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Normalcy of tomahawk chop, Chiefs ‘war chant’ remains wrong and sickening | Opinion

Normalcy of tomahawk chop, Chiefs ‘war chant’ remains wrong and sickening | Opinion

About a half-hour before the Super Bowl 57 kickoff came the theme music, straight out of an Old West movie from the 1940s. And as the Kansas City Chiefs bolted out of the tunnel and onto the field at State Farm Stadium, they were greeted by arguably the most racist gesture demonstrated on the American sporting landscape: The tomahawk chop.

It was just like the scene at a Chiefs home game at Arrowhead Stadium.

And sadly, it was just as wrong and insensitive.

The Super Bowl’s Kansas City Chiefs Are a Cruel Insult to Native Americans

The Super Bowl’s Kansas City Chiefs Are a Cruel Insult to Native Americans

WE HAVE HAD beer thrown at us, people walking up to us doing the chop, people yelling in our faces asking why we are here, and telling us to go home. Guess what? We are home.

We, the Not in Our Honor Coalition, have been protesting Kansas City football’s appropriation of our culture since 2005, and there have been many other Native people raising their voices against them long before us, like Suzan Shown Harjo, who started the toppling of the Washington, D.C. football team’s racist Native slur of a name.

‘Imagining the Indian’: Native Americans Fight to Reclaim Their Image From Racist Sports Mascots in New Trailer

‘Imagining the Indian’: Native Americans Fight to Reclaim Their Image From Racist Sports Mascots in New Trailer

The latest trailer for “Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting” has arrived, days before the Kansas City Chiefs face off at the Super Bowl LVII.

Premiering exclusively in theaters, the documentary chronicles the movement to end the racist practice of words, images and gestures exploiting Native Americans in the sports world and beyond. It tackles changes that still need to be made in the wake of Washington’s recently-renamed NFL team (Commanders), and Cleveland’s MLB team (Guardians).

National Native News

National Native News

Filmmakers of Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting joined demonstrators on Saturday, at the Kansas City Football Team’s playoff game to advocate for the team to change its name and end the appropriation of Native culture.

Producer Yancey Burns says the experience showed him the importance of educating the public about the fight against Native American mascots.

‘Imagining the Indian’: A Documentary Making a Difference

‘Imagining the Indian’: A Documentary Making a Difference

Imagining the Indian” a new feature-length documentary film, is a comprehensive and deep-dive into the movement to eradicate the words, images, and gestures that many Native Americans and their allies find demeaning and offensive.

The film showcases the issues through archival footage and interviews with those involved in the fight. The psychological research is clear, the use of Native American mascots is detrimental, not only to Native people but to marginalized groups everywhere.

Finalists Revealed For Prestigious 4th Annual Library Of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize For Film

Finalists Revealed For Prestigious 4th Annual Library Of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize For Film

Six finalists (including “Imagining the Indian”) were announced today for the richest prize in documentary film—the 4th Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film.

A grant of $200,000 will go to the winning film to support final production, distribution and marketing of the documentary. In addition, a runner-up will receive $50,000, and up to four finalists will earn a $25,000 grant. The Better Angels Society, the Library of Congress, and the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation established the award in 2019 to recognize “one late-stage documentary that uses original research and compelling narrative to tell stories that bring American history to life using archival materials.”

Sacheen Littlefeather Talks About What Really Happened Before, During And After Rejecting Marlon Brando’s Oscar

Sacheen Littlefeather Talks About What Really Happened Before, During And After Rejecting Marlon Brando’s Oscar

Before Chris Rock and Will Smith and the Oscars slap heard ‘round the world, there was Sacheen Littlefeather.

Littlefeather became a household name overnight back in 1973 — a viral moment long before TikTok and other social media made those common. She did it by politely commanding the stage at the 45th Academy Awards, refusing to accept the Oscar on behalf of legendary actor Marlon Brando for his role in The Godfather and speaking out against the shameful treatment of Native Americans onscreen and off.

‘Dark Winds’ Review: Murder Most Foul in the Navajo Nation

‘Dark Winds’ Review: Murder Most Foul in the Navajo Nation

The natural way to lead a review of “Dark Winds,” which premieres Sunday on AMC, would be to note that it is a series written, directed and performed largely by Native Americans; set in the Navajo Nation and filmed on location in New Mexico; and bringing to screen the tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee from Tony Hillerman’s best-selling mystery novels.

