⚡️ Episode 345 of The Red Nation Podcast ⚡️
On February 10, 2024 at Nuwu Art Gallery on unceded Paiute territory (Las Vegas, NV), a group of Indigenous women organized a call to action to change the Kansas City NFL team’s name. This press conference occurred the night before the Super Bowl and was moderated by Fawn Douglas from Nuwu Art Gallery. The main speakers–Amanda Blackhorse (nomorenativemascots.org), Gaylene Crouser from the Kansas City Indian Center, and Rhonda LeValdo (notinourhonor.com)–are all longtime activists of the movement to change racist teams names across the US, resulting in many victories.
In July 2020, the Washington NFL team changed their name from the anti-Indigenous R-word slur to the Washington Football Team, and then the Washington Commanders in 2022. The success of this change can be attributed to the women on this panel and their movements. It was expected that the Kansas City team would follow suit, but it has yet to change its racist team name.
On February 7, 2024, Amanda Blackhorse posted this call to action:
The Kansas City “Chiefs” once again make it to the Super Bowl with their mockery of a name, logo, and complete misappropriation and disrespect for real and actual Native people, who have protested their franchise for years. Despite psychological research stating Native mascots and stereotypes of Native people (Friberg, Markus, Oyserman, & Stone 2008) harm native youth, the KC team continues to stonewall Native people and stand on the wrong side of history.
We know native cultural appropriation is a billion-dollar industry and the franchise has been living well off of the backs of Native people. With their growing popularity and the “swifting” of the NFL, we want to remind the public that not all franchises last forever. The Washington team and the Cleveland team had their success and downfall. What’s been consistent is Native people standing against the theft of their identities and culture. We call on all Indigenous people, tribes, tribal leaders, Native organizations, Native artists, singers, drummers, and allies to stand with us on February 11, 2024 outside Super Bowl LVIII to protest the KC franchise. We ask these organizations and tribes make public statements standing in solidarity with Native organizers, Not in Our Honor, Kansas City Indian Center, Nuwu Art, and AZ rally. Protest will be held at Allegiant Stadium.
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