Resource Library
NAACP (1999):
“[T]he use of Native American people, images, symbols, and cultural and religious traditions as sports names, logos and mascots perpetuates racist stereotypes and undermines the self-determination and dignity of Indian people... the National NAACP call upon all professional sports teams, and public and private schools and universities currently using such names and images to reject the use of Native Americans, and all historically oppressed people and their cultural traditions, as sports mascots and symbols, and affirm their commitment to respectful racial and cultural inclusion in all aspects of their institutions.”
American Counseling Association (2001):
“Many Native American students and allies have stated that use of Native American Imagery as mascots and sports symbols creates a hostile environment for their development and dignity... BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Counseling Association encourage its members to work toward elimination of stereotypical Native American images in institutions where they are employed.”
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (2001):
“Since the 1960s, many overtly derogatory symbols and images offensive to African Americans have been eliminated. However, many secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, and professional sports teams continue to use Native American nicknames and imagery despite the vigorous opposition of American Indian leaders and organizations. It is particularly disturbing that Native American references are still found in educational institutions, where they may create a racially hostile educational environment intimidating to Indian students... While some schools maintain that Indian imagery stimulates interest in American Indian culture, stereotypes encourage interest only in mythical "Indians" and block genuine understanding of contemporary Native people as fellow Americans.”
American Psychological Association (2005)
“The continued use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities undermines the educational experiences of members of all communities-especially those who have had little or no contact with Indigenous peoples.... The continued use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by school systems appears to have a negative impact on the self-esteem of American Indian children... The American Psychological Association supports and recommends the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams, and organizations.”
NCAA (2005):
"'Colleges and universities may adopt any mascot that they wish, as that is an institutional matter," said Walter Harrison, chair of the Executive Committee and president at the University of Hartford. "But as a national association, we believe that mascots, nicknames or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin should not be visible at the championship events that we control.'... Eighteen colleges and universities continue to use Native American imagery or references and are subject to the new policy:...Catawba College (Indians)… Midwestern State University (Indians)… Indiana University-Pennsylvania (Indians)… Arkansas State University (Indians)… University of Louisiana-Monroe (Indians)… McMurry University (Indians)… Newberry College (Indians)”
American Sociological Association (2007):
“Social science scholarship has demonstrated that the continued use of Native American nicknames, logos and mascots in sport reflect and reinforce misleading stereotypes of Native Americans in both past and contemporary times... Social science scholarship has demonstrated that the continued use of Native American nicknames, logos and mascots in sport harm Native American people in psychological, educational, and social ways... THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION calls for discontinuing the use of Native American nicknames, logos and mascots in sport.”
National Association of Social Workers (2007):
“The mascot issue is a relevant social work issue and warrants the decrying of the use of race-based sports mascots, names, logos, and other imagery. The time to act is now.”
Oregon State Board of Education (2012):
“The role of the Board of Education is to create an environment in which all students can learn and thrive; it was imperative that we pass this rule and resolution to remove the use of Native American mascots in our public schools.... Oregon’s ban prohibits using a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian Tribe, individual, custom, or tradition that is used by a public school as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name. Prohibited names include, “Redskins,” “Savages,” “Indians,” “Indianettes,” “Chiefs,” “Chieftains,” and “Braves.”
Michigan Department of Civil Rights (2013):
"A growing and unrebutted body of evidence now establishes that the use of American Indian imagery reinforces stereotypes in a way that negatively impacts the potential for achievement by students with American Indian ancestry... Continued use of American Indian mascots, names, nicknames, logos, slogans, chants and/or other imagery creates a hostile environment and denies equal rights to all current and future American Indian students and must therefore cease... research now establishes that actual harm occurs as a result of the use of American Indian imagery, thus rendering the subjective debate over intent and offensiveness moot. The filing highlights a number of studies which show decreased achievement, self-esteem and self-identity among American Indian students as well as increased stereotyping of all minority groups.”
Center for American Progress (2014):
“Much of the recent debate has centered on issues such as economics. Many fans and media commentators have debated the cost of changing the name for the team and the league. Others have focused on the “legacy” and memories that fans will lose with a new name. And perhaps the most referenced issue is the team’s supposed lack of racist or derogatory intent. But too much of the debate misses the point. It is not just about a name, a logo, a business, or a matter of intent. Racist and derogatory team names have real and harmful effects on AI/AN people every day, particularly young people... studies show that these mascots undermine the educational experience of all students, particularly those with little or no contact with indigenous and AI/AN people. In other words, these stereotypical representations are too often understood as factual representations and thus 'contribute to the development of cultural biases and prejudices.'”
American Anthropological Association (2015):
“While these organizations may feel they are honoring Native Americans, many in that community view it to be a degrading and painful symbol of racism,” said Monica Heller, AAA president. “Research has established that the continued use of American Indian sports mascots harms American Indian people in psychological, educational, and social ways. Frankly, I don’t see where the honor is in that.”
NEA (2020):
“It is time for local, state, and federal education agencies to step up and take the issue of American Indian and Alaskan Native mascots and team names seriously. We, the undersigned, are calling on state education agencies and local school authorities to examine the compelling evidence already available about the impact of these team names and mascots on the learning environments of a too-often-oppressed group of students who struggle in our nation’s schools.”
The Native American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association, and Society of Professional Journalists (2020):
“A growing body of scientific research clearly demonstrates the harm caused by the portrayal of race-based mascots in media. The harm includes negative impacts on the self-esteem of Indigenous youth, increased prejudicial attitudes toward Indigenous people, and increased stereotyping of other minority groups... NAJA has long held the stance that Indigenous-themed mascots and team names inherently reinforce racist attitudes and behaviors. They perpetuate stereotypes and act as a replacement for the accurate and authentic portrayal of history, culture and lived experience. This replacement “disappears” contemporary Indigenous lives in the broader fabric of society, rendering it more difficult to address the life or death issues confronting many Indigenous communities.”
National Indian Education Association (2020):
“Years of advocacy on this issue has resulted in the elimination of Indian logo, mascot, and name symbolism from hundreds of educational facilities across the nation... Institutions choosing to retain such imagery negatively impacts students, faculty, and parents from others schools by exposing them to race-based imagery in interscholastic competitions... Educational institutions should not be the vehicles of institutionalized racism. Now therefore be it resolved that the National Indian Education Association calls for the immediate elimination of race-based Indian logos, mascots, and names from educational institutions throughout the Nation.”