Or you could cut to the chase and just say: Oh thank God, someone finally gave Zahn McClarnon his own television show. Read More

Press Coverage

Witness the films traction, as several news outlets, subject matter experts and concerned citizens voice their support.

IMAGINING THE INDIAN – Promoting the ‘R’ Word

IMAGINING THE INDIAN – Promoting the ‘R’ Word

This emotionally charged documentary tells a tale that started 800 years ago. At this time, the citizens of 500 Indian nations were the only ones who called the US home. When their sovereignty was stolen, so their fight began. And they have been fighting ever since.

Normalcy of tomahawk chop, Chiefs ‘war chant’ remains wrong and sickening | Opinion

Normalcy of tomahawk chop, Chiefs ‘war chant’ remains wrong and sickening | Opinion

About a half-hour before the Super Bowl 57 kickoff came the theme music, straight out of an Old West movie from the 1940s. And as the Kansas City Chiefs bolted out of the tunnel and onto the field at State Farm Stadium, they were greeted by arguably the most racist gesture demonstrated on the American sporting landscape: The tomahawk chop.

It was just like the scene at a Chiefs home game at Arrowhead Stadium.

And sadly, it was just as wrong and insensitive.

The Super Bowl’s Kansas City Chiefs Are a Cruel Insult to Native Americans

The Super Bowl’s Kansas City Chiefs Are a Cruel Insult to Native Americans

WE HAVE HAD beer thrown at us, people walking up to us doing the chop, people yelling in our faces asking why we are here, and telling us to go home. Guess what? We are home.

We, the Not in Our Honor Coalition, have been protesting Kansas City football’s appropriation of our culture since 2005, and there have been many other Native people raising their voices against them long before us, like Suzan Shown Harjo, who started the toppling of the Washington, D.C. football team’s racist Native slur of a name.

‘Imagining the Indian’: Native Americans Fight to Reclaim Their Image From Racist Sports Mascots in New Trailer

‘Imagining the Indian’: Native Americans Fight to Reclaim Their Image From Racist Sports Mascots in New Trailer

The latest trailer for “Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting” has arrived, days before the Kansas City Chiefs face off at the Super Bowl LVII.

Premiering exclusively in theaters, the documentary chronicles the movement to end the racist practice of words, images and gestures exploiting Native Americans in the sports world and beyond. It tackles changes that still need to be made in the wake of Washington’s recently-renamed NFL team (Commanders), and Cleveland’s MLB team (Guardians).

National Native News

National Native News

Filmmakers of Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting joined demonstrators on Saturday, at the Kansas City Football Team’s playoff game to advocate for the team to change its name and end the appropriation of Native culture.

Producer Yancey Burns says the experience showed him the importance of educating the public about the fight against Native American mascots.

‘Imagining the Indian’: A Documentary Making a Difference

‘Imagining the Indian’: A Documentary Making a Difference

Imagining the Indian” a new feature-length documentary film, is a comprehensive and deep-dive into the movement to eradicate the words, images, and gestures that many Native Americans and their allies find demeaning and offensive.

The film showcases the issues through archival footage and interviews with those involved in the fight. The psychological research is clear, the use of Native American mascots is detrimental, not only to Native people but to marginalized groups everywhere.

Kevin Blackistone: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting

Kevin Blackistone is a columnist for the Washington Post, a regular panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn, and often a guest on NPR and the PBS News Hour. A professor of the practice at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, he has recently released a new documentary film that he co-wrote and produced about the Native American “mascoting” in sports. Join him in a 60-minute video of his presentation on September 29, 2022 at Roger Williams University moderated by Brian Hendrickson.

“It’s time for a reckoning.”

“This is an important subject and an important film.”

“Racial slurs shouldn’t be a regular part of everyday conversations, let alone cherished and institutionalized. It’s time for sports fans to open their eyes.”

Tribal Council

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
Northern California

Committed to
Our Mission

Our goal is to raise awareness of the issue of Native American Mascoting, expand the understanding, and appreciation, of Native American culture, and empower a movement towards widespread social sensitivity.

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Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

Lead Executive Producer  |  Website

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians 

Executive Producer  |  Website

Jessica and Steve Sarowitz

Co-Executive Producer 

Aviva Kempner

Director & Producer  |  View Bio

Ben West

Director & Producer |  View Bio

Sam Bardley

Producer  |  View Bio

Kevin Blackistone

Producer  |  View Bio

Barbara Ballow

Editor  |  View Bio

Yancey Burns

Producer  |  View Bio

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