Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council: No Thanks to Washington Redsk*ns Dirty Money
Copy of this check hit the Internet earlier this week
Published August 5, 2015
EAGLE BUTTE, SOUTH DAKOTA—The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council voted on Wednesday to refuse all money from the Washington NFL football team and The Washington Redsk*ns Original Americans Foundation that was set up by Dan Synder, owner of the Washington Redsk*ns, on the pretense to assist American Indians.
The Tribal Council’s vote includes a $25,000 check made out to the Cheyenne River Rodeo Association, dated July 10, 2015 that made its way to the Internet earlier this week. The money was presumbably to assist with an upcoming rodeo on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
The motion passed on Wednesday reads, in part:
“Motion that the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reject any and all payments received or payments negotiated with the Washington Redsk*ns and/or their organization the Washington Redsk*ns Original Americans Foundation, and that Chairman Fraizer and the Tribe cease all unsanctioned communication the Washington Redsk*ns and any person or group associated with them.”
After the check was posted on the Internet, several Cheyenne River Souix Tribe’s citizen organized a protest that included a march to the Tribal Council chambers prior to Wednesday’s meeting.
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council’s action demonstrates a sense of solidarity for American Indians across Indian Country who are adamantly opposed to the continued usage of the Washington NFL team’s name that is considered racist and hurtful to American Indians everywhere.
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About The Author
Editor
Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Why is it that big corporations feel like they can take their dirty money and buy us all off. I guess they are not used to having money refused because they are wrong, and will always be wrong. Any racists name should be removed from everything everywhere. There are supposed to be laws against using racists names and marketing laws stopping the promotion of racism.. I guess those laws do not apply to NFL Football team names, mascots, just like they don’t apply to the NHL or the NMA. If a native organization created a team and called it the Prairie White Crackers and had the profile of a KKK member on the crown of the baseball cap, we’d all be thrown in jail for racism.. This is so very wrong and it needs to stop now.
If you reject this money then please stop sending me letters begging for money from me. Some Indians want to see the the names of Mascots in the most pejorative light possible. The tradition of mascots in American sports is one of high honor. I’m from Detroit. We call our teams Lions and Tigers. We wish to embody the courageous traits of those animals in our teams. We are not denigrating those animals. So when we take the name of a tribe for a school mascot, it is a position of high honor and it’s an insult to the school and those who support it for some Indians to throw this honor back in the face of the people who have bestowed it.
Do your research, the natives are still being dishonored & murdered today. Your views say that first Nations people should accept the superiority of the people who have done a great injustice in the stealing of our lands and cultures and accept what the “superior” race conceives us to be in their own visions it’s called apropreation of a civilization The truth being ” shoved in your face ” is being missed by you because it’s still happening today. Burying your head in the sand only shows one part of your body to the world ~ the one you’re behaving like.
Your logic is absurd–if you accept the money from the NFL team who wants to continue denigrate you, I’ll give you money, also. You are obviously another one of those people who lived in privilege off the backs of Indigenous people and on stolen land no less telling us to feel “honored” by your ignorance. What a joke! Keep your money and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. Our land is the largest charity given in this country. If you don’t appreciate that give our land back.
You are right Cheryl! I think that all racist logos, insignia and names need to stop when it comes to all athletic teams to begin with. The only problem that I see is that, for example the Washington Redsk*ins, they have been around since 1932. I realize that establishing rights and that life was hard for the native Americans all the through the past and into the current culture. Many tribes still live in poverty throughout the United States and Canada and it’s a shame. Nobody deserves to have to live like that.
The same can be said for the UND Collegiate team that has most recently had their “Sioux” nickname (given to the college in 1930) was taken away from them in 2012 even though many of the local “Sioux” nickname supporters were members of the Sioux tribe.
Now, I have to say that I am not for racist comments now or ever. This includes racist team logos, insignia or names. However, I did hear an interview done by a young man from the local Sioux reservation, probably in his 30s now but at that time he was in his early 20s. Needless to say, this was years ago. The point of the interview was part of a series of interviews centralized around the University giving up its athletic nickname.
This young man made me think of it in a different way. I’m paraphrasing because I can’t remember his exact words, but he said that it made him proud of his heritage to be referred to as a people who fought for their lives and their livelihood . That the “UND Fighting Sioux” gave him pride in his people. That his ancestors had fought for their rights to live there and flourish as a people. I understood his reasoning just as I can understand the reasoning of what I believe is most of the Native American point of view… That it is racist and it is wrong… Even though the young man made a good point.
Maybe UND and the Washington NFL team (as well as other collegiate and pro teams) should consider a different strong group of people. Historically, MY people. My family came from across the ocean and they were called pioneers, homesteaders, and farmers. They fought the elements, survived the winters and the humid summers. They fought for survival against bad people as well.
