A Native American tribe in Upstate New York is standing up against the racist "Redskins" nickname for the Washington, DC professional football team.

The Oneida Indian Nation said it will launch a radio ad campaign worth "multiple thousands" in an effort to raise awareness and persuade the NFL to change the name of the team. The controversy surrounding the team name has grown significantly in the last year; writers and fans alike have been vociferous in the push to convince NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to bring about change. Despite the fact that members of congress encouraged Goodell to change the name, he unfortunately didn't seem to care.

In a letter dated back to June, Goodell said the team name is "a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect."

As reported in USA Today, U.S. Delegate Eni Faleomavaega dismissed Goodell's letter as nonsense.

"Goodell has completely missed the point. ... It is time for the NFL to stop making excuses for itself and fully embrace its so-called commitment to diversity," he said.

"Would Roger Goodell and [Redskins Owner] Dan Snyder actually travel to a Native American community and greet a group of tribal leaders by saying, 'Hey, what's up, redskin?' I think not,"  U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum said.

"We will never change the name of the team," Snyder told USA TODAY Sports.

The Oneida Indian Nation said they will launch the campaign in Washington before the team's season opener on Monday Night. "We do not deserve to be called redskins," Oneida leader Ray Halbritter says in the ad. "We deserve to be treated as what we are - Americans."

Halbritter said fans are encouraged to visit a new website launched this week called www.changethemascot.org.