How to Change Native American Mascots

Native American mascots are recognized by much of the public as offensive. Sports team mascots depicting Native Americans traditionally offered crude stereotypes of physical characteristics and culturally significant rituals. The NCAA banned the use of Native American team names in 2005, ruling that any team names considered hostile or abusive to Native Americans must be changed. Sports team mascots fall into three categories: animals, objects and professions. The exception to this are teams names that reference ethnic slurs. Redskins, Savages, Squaws make up a fourth category of team names based on race. A campaign to change a Native American mascot should appeal to sports fan's sense of justice and compassion.

Instructions

    • 1

      Compose a clear statement of your intent to change the Native American mascot. Write in a tone that is polite and specific. Include the reasons for your campaign in the opening paragraph. Cite examples of teams that have changed their mascots, such as the Stanford University Indians to the Stanford Cardinal.

    • 2

      Publish the statement in the newspaper's letters to the editor section. Keep track of responses, positive and negative. Respond politely and respectfully to people's concerns. Use the positive responses to identify sympathetic individuals and groups that can be called on to assist in the campaign.

    • 3

      Circulate a petition to change the Native American mascot. Collect names, emails and addresses. Your argument for changing the mascot should be stated clearly and concisely at the top of the petition.

    • 4

      Take advantage of social media by creating a Facebook page and Twitter hashtag. Encourage supporters of the cause to use the sharing feature of Facebook and Twitter to alert their network of friends.

    • 5

      Offer an alternative to the Native American mascot. Select an animal, object or profession that has meaning to the community served by the sports franchise represented by the mascot.