem it insensitive when unconscious phrases like “ Kill the Indians ” or “ Murder the Redskins ” are yelled during sporting events ( the latter of which is particularly yelled by Cowboys , Eagles , and Giants fans , due to long - standing NFL rivalries ) , referring to the team playing , but also creating a negative view of Native Americans . Florida State Seminoles . The Florida State University ' s use of Seminole imagery for its Florida State Seminoles athletic teams makes an interesting case study because of the university ' s close ties to the Seminole Tribe of Florida . The university has worn the nickname " Seminoles " since 1947 and annually crowns a Chief and Princess at Homecoming with Seminole tribe leaders participating as celebrants . Since 1978 home football games have been opened with the entrance of Chief Osceola and Renegade . Florida State University officials disapprove of referring to human figures as ' mascots ' and have asked sports writers to cease doing so . Official university statements speak only of using ' symbols ' , ' nicknames ' , and ' images ' inspired by Seminole tradition . The question of a nickname for athletic teams arose in 1947 as the Florida State College for Women went co - ed ( a status it had actually had before 1905 ) to become Florida State University . Students voted overwhelmingly for " Seminoles " over alternatives such as " Statesmen " and " Crackers . " For the first two decades Seminole athletic teams mostly used stock images based on Hollywood Westerns and American currency . The first human figures seen at games were a gymnastic , back - bending Sammy Seminole ( 1958 – 1972 ) and , briefly and unofficially , a fraternity - house character named Chief Fullabull . Both were portrayed by Euro - American undergraduate students dressed in faux American Indian garb . Leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida who attended a basketball game on the campus in 1972 expressed their concerns to university officials regarding the antics of Chief Fullabull . Seminole leaders and university officials agreed on the need for something dignified and more representative of authentic Seminole traditions . Both characters were retired that year . 1978 marked the first appearance of Chief Osceola and Renegade , in which a student portrays the iconic 19th - century Seminole war leader Osceola . Renegade was the name given to his Appaloosa horse . The student , chosen for his horsemanship , wears clothing provided by the Seminole tribe but is not necessarily of native American descent himself . At the beginning of each home game Osceola plants a flaming spear at midfield . The image and actions of this figure were worked out in coordination with Florida Seminole leaders . Osceola never speaks or appears walking on foot . When the US national anthem is sung , Osceola simply waits with his spear across his lap . For the first three years of the tradition the figure actually went nameless ; he was referred to as ' the Seminole warrior ' because tribal leaders at the time preferred that the name of the actual historical figure not be used . The Florida State portrayal of Osceola romanticises tradition in some aspects . The historical Osceola , a war leader , did not actually live long enough to attain the rank of Seminole " chief " , for example , and historians debate how much inclination or opportunity he had to ride horses in wartime . In August 2005 the NCAA granted a waiver to the Florida State University which removed it from the NCAA ’ s list of colleges using imagery “ hostile or abusive ” towards Native Americans . According to Bernard Franklin , senior vice president of the NCAA , The Seminole Tribe of Florida officially sanctions the use of the Seminole as Florida State University ’ s nickname and of Chief Osceola as FSU ' s mascot . Max Osceola , the chief and general council president of the Seminole Tribe of Florida , has stated that he regards it as an “ honor ” to be associated with the university . However , the Seminole Tribe of Florida is only one of the tribal authorities representing Seminoles . Some members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma , among them activists David Narcomey and Michael Haney , opposed FSU ' s use of the Seminoles mascot and name . In addition , general council member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma David Narcomey stated , speaking on his own behalf : In 2005 , Jennifer McBee , the Oklahoma Seminole tribe ' s attorney general , stated that the council had taken no official position on the FSU issue . Despite the individual comments of some members of the Oklahoma Seminoles , Ken Chambers , principal chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma told " The Palm Beach " ( Florida ) " Post " in August 2005 that he had no objection to Florida State University using the Seminoles as a nickname and symbol , reversing the earlier public position of the Oklahoma tribe ' s spokesperson . In July 2005 , the Seminole Nation General Council , the legislative body for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma , voted 18 - 2 not to oppose the use of Native American names and mascots by college sports teams . Other . The Central Michigan University nickname , the Chippewas , was originally placed on the “ hostile or abusive ” list but was removed when the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation of Michigan gave its support to the nickname . Stanford University had " The Stanford Indian " as a Native American as mascot from 1930 to 1972 . Today " Stanford Cardinal " honors the university athletic team color . The mascot of the Stanford Band is the " Stanford Tree . " Miami University in 1996 changed its team nicknames from Redskins to Redhawks at the request of the Miami tribe , for whom the school is named . The tribe had earlier allowed the school to continue to use the name Redskins , but then demanded that the nickname be discontinued . Seattle University changed the nickname of their mascot from Chieftains to Redhawks in 2000 . Other Indian tribes have also supported the use of their tribal names as a tribute to their heritage . The Ute tribe approved the use of the name " Utes " for the University of Utah and the NCAA granted a waiver to allow the name to remain . Haskell Indian Nations Fighting Indians continues to participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference . The University of North Dakota ' s former athletic logo , a Native American figure , was recently dropped . Due to the NCAA ' s perception that the term " Fighting Sioux " and the accompanying logo are offensive to native Americans , the NCAA pressured the university to discontinue use of the logo . When UND moved in the fall of 2009 to change its nickname , one of the two Sioux tribal councils in the state sued to have the name retained . The University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign , however , is permitted to use the name " Illini " owing to the NCAA ruling that the name " is closely related to the name of the state and not directly associated with Native Americans . " The term Fighting Illini is in fact a reference to veterans from Illinois who fought during World War I . The symbol Chief Illiniwek was ruled " hostile and abusive " and was retired in 2007 to comply with the NCAA ' s ruling , and the following year , in compliance with a related NCAA ruling , both U of I and Northwestern University retired their then - current rivalry trophy , the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk . The College of William & Mary , nicknamed the " Tribe " , was forced to remove the two tribal feathers stemming from their logo in 2006 due to insensitivity towards Native Americans . Their adoption of the griffin mascot allowed the reestablishment of the feather logo in 2010 . The Arkansas State University officially removed its mascot , the " Indians , " in 2008 , replacing it with the " Red Wolves , " at the request of the Osage tribe . Many high schools across the country have encountered the same scenario . Frontier Regional School , in Deerfield , MA was forced to remove its Redskin mascot in 2000 . The school now goes by the moniker of the Redhawks . Also , Turners Falls High School of Turners Falls , MA had to change its fight song , known as the tomahawk chop , but did not change its mascot . On the other hand , Union High School in Tulsa , Oklahoma , a high - profile high school athletic program , has consistently opposed protests and proposed legislation intended to change its " Redskins " nickname . The Savannah Savages of Savannah High School ( Missouri ) have been criticized as having a mascot that is offensive in its portrayal of American Indians . Several campaigns have been started to change the mascot , but these campaigns have been met with opposition . Financial impact of change . Many supporters of Native American mascots feel that the financial cost of changing mascots would far outweigh the benefits . Sales of merchandise with team mascots and nicknames ranging from t - shirts to beer cozies generate millions of dollars in sales each year , and teams contend that a change in team mascots would render this merchandise useless . Opponents , however , are unconcerned with the cost of changing and view mascots as caricatures of real Indians that do not honor them , but rather trivialize and demean important Indian dances and traditions . Opponents feel that despite the cost of a change in team mascots , it should be done to prevent what they believe is racial stereotyping . Clyde Bellecourt , the director of the American Indian Movement , stated : One attempt to affect the use of mascots financially began in 1992 when five Native Americans filed a petition to remove the trademark status of the Washington Redskins team name , which would have disallowed sales of branded merchandise without payment of royalties . The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in 1999 ruled in favor of the petition and cancelled the trademarks . Following appeals , in 2005 the D . C . Court of Appeals in " Pro - Football , Inc . v . Harjo " reversed the cancellation , ruling that there had been insufficient evidence to support the finding of disparagement and holding that the majority of the petitioners were barred by laches from maintaining the suit . On 16 November 2009 , the U . S . Supreme Court , refused to hear an appeal from Harjo , effectively ending the dispute started in 1992 . Current status . The Native American mascot issue remains fiercely contested because of the many Native American mascots still currently used in sports . According to the American Indian Cultural Support , as of 2006 , at least 2 , 498 kindergarten , elementary , middle and high schools use Native American Indian mascots throughout the country . In April 2001 the U . S . Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non - Native schools , stating " the stereotyping of any racial , ethnic , religious or other group , when promoted by our public educational institutions , teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable , which is a dangerous lesson in a diverse society . " Though changes have been made at the high school and college levels , the professional sides have seen virtually no change . Several teams , such as the Washington Redskins , Kansas City Chiefs , Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , and Edmonton Eskimos still utilize Native American themed mascots , although the Golden State Warriors have de - emphasized using a Native American mascot . Similarly , The Cleveland Indians have replaced Chief Wahoo with a block letter " C " in some situations . In addition to the mascot controversy , the Redskins were also the last NFL team to sign an African American ( then - owner George Preston Marshall was a renowned racist ) and only did it after John F . Kennedy threatened the Redskins would not be allowed to play at D . C . Stadium , which was directly owned by the federal government . The NHL ' s Chicago Blackhawks use an anthropomorphic hawk as their mascot character although a Native American ' s profile appears on their jerseys and the team was named in honor of the team ' s founder ' s military unit , which was named the " Blackhawk Division " after Black Hawk , a Native American chief . In 2010 a law was passed in Wisconsin to eliminate race - based nicknames , logos and mascots in schools . Schools can argue to keep their race - based mascot if they have the permission of local Native American tribes . It is the first law of its kind in the country and during the same year a similar law was proposed in Colorado and Minnesota . In May of 2012 Oregon joined Wisconsin as the second state to ban Native American mascots in public schools . External links . Organizations Articles