Historically, my family came from across the ocean and they were called pioneers. They fought the cold winters, humid summers and wild-lands to farm and to peacefully trade with the Native Americans. They learned many things from the Native American tribes in the area. My family was among the first settlers allowed to settle in eastern North Dakota. They lived in peace and had good relationships with the regional Sioux lived in peace and had good relationships with the area Sioux and the migratory tribe of the Ojibwe. My father’s side of the family tree started their lives in North Dakota and what would be considered on the Ojibwe trade route (what is now Bottineau County). They later moved East to what is now Cavalier county and then South to what is now Steele County. I don’t know what years they made the moves. On my mother’s side of the family, they lived in southern Minnesota for two winters in the mid- 1800s and then moved to Grigg’s County, North Dakota. They live there ever since and still farm the original property as well as property that has added to since. They talk in their journals about trades made with the natives.
My point is is that I understand that our cultures have not always lived in peace. That’s not a secret by all means. There are good people and there are bad people in every culture, race, religion and creed However, all these years later, Is there not a way to find common ground?
Sorry that should be NBA and MLB not NMA.
Did you mean NAMBLA?
Great choice, seems people these days just think if they give you some money it will somehow relieve the burden. They could have made amends to by changing their name. If they were called the Washington Blackskins, we would not be having this conversation because they would have already changed their name.
If it were the Washington black skins, I have a feeling that it never would’ve made it past the name – giving ceremony.
If Washington would just move their football team over one state they could keep the Washington Redskins and just make the mascot a potato.
I know, I know that was stupid. Nonetheless, some of these teams have been named this way since the 1930s and I don’t quite understand why it took more than 80 years for anyone to have a problem with it publicly.
Can anyone answer that question for me?
I see no problem Im native American and Im glad that at least some way some hoe we are being recognized in a positive manner. The names not hurting anyone. And why the sudden change? Does that mean other sports teams such as the Boston redsox change there name to because it’s hurtful for the name being used and blue socks feel Offended?
People wearing redsox or blue sox weren’t ever subject to racism and genocide like native people have been. Way to diminish the plight of native Americans demanding respect and integrity restored to who they are as a people. It isn’t a matter of ooh I’m offended but more so a response of outrage that the nfl and associated organizations have profited off the racist and denigrating term that was once used towards native people in a time period in US history that was hostile to the native people. No amount apologies or money would ever restore this term into a positive honorable position. Just like using nigger will never be used a positive term amongst white people of America. It’s racist and offensive. If you still can’t see why it’s offensive then seriously you’re an idiot. And that’s putting it nicely.
I am native and do not think the name should be changed. I do believe that if we are to ever heal there needs to be less suspicion and more tolerance. If they were decent folks they would change the name out of respect for us. Natives have always been looked at with courage and endurance and decency throughout history. Not all is negative. In Canada we are working towards “reconciliation” with things looking brighter each day. Bye the way, if the money sent was for a rodeo. Then I am against the rodeo. Lets not treat our animals so bad. The creator says we are suppose to respect our animals. Rodeo is white man’s ways. If you want to be indian then better act like indian no! Time would be better spent in sweat lodge.
Send me the money. I can use it to pay off my student loan. I don’t mind the Redskins name. I have redskin and proud indigenous tribal individual.
Please see my response below to Shane Pope as to why I find the redskin name to be hurtful and disrespectful 🙂
Wake up people everyone’s skin turns red every summer from the sunburn… And you be proud of the tan afterwards.. Its just a name. I was born in Bellingham Washington. I am an American Indian. I get red skin every summer. whats the big deal about being redskinned?
What’s the big deal about being redskin? Did you know that the term redskinis not necessarily about our (supposed) color? The term redskin originated from the British who paid money by the pound for “redskins” or, rather, the scalps of Native people- man, woman, child alike. We were hunted like animals. The term redskin is equivalent to the term buckskin for deers and I for one don’t want the football team in the nation’s capital to have their mascot be the scalp of my murdered ancestors.
LOL Ya’ll really think the foundation walks around with a check book? They have to be contacted or notified of a Need in order for them to address it. The Gifts are NO STRINGS ATTACHED and the tribe is not required to support the Redskins.
So to ask for help and when so given the gift you refuse it to make a headline???? Where is the honor in that?
GET REAL A football team willing to help Natives at the requests of the fans is hardly the major issue facing US today.
While you are campaigning to change the name Meanwhile your senators that signed your letter are approving a bill to trade away Sacred Apache Land so a foreign mining company can create a huge crater and poison the water….
Native American Redskins Fan and Proud of it!!! HTTR