Super Bowl 57: Native Americans Protesting Kansas City Chiefs, Say Name a 'Cruel Insult'
Native Americans are not too fond of several Native American-themed sports teams, from the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, Native American activist Rhonda LeValdo has come to Super Bowl 57 to protest the Chiefs. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Native Americans are not too fond of several Native American-themed sports teams, from the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, Native American activist Rhonda LeValdo has come to Super Bowl 57 to protest the Chiefs.

LeValdo is the subject of the documentary titled "Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting." She recently released a scathing Op-Ed in Rolling Stone magazine and stated that the Kansas City team is making a "mockery of Native cultures and people with their 'arrowhead' chop, offensive name, and overall bastardizing of our traditions."

In her opinion piece, the Native American activist stated that this is not about being politically correct but more about understanding the atrocities that native people face, as well as their continued historical trauma. She says that they, as a people, are always faced with stereotypes such as what the team from Kansas City perpetuates.

The Kansas City Chiefs feature an arrowhead in their team logo, with fans doing the "arrowhead chop" in their games as a reference to Native Americans. In addition, Kansas City Chiefs fans also adorn themselves with Native American headdresses, and this act is often considered cultural appropriation.

Native American Tribes in Arizona Join Protest Vs. Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl 57

Super Bowl 57 is held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and LeValdo is not coming to protest the Kansas City Chiefs alone, as she will be joined by several tribes native to Arizona in the protest, according to Fox News.

She pointed out that many countries will be watching the Super Bowl, and they will see that what Kansas City fans are doing is okay. However, she writes, "But we are trying to yell as loud as we can: It is not!"

She also pointed out that the team's name is a form of racism, as well as the various antics made by the team and its fans. However, Chiefs team president Mark Donovan has stated that they are not planning to change the team name any time soon.

He released a statement saying, "We also respect that we need to continue to educate and raise awareness of the Native American culture and the things we do to celebrate, that we've done more over the last seven years - I think - than any other team to raise awareness and educate ourselves."

Native American Mascots Have a Negative Effect on Native American Peoples

LeValdo pointed to a study by the American Psychological Association (APA) to back her claims that the Chiefs' usage of Native American symbolisms does hurt them. The study stated that the mascots are "teaching stereotypical, misleading, and too often, insulting images of Native Americans."

The study also found that by using these symbols and images, as well as mascots, these teams are teaching non-Native American children that participating in "culturally abusive behavior and perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions" is fine. It also undermines the ability of Native American Nations to portray themselves more accurately.

However, activists like LeValdo have been pushing back and have been successful before. The biggest example is forcing the Washington Redskins to change their name. The team is now known as the Washington Commanders and has acknowledged that their former team name was used as a slur against Native Americans.

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Written by: Rick Martin

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