Native American Leaders to Commanders: Drop Old Name for Good

Native American leaders are urging the Washington Commanders to permanently drop their controversial team name and logo, arguing that the old name and image are offensive and disrespectful. Peter Landeros, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and a member of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, stated plainly, "I am against any usage of the Washington football team’s old name and logo. The old name is a racial slur against indigenous people."

Landeros added, "The old logo only represents a handful of tribes, and the style of war bonnet it features is not what Indigenous tribes in the Washington, D.C. area would wear." Despite limited sales of merchandise featuring the old name and logo, the Commanders maintain that they have no intention of reverting to the previous name and logo, which were changed under former owner Daniel Snyder.

The team justifies its limited use of the old name and logo by stating that it ensures products authentically reflect the era they represent and protects its trademarks. However, Native American leaders remain firmly opposed to any continued use of the name and logo. Victor Rocha, chair of the Indian Gaming Association, acknowledged that not everyone who wears a Redskins shirt is racist, but insisted that "if they really wanted to respect us, they would stop using the name."

The Commanders' situation reflects the ongoing debate over the use of Native American imagery in sports, with some Native American leaders arguing that the old name and logo are deeply offensive and should be retired permanently, while others believe that nostalgia or historical connections justify limited use.