Are the Chiefs Next To Make a Change?

On Monday, July 13, the Washington Red-skins announced that they will be changing their name to some-thing less offensive. The term used in their name is a slur toward Native peoples.

One man holds several trademarks for potential names for the team including Washington RedWolves, Washington Red-Tailed Hawks, and Washington Monuments.

The Cleveland Indians are also considering a name change.

Their team name isn’t the only issue that the Native American community has had with the NFL.

Many teams in the NFL use caricatures of Native people and culture. The tomahawk chop that has been adopted by fans is one of many things that has been criticized. The Atlanta Braves are considering eliminating the tomahawk chop.

The Kansas City Chiefs are not being ignored during this want for change. The fans of the Chiefs also use the tomahawk chop and have worn offensive representations of Native peoples, including redface.

“Fans still show up in war paint, head-dresses, and do the tomahawk chop,”Caitlyn Wicks, Kansas City resident, said.“All of these practices are offensive caricatures and stereotyping that need to end.”

When the team first made its way to Kansas City, there was a naming contest to change it from the Texans. A fan chose the name Chiefs.

This name is also in reference to a nickname of Harold Roe Bartle, former Kansas City Mayor. This nickname was given to him after founding the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, an honor society within the Boy Scouts organization.

If the team decides to change their name, it wouldn’t be the first time the team has made a change.

The Chiefs mascot, Warpaint, has a larger role than what is seen now. Warpaint would be ridden by a person in a headdress circling the field before each game and after each touchdown. There were complaints against this display because it was seen as a demeaning representation of Native peoples.

Organizations like IllumiNative are working to get rid of all Native mascots.

“Sports have the power to influence and inspire people of all ages,” wrote IllumiNative on their website. “Let’s end the use of Native mascots in sports and build the world we want to see, together.”

Warpaint was eventually brought back, but not in the same way. Instead of attempting to represent Native culture, they have Susie DeRouchey, a Chiefs cheerleader, ride Warpaint while wearing the Chiefs team colors: red, white, and gold.

There are a few loud voices that see nothing wrong with the teams names, mascots, and traditions. The voices that matter most in the situation,Native Americans, disagree with those who see nothing wrong and want to see a change.

*Published in the Call Newspaper July 17, 2020 issue*