N A T I O N A L C O N G R E S S O F A M E R I C A N I N D I A N S

November 4, 2013

The Honorable The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie Chairman Chair Pro Tempore Council of the District of Columbia Council of the District of Columbia

E XE CUTIVE COMMITTEE 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

PRESIDENT Washington, DC 20004 Washington, DC 20004 Brian Cladoosby Swinomish Tribe

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Michael Finley Coleville Tribes RE: NCAI IN SUPPORT OF DC COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID GROSSO’S PR 20-239,

RECORDING SECRETARY AND THE DC COUNCIL’S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO CHANGE THE Robert Shephard Sisseton Wahpeton WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM NAME

TREASURER Dennis Welsh, Jr. Colorado River Indian Tribes Dear Chairman Mendelson and Chair Pro Tempore McDuffie:

RE G IO NA L V ICE-P RESIDENTS

ALASKA On behalf of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), I Jerry Isaac Native Village of Tanacross respectfully submit this letter in support of Council Member David Grosso’s

EASTERN OKLAHOMA Proposed Resolution 20-239 and the DC Council’s previous and continued support S. Joe Crittenden Cherokee Nation to change the Washington football team name. Established in 1944, NCAI is the

GREAT PLAINS largest and oldest representative organization of American Indian and Alaska Native Leander McDonald Spirit Lake Nation tribal governments, and serves the broad interests of the nation’s 566 tribal

MIDWEST governments consisting of the over 5.2 million Native peoples. Aaron Payment Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians of Michigan In 1968, NCAI launched a campaign to end negative and harmful stereotypes NORTHEAST Randy Noka perpetuated by media and popular culture. These efforts have been rooted in an Narragansett Tribe attempt to achieve social justice and racial equality for Native people. The continued NORTHWEST Fawn Sharp use of racist and derogatory “Indian” sports mascots, logos, and symbols have Quinault Indian Nation perpetuated negative stereotypes of America’s first peoples. Rather than honoring PACIFIC Rosemary Morillo Native peoples, these caricatures and stereotypes contribute to a disregard for the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians diverse cultural heritages of Native people. ROCKY MOUNTAIN Ivan Posey Shoshone Tribe

SOUTHEAST Stereotypes significantly affect how our people view the world and their Ron Richardson Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe place in society, while also affecting how society views Native peoples in historical

SOUTHERN PLAINS and contemporary contexts. NCAI’s position and 45 year campaign to end the era of Steven Smith Kiowa Tribe degrading “Indian” stereotypes and mascots is directly linked to ongoing efforts in

SOUTHWEST building a healthy and nurturing environment for our Native youth to flourish and Manuel Heart Ute Mountain Tribe become the next generation of leaders.

WESTERN Arlan Melendez Reno Sparks Indian Colony When President Obama stated in an interview with the Associated Press in

October 2013 that the Washington Football team name is offensive to a “sizeable EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jacqueline Johnson Pata group of people” and affirmed the “real and legitimate concerns” of Native peoples, Tlingit

his statements further encouraged the effort to change the name of the Washington NCAI HEADQUARTERS football team and end its legacy of marketing a racial slur. As a result of ongoing 1516 P Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20005 education and advocacy, over 2,000 “Indian” references in primary, secondary, and 202.466.7767 202.466.7797 fax post-secondary school sports have been eliminated during the past 35 years. www.ncai.org However, nearly 1,000 “Indian” references in school sports still exist today including the Washington football team name, which receives national media coverage and substantial economic revenues from marketing a racial slur.

In 2001 the DC Council adopted Resolution 14-263, which requested the Washington football team to change its name and, in keeping with that same objective, I respectfully request your support for DC Council Member Grosso’s Proposed Resolution 20-239. I would also request your support on H.R. 1278, the Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2013. H.R. 1278 was introduced by Congressional Delegate Eni Faleomavaega (D-A.S.) on March 20, 2013, and has received widespread support and praise from tribal governments, organizations, and individuals. NCAI is appreciative that DC Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton is a cosponsor. Passage of this legislation would ensure that trademarks using the “R” word would be rescinded and any future applications to register trademarks using the “R” word would be denied.

Usage of this term carries negative historical connotations reminiscent to the eras of termination of Indian tribes and the assimilation of Native people. The history behind the use of this word in no way honors Native peoples and has no place in our modern American society. President Obama’s remarks on the Washington NFL team name underscore the increasingly obvious fact that now is the time to be on the side of right, now is the time to change this offensive name.

Again, I respectfully request your support for Council Member Grosso’s Proposed Resolution 14-263. Passage of this Resolution would make a firm, resounding statement from the elected officials representing our nation’s capital. I would also request your support for Congressional passage of H.R. 1278 to ensure disparaging terms, such as the “R” word are removed from trademark protections and never used again.

Sincerely,

Brian Cladoosby President National Congress of American Indians

Cc.: DC Council Member At-Large Anita Bonds DC Council Member At-Large David Grosso DC Council Member At-Large David Catania DC Council Member At-Large Vincent Orange DC Ward Member DC Ward Member Jack Evans DC Ward Member Mary M. Cheh DC Ward Member DC Ward Member Tommy Wells DC Ward Member Yvette Alexander DC Ward Member Marion Barry