List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples

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The practice of deriving sports team names, imagery, and mascots from Indigenous peoples of North America is a significant phenomenon in the United States and Canada. The popularity of stereotypical representations of American Indians in global culture has led to a number of teams in Europe also adopting team names derived from Native Americans. While there are team names in North America derived from other ethnic groups, such as the Boston Celtics, the New York Yankees, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, these are names selected by groups to represent themselves.

Contents

Globally, there are teams in Africa and Europe that use Native American images and logos, while in South America there are a number of teams that reference the Guaraní people. In Brazil, these teams may be referred to using the derogatory term bugre. [1] However, the adoption of Indigenous names in Asia, Africa, Australia and South America may indicate that the team members are themselves Indigenous.

The rise of Indigenous rights movements has led to controversy regarding the continuation of practices rooted in colonialism. [2] Such practices maintain the power relationship between the dominant culture and the Indigenous culture, and can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism. [3] Such practices are seen as particularly harmful in schools and universities, which have the stated purpose of promoting ethnic diversity and inclusion. [4] In recognition of the responsibility of higher education to eliminate behaviors that creates a hostile environment for education, in 2005 the NCAA initiated a policy against "hostile and abusive" names and mascots that led to the change of many derived from Native American culture, with the exception of those that established an agreement with particular tribes for the use of their specific names. Other schools retain their names because they were founded for the education of Native Americans, and continue to have a significant number of Indigenous students.

The trend towards the elimination of Indigenous names and mascots in local schools has been steady, with two thirds having been eliminated over the past 50 years according to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). [5] In a few states with significant Native American populations, change has been mandated by law, such in Maine, [6] Wisconsin, [7] Oregon, [8] and Washington. [9] [10]

Little League International has updated its 2019 rulebook to include a statement prohibiting "the use of team names, mascots, nicknames or logos that are racially insensitive, derogatory or discriminatory in nature." [11] This decision has been applauded by the National Congress of American Indians. [12]

Professional/Adult teams

Current usage

American football

American 7s Football League
  • New Jersey Savage
  • Spanktown Boyz - Uses a Native American wielding a tomahawk as its logo
  • Union City Chiefs

Association football

Belgium

Brazil

Chile

  • Colo-Colo, Santiago de Chile. Name relates to the Mapuche
  • Lautaro, Buin. Also called Guerreros de Buín (Warriors Buín)

Ecuador

Paraguay

South Africa

Australian rules football

All of these teams are composed of Indigenous Australians.

Baseball

Major league
Minor league

A Minor league team in Innisfail, Alberta, the "Indians", has made a decision to become the "Trappers". [16] The Danville Braves are changing names for 2021 season in the Appalachian League. [17]

Affiliates of the Atlanta Braves:

Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates:

Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies:

Basketball

All three existing National Basketball Association teams that previously used Indigenous imagery have stopped doing so. (See Prior usage list below).

Ice hockey

Indoor soccer

Lacrosse

Rugby union

Rugby league

Other

Prior pro usage

Many professional teams changed because they moved to another city, or went out of business ("Defunct" in table below).

Team NameSport/LeagueCity, StateYear ChangedNew NameNotes
Akron Indians National Football League Akron, Ohio Defunct Akron Pros Changed back to the Indians in 1926, then folded.
Brooklin Redmen Major Series Lacrosse Whitby, Ontario 2019 Brooklin Lacrosse Club
Buffalo Braves National Basketball Association Buffalo, New York 1978 Los Angeles Clippers Also the San Diego Clippers.
Burlington Indians Minor League Baseball Burlington, North Carolina 2006 Burlington Sock Puppets Changed affiliation from Cleveland Indians to Kansas City Royals.
Canton/Akron Indians Minor League Baseball Akron, Ohio 1996Akron Aeros
Akron Rubber Ducks
Former farm team for the Cleveland Indians.
Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball Cleveland, Ohio 2021 Cleveland Guardians Were known as the Cleveland Indians from 1915–2021. Officially became the Cleveland Guardians on November 19, 2021. [21]
Cleveland Indians (1921) National Football League Cleveland, Ohio Defunct
Cleveland Indians (1931) National Football League Cleveland, Ohio Defunct
Danville Braves Minor League Baseball Danville, Virginia 2020 Appalachian League, including Danville baseball club, no longer affiliated with Atlanta Braves. [22]
Duluth Eskimos National Football League Duluth, Minnesota 1927DefunctAlso known as the Duluth "Kelleys".
Edmonton Eskimos Canadian Football League Edmonton, Alberta 2021 Edmonton Elks Renamed as the Edmonton Elks in 2021. [23] [24]
Exeter Chiefs Premiership Rugby (Rugby union) Exeter, Devon, England 2022NAKeeping their name, but American Indian logo replaced by an image that reflects Celtic origins. [25]
Flint Indians Michigan Baseball League Flint, Michigan 1941N/A
Frölunda Indians Swedish Hockey League Gothenburg, Sweden 2021Frolunda HCRenamed as Frolunda HC in 2021. [26]
Golden State Warriors National Basketball Association Oakland, California 1971N/AOriginally Philadelphia Warriors, then San Francisco Warriors, dropped Indian imagery when they moved to Oakland.
Gwinnett Braves International League Lawrenceville, Georgia 2017 Gwinnett Stripers Originally Richmond Braves, renamed as Gwinnett Braves upon move, rebranded after 2017 season. The Stripers continue to be the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. [27]
Indios de Ciudad Juarez Minor League Baseball Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico 1984Defunct
Indios de Ciudad Juarez Liga de Expansión MX Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico 2011Dissolved
Johnstown Chiefs ECHL Johnstown, Pennsylvania 2010DissolvedChanged to Greenville Road Warriors, 2015 changed to Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Kansas City Scouts National Hockey League Kansas City, Missouri 1976Now the New Jersey Devils First moved to Colorado and became the "Rockies".
Kinston Indians Minor League Baseball Kinston, North Carolina 2012N/AReplaced by the Carolina Mudcats.
Mexico City Aztecas Continental Basketball Association Mexico CityDefunctOnly one season: 1994-95.
Moose Jaw Warriors Western Hockey League Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan 2021N/AName retained, but Native American logo replaced by airplane.
Oorang Indians National Football League LaRue, Ohio 1923DefunctConsisting mostly of Native Americans.
Ottawa Tomahawks National Basketball League of Canada Ottawa2013 Ottawa SkyHawks Name changed shortly after announced due to controversy, team folded after one season.
Portland Chinooks International Basketball League Portland, Oregon2014Folded
Portland Winterhawks Western Hockey League Portland, Oregon 2021N/AName retained, but Native American logo replaced by Hawk. [28]
Rome Braves South Atlantic League Rome, Georgia 2023 Rome Emperors
Salisbury Indians Minor League Baseball Salisbury, Maryland Defunct
Sheboygan Red Skins Basketball Sheboygan, Wisconsin 1952Defunct
Springfield Indians American Hockey League Peoria, Illinois Rivermen First moved to Worcester and became the IceCats.
St. Regis Indians Major Series Lacrosse Akwesasne 2009Folded
Streatham Redskins NIHL South Division 1 London, England 2016Streatham Ice Hockey Club
Swift Current Indians Western Major Baseball League (East Division) Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada2017 Swift Current 57's The team dropped the "Indians" name in 2016. [29]
Syracuse Chiefs Minor League Baseball Syracuse, New York 2019 Syracuse Mets New York Mets ownership drop the "Chiefs" name for 2019 season. [30]
Toronto Tecumsehs National Hockey Association Toronto, Ontario1913 Toronto Ontarios Renamed the Toronto Shamrocks in 1915 and ceased operations later that year.
Tri-Cities "Blackhawks" National Basketball Association Moline, Illinois 1951 Atlanta Hawks Team was also the Milwaukee & St. Louis "Hawks".
Washington Redskins National Football League Landover, Maryland (Home Field) and Ashburn, Virginia (Headquarters)2020 Washington Commanders Washington Football Team served as the interim team name for two years until February 2, 2022, when the new name "Commanders" was officially chosen. [31] Also see Washington Redskins name controversy.

Colleges and universities

Secondary schools

Non-scholastic youth teams

Baseball

Association football

American football

Pop Warner Little Scholars

Youth/Junior football

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Wrestling

See also

Sources of data on teams/mascots

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Blackhawks name and logo controversy</span> US pro hockey team racism controversy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Braves tomahawk chop and name controversy</span> American baseball controversy

The Atlanta Braves tomahawk chop and name controversy involves the name and tomahawk chop tradition by the Atlanta Braves, an American Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. Native Americans have been questioning the Braves' mascot choices since the 1970s. Native American objections to the tomahawk chop received much attention during the 1990s and have continued into the 2020s. The Atlanta Braves and their fans continue their overwhelming support of the team name and chop tradition.

References

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  45. Oak Cliff Redskins
  46. Pomperaug Warriors, CT
  47. Reynolds Corner Redskins, Toledo OH
  48. Southeast Apaches, San Antonio, Texas
  49. Southland Comanches, CO
  50. Stratford Redskin, CT
  51. Water Oak Indians, CT
  52. Western Albemarle Chiefs
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  55. CLCF Chiefs
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  58. Grayling Redskins Youth Football
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  60. Loudon Redskins Youth Football, Loudon, Tennessee
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  64. South Cherokee Football and Cheer
  65. Southwest Redskins, Houston, Texas
  66. Sterling Heights Redskins
  67. Vienna Youth Inc.
  68. Washington Redskins Midget Football, Washington, New Jersey
  69. Woonsocket Redskins Youth Football & Cheerleading
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