The Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA) has started a petition requesting that the NFL team Commanders change their name back to the Washington Redskins, which the team adopted when it was in Boston in 1933.
The purpose of the petition is to promote the history of Native Americans, end the cancellation culture and take back the Redskins name.
# ReclaimTheNameRedskins
NAGA started the petition on Change.org, and as of August 14th, it has almost 100,000 signatures.
NAGA is a non-profit organization advocating for increased education about Native Americans, especially in public educational institutions, and greater recognition of Native American Heritage through the high-profile venues of sports and other public platforms.
Fox News reports about the case, which has received increased attention in the last week.
NAGA is urging fans to sign the petition, which aims to promote Native American history, end cancel culture, and reclaim the name «Redskins»:
This is the best thing I’ve ever seen
The Native American Guardians Association @Guardiansnative is petitioning to get the Washington Redskins name back 😂😂
SIGN THE PETITION TO OWN THE WOKE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
https://t.co/WXlTyVp5AY— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) August 8, 2023
In the petition, NAGA invites all Americans to stand up for the dignity of all those under assault in today’s increasingly nonsensical culture wars. Every American has rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments not to be targets of cancel culture or ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance):
“This is not a simple left or right issue for Americans; it reaches across the political spectrum dating back to our Founding Fathers.”
NAGA further writes that they also fight for the civil liberties of everyone in America:
“Americans see they are losing their rights because of a vicious cancel culture that shows little care for their concerns or civil liberties; It is time to support leaders, brands, and organizations who will stand with EVERY AMERICAN rather than fight against them. Join our fight and show your support by pledging your donation today!”
Last week, the group sent a letter to the management of The Washington Commanders – including the team’s new owner Josh Harris, team president Jason Wright, and head coach Ron Rivera. NAGA requested that the team revive its relationship with the American Indian community and rightfully change its name back to the Redskins.
You simply cannot erase history
According to Fox News, the letter read in part:
“You simply cannot erase history and target the Native American community by eradicating the name ‘Redskins’ while being an organization that fosters other Constitutional rights, including players who don’t honor the American flag and kneel during our National Anthem.”
The former owner Daniel Snyder changed the team’s name from the Washington Redskins to the Washington Football Team and later the Commanders after a summer of racial unrest in the United States in 2020.
Snyder said the name had “increasingly become a distraction from our primary focus of football” and made the change “in the spirit of inclusivity”, writes Fox.
According to ESPN, a team must wait five years before it can be renamed. The only exception is if a new owner arrives. Harris took control of the team last month.
The name change received a lot of attention in the Norwegian media. Giving in to accusations of racism – the world’s 14th largest club changes its name, reported Norway’s state-owned NRK.
They wrote that FedEx, Nike, and Amazon had demanded a name change for the Washington Redskins, who play American football:
“Blant annet har gigantene FedEx, Nike og Amazon krevd navneendring av Washington Redskins, som spiller amerikansk fotball.”
NRK wrote that Redskins means red skin and used it as a slur against the Native Americans.
The leadership team of the Native American Guardian’s Association, who have verified Native ancestry, with the majority being enrolled tribal members, sees it differently.
They write that it is a misconception that Redskins/Redmen is racist, and 90% of Native Americans disagree with the claim and are proud of the name:
Redskins / Redmen is a Native American iconic name and is revered by the vast majority of Native Americans and the general public alike.
Redskins / Redmen represent honor, respect, and pride for Native American culture. Redskins / Redmen is and has been a self-identifying term for Natives since the early
A petition with more than 60K signatures wants a Commanders name change.
Norwegian American Elisabeth Rooney is the USA Correspondent for Document News. She lives in South Florida.
