I while back I wrote about the controversy over the name of the Atlanta baseball team, the Braves, as disrespectful to Native Americans. Especially disrespectful in the eyes of many, was the use of the Tomahawk Chop. But the practice continues. At the time, I wrote that this might be considered an honorific.
Most recently, the controversy has returned, because of calling the Washington, DC football team the Redskins, http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/anti-redskins-ad-to-air-during-nba-finals/2014/06/10/9808a964-f058-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html. as the term "Redskins" is seen as being disrespectful to Native Americans. One news item stressed the need for education about the term "redskin." The speaker pointed out that the term "redskin" referred to the fact that a bounty was payed for scalps of Native Americans, and that skin was red with blood after they were scalped. The following reference http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/06/11/321074391/the-fight-over-the-redskins-name-moves-to-prime-time contains a link to another story about the origins of the term Redskins that go back even further. It has long been a common term to refer to Native Americans. That does not necessarily mean it is not a derogatory term.
This week, I visited the "Hail to Sunrise" statue, erected in 1932 by a group who were not Native Americans, but called themselves The Improved Order of the Redmen http://www.redmen.org/. They claim to be the oldest fraternal organization in the United States. http://www.abbottmemorial.org/teacherspages/4thgrade/history1/?page_id=29
The "Hail to the Sunrise" statue is located on the Mohawk Trail, in Western Massachusetts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_to_the_Sunrise_Statue http://www.answers.com/topic/mohawk-trail. It was a favorite spot of mine as a child, and it is still a favorite spot of mine. Native Americans in the area and across the country have been more vocal about re-asserting themselves as a people and promoting and re-newing their Native American heritage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_Heritage_Day. http://www.indians.org/. The upshot has included reclamations and restitution, including of sovereign rights. Indian Gaming (establishing and running casinos) is one of the activities that has come out of that. Increased appreciation and pride in young people of their Native American Heritage is another. I am not passing judgement on these or other things that have occurred due to the efforts of reclaiming Native American rights. I am just pointing out some of the things that have occurred.
Native Americans are working very hard to improve their lot, their benefits, their education, and the respect they are accorded by others. They are also trying very hard to preserve, promote and respect their traditional ways. These can be in conflict with each other, but are both important to their survival as distinct cultures.
As a general rule, we need to be sensitive to what others find offensive, even if we do not see it as such. There are those in sports who would say the name Redskins is not meant to be insensitive or derogatory. That may be the intention of the owners and promoters (including fans) of the Redskins.
But, I am not a Native American, and I do not know how the term is perceived by someone who has lived the Native American experience. I have to respect their reporting to me regarding what that means. I have to think that the use of the term Redskins has to be reconsidered by thinking, respectful, sensitive people.
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