Redskins protest brings out pro, con viewpoints

By Shine Salt

October 16, 2014 (Print)

SPECIAL TO THE NAVAJO TIMES

PHOENIX – Before her grandmother passed on, Amanda Blackhorse explained to her what the “R-word” meant and why it is a racial slur. Her grandma’s response in Navajo was asking why the name is as so and why they are giving out such names.

On Saturday, thousands gathered at the University of Phoenix Stadium for the Cardinals vs Redskins game, but not all were cheering for football. Others gathered in protest against the Native logo and others who gathered in support.

“A lot of mascots and names were created during the Bureau of Indian Affairs, it was decades ago. No one questioned them because they think that’s the norm,” said Blackhorse. “We’re getting at a point of time where Native Americans are starting to realize the power we have in this country. We’re reexamining how we feel about ourselves and how we want people to view us.”

Supporters for the name held signs that stated, “Navajo for life and a Redskins supporter.”

Carmelita Herder disagreed. She asked why the name should change if reservations and other professional teams could have Native mascots.

“I believe as native people we should carry with pride that we are redskins of this country. This is our land and we are indigenous people,” said Herder.

“This is the way (Redskins) are showing respect of letting people around the world know we are still here. As natives there are so many of us that are slowly fading and soon we are going to become extinct to our own land. The Redskins and Dan Snyder, they are trying to promote the logo and they are trying to help us by making people aware that we are still here.”

Sean Holt, who lives in Phoenix, said the name developed when bounty hunters would kill Native Americans and scalp them for money.

“These were our ancestors,” he said. “You can’t put a price on my ancestors who died for it.”

Blackhorse has been fighting the name since 2006 (Blackhorse, et al v. Pro-Football Inc.) along with other plaintiffs during 1992 (Harjo, et al v. Pro-Football Inc.). She said all native mascots, those that are on reservations and off, perpetuate stereotypes of Native people. It toys with native culture and identity.

“For Natives, some want to see themselves in the public eye. They want to see themselves in the mainstream America and a way to do that is to support a team like Washington without truly knowing what happens inside the game, and understanding the negative impacts it can have on people,” said Blackhorse. “They try to identify with anything that they can, even if it’s negative because we are so invisible and they’ll take it.”

As the game progressed, Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly was shown on live television with first lady, Martha Shelly in box seats beside the Washington team owner.

According to a press release, Shelly spent the weekend in Phoenix where he escorted a Navajo contestant at the Miss Indian Arizona pageant held Saturday night. He also met with Snyder to discuss a licensing agreement the Navajo Nation entered into since early 2014.

“We have an enormous opportunity to bring more business to Navajo craftsmen and artisans,” Shelly said in a statement. “This licensing agreement with the NFL has opened the door for new jobs and economic development for the Nation.”

Snyder and Shelly discussed funding for construction of an indoor sports pavilion and funding for the Navajo Code Talkers Museum, said a press release.

Blackhorse expressed her opinion by telling tribal leaders who support Snyder, “Shame on you for selling out.”

She said if tribal leaders are doing this for the people, they would have asked them how they felt about it but they didn’t.

“Going behind their backs and accepting money in a very greedy way, that’s why I’m saying, ‘Shame on you and shame on you for using the Red Mesa students.’”

At a private tailgate party hosted by the Redskins team, various tribal fans and some students from Red Mesa High School were invited to attend the event.

“Now they are using our children as pawns to convince the rest of the world that (Dan) should keep the racial slur as a name,” said Blackhorse. “What’s going to happen to those Native Americans and these communities that he’s supposedly helping out when the name is changed? Will he care? I would guess not.”

As the protesters continued to shout, “We are humans not mascots.” Blackhorse looked at the crowd of Cardinals and Redskins fans, she said when the name changes it’ll show the world that Natives can take down a billion dollar industry and lead to respect.

“My grandma asked me, ‘Da’ atsiiziz wolye?’ After I explained what the R-word is. I said, ‘Ao’’ and to me that says it all right there,” said Blackhorse. “For her to explain in such a pure form makes it so much more simple to understand. Would you go around calling yourself, atsiiziz? It doesn’t make any sense.”

In Navajo, atsiiziz means the scalping of an enemy or a person.