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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
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
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
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 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.
The Big Show with Henry Harris Talks with “Imagining the Indian” Filmmakers
Filmmakers Ben West and Yancey Burns talk about their new documentary.

“Imagining the Indian” Wins Best Full-Length Documentary at Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival
On September 24, “Imagining the Indian” was honored to be recognized as the best full-length documentary by the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival. Our producer, Kevin Blackistone, was in attendance.

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
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
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

‘Native Mascots do not bring honor to Native Americans’: Mass. students, activists, and Native people want change
Native mascots have been the subject of fierce debate in recent years.
The Washington football team, which formerly had a Native mascot, announced their new mascot as the Commanders in February, marking one less Native mascot on the national stage. But the local Native American community is left wondering when that change will come to Massachusetts schools and towns.
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
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
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
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
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
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 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.
The Big Show with Henry Harris Talks with “Imagining the Indian” Filmmakers
Filmmakers Ben West and Yancey Burns talk about their new documentary.
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.

“Imagining the Indian” Wins Best Full-Length Documentary at Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival
On September 24, “Imagining the Indian” was honored to be recognized as the best full-length documentary by the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival. Our producer, Kevin Blackistone, was in attendance.

WV Filmmaker Explores Native American Imaging in Sports
Our own producer Yancey Burns is featured as “Imagining the Indian” comes to West Virginia.
“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.
Meet Our Supporters
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We appreciate your shared committment to ensuring this message reaches the masses.
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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