List_of_sports_team_names_and_mascots_derived_from_indigenous_peoples

List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples

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.

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

See also: Guaraní people

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
See also: Major League Baseball
Further information: Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Further information: Liga Mexicana del Pacífico
Minor league
See also: Minor League Baseball

A Minor league team in Innisfail, Alberta, the "Indians", has made a decision to become the "Trappers".[16]

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).

More information Team Name, Sport/League ...

Colleges and universities

Main article: List of college sports team names and mascots derived from Indigenous peoples

Secondary schools

Main article: List of secondary school sports team names and mascots derived from Indigenous peoples

Non-scholastic youth teams

Baseball

Association football

American football

Pop Warner Little Scholars

Youth/Junior football

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Wrestling

  • Little Redskins, Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) sanctioned club (K-8th grade) in Morris, Illinois – Uses a version of the DC team logo[70]

See also

Sources of data on teams/mascots

  • MaxPreps is a site for U.S. High School sports information, and can be searched by mascot name as well as school name, but the data is not kept up to date so it is only a starting place.
  • MascotDB is a searchable database of mascots from Pro to High School.
  • List of Semi-Pro Football Teams

References

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    Calum Trenaman (January 18, 2021). "Global sport's problem with the appropriation of Indigenous culture". CNN.com.
  2. [2]
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    Longwell-Grice, Robert; Hope Longwell-Grice (2003). "Chiefs, Braves, and Tomahawks: The Use of American Indians as University Mascots". NASPA Journal (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Inc.). 40 (3): 1–12. doi:10.2202/0027-6014.1255. ISSN 0027-6014.
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    Albemarle Redskins Virginia
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    Western Albemarle Chiefs
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    Sterling Heights Redskins
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    Vienna Youth Inc.
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    Woonsocket Redskins Youth Football & Cheerleading
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