A football team that recognizes and helps First Nations culture: The Washington Redskins. There has been a long, ongoing debate on whether the Washington Redskins should be allowed to use First Nations words like ‘Redskins’ as their name. Although there is an argument about it, the Washington Redskins should not have to change their name or logo.

The Washington Redskins have made it very clear that the name and logo aren’t meant to offend anyone; in fact, the Redskins logo was created in “close consultation with Native American leaders (Redskins Facts).” The Washington Redskins’ name is a “self reference in the context of the football team itself; and, in no way should be considered as a slur targeted at [First Nations] (Redskins Facts).” The Redskins have always been respectful towards the First Nations and have many First Nations supporters that take no offense in the name or logo.

The Washington Redskins do not use the name or logo for offense. The name and logo are in place to recognize and help First Nations. The Redskins created a foundation called the Washington Redskins Original American Foundation which is in place to help tribal communities and schools. The foundation ventures to help and manage the problems in the lives of First Nations people. They talk to the Chiefs of tribes across the country and help the tribes in any way they can. If the First Nations people really had a problem with the name and logo, they wouldn’t accept help from them. Even First Nations schools use the name Redskins for their team names.

The only reason that the name and logo of the Redskins have arguments around it, is because a small percent of First Nations people protest it. That small percent are the only people that are heard because they want change; but, the reality is, most First Nations do not take offense to it and won’t be heard because they have nothing to protest. National surveys have been held to see if First Nations people take offense to the Redskins name: 90 percent of the First Nations who took part in the survey, responded that the name and logo were not offensive.

The small amount of First Nations that protest the Washington Redskins name “took legal action to cancel the trademarks held by the team (Wikipedia).” The issue was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. The outcome of the law case was that the Redskins did not have to change their name as that would be taking away the team’s freedom of speech. The protesting First Nations received the court case they wanted; they wanted the government to question the name and it happened. If the Supreme Court rules that the name shouldn’t have to be changed, then that’s how it should be.

The reality of this argument is that only a small percent of First Nations people are offended by the name. The Washington Redskins name and logo doesn’t offend most First Nations so why would they change it when it isn’t a big problem, and it helps to recognize First Nations and their culture. The Redskins work to help and honor First Nations people and their name should stay as it is.

Works Cited

Redskins Facts. 2015. Website. 8 March 2018. <http://www.redskinsfacts.com/facts>.

Wikipedia. 28 February 2018. Website. 9 March 2018. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Redskins_name_controversy>.