Editorial: Indian nicknames / They're still offensive and needless
 
Published June 9, 2003

The Star Tribune newsroom will now call sports teams by their chosen names, including Indian nicknames, as editor Anders Gyllenhaal explained in a column published Sunday. That's best, for newsrooms should reflect reality as accurately as possible. But it's also reality that Indians do not like the use of "Braves" and "Redskins" and other nicknames that have been appropriated by sports groups. The teams themselves should drop them.

The last time this issue was hot in the Twin Cities came when the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins were playing in the World Series. It became apparent then that many non-Indians don't understand the issue. They believe the nicknames are either no big deal or an honor that Indians should appreciate. But as we said then, it's not a call for non-Indians to make. If Indians find the nicknames offensive, then they are offensive. End of discussion. Honor Indians' wishes and get rid of the names.

Let's take another stab at explaining why it is a big deal. Indian culture is rich and nuanced, and Indians are fiercely protective of it. All they have left is their identity, and they emphatically do not want it expropriated by the white community, especially for commercial use.

Someone we know, for example, recently sought the cooperation of Ojibwe friends in setting down some of the tribe's stories, including their creation story and stories related to some of their games, so that the wider community might learn to appreciate them. Nothing doing, she was told. These are ours, and we don't want anyone making something of them that is not related to their true, Indian purpose.

Is that so difficult to understand and honor? These people, most of them impoverished and struggling despite the advent of casino gambling, want to hold onto their sense of who they are. It is precious to them and filled with spiritual value. They don't want it associated with non-Indian things like baseball and football. There are plenty of other clever names that sports teams can be called. Hear the Indian plea: Drop the nicknames.

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