Why the fight to remove Native American mascots from sports is a civil rights issue.
In short: Suzan Shown Harjo discusses the campaign to eliminate Native American stereotypes in professional sports. This talk explores the intersection of sports branding, cultural identity, and the long-term advocacy work required to protect the dignity of Native nations and their sovereignty.
Suzan Shown Harjo, a prominent advocate for Native rights and president of The Morning Star Institute, has spent decades working to safeguard Native American sovereignty, sacred lands, and cultural heritage. Her work includes the recovery of over one million acres of land and the development of legislation supporting Native arts, languages, and religious freedom.
Central to her advocacy is the effort to dismantle the use of Native American imagery as sports mascots. Harjo has led the campaign to change the name of the Washington football franchise since 1992, framing these depictions not as honors, but as harmful stereotypes and false personalities that undermine the reality of Native peoples.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Mascots, Tokens and Targets: Ending 'Native' Stereotypes and False Personalities in Sports
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