Ending the Era of Harmful “Indian” Mascots

Latest News

Other Key Resources

"Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascotting"

Leading Research

Native Appropriation in Sport: Cultivating Bias Toward American Indians**NEW**

Twenty Years of Research into the Health Impacts of Native-themed Mascots: A Scoping Review

Dog whistle mascots: Native American mascots as normative expressions of prejudice

Study finds only harmful effects from Native themed mascots

Why Educators Should Not Ignore Indian Mascots

Partner Resolutions and Statements

National Education Association Resolution: Supporting Removal of Native Themed Mascots

National Indian Education Association Resolution: Elimination of Race-Based Indian Logos, Mascots, and Names

American Psychological Association Resolution: Retiring American Indian Mascots

Leading National Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Announce Joint Opposition to Washington NFL Team Locating New Stadium in District of Columbia

Short Videos

As/Is: Native Americans Review "Indian" Sports Mascots

Bioneers: How Indian Mascots Dehumanize

TPT Originals: Not Your Mascot - Native Americans and Team Mascots

Key NCAI Resources

NCAI's Longstanding Opposition to Harmful "Indian" Sports Mascots

As the nation's oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, NCAI has long held a clear position against derogatory and harmful stereotypes of Native people - including sports mascots - in media and popular culture. Since NCAI launched its campaign to address stereotypes of Native people in popular culture, media, and sports in 1968, significant progress has been made in pursuit of ending the era of “Indian” mascots.

NCAI's position is clear, longstanding, and deeply rooted in our 78 years as a leading voice for Indian Country – we advocate for and protect the civil rights, social justice, and racial equity of all Native people in all parts of American society.

NCAI's Work to End "Indian" Mascots

NCAI is the oldest, largest, and most representative national organization that shares the unified voice of hundreds of Tribal Nations representing millions of Native people, and that voice has been consistent and clear for decades: sports mascots are symbols of disrespect that degrade, mock, and harm Native people, particularly Native youth. NCAI’s work to end “Indian” or Native “themed” mascots, used interchangeably here, is guided by our numerous resolutions pertaining to cultural appropriation and the harmful effects of these mascots. For decades, NCAI largely focused its efforts on ending “Indian” mascots at the professional level, directing specific attention to the former mascot of the NFL’s Washington "Commanders". In 2020, NCAI formally expanded the initiative to include work at the K-12 level, which included the development of the National School Mascot Tracking Database. In 2021, NCAI further expanded the initiative to include work at the state level, developing a State Activity Tracker and engaging directly with state legislatures pursuing mascot bans through legislation.

NCAI’s Ending “Indian” Mascots initiative currently focuses on three primary levels: the K-12 school level, the state level, and the professional sports level.

To request NCAI’s help at the K-12 or state levels, please email mascots@ncai.org.

Archive of NCAI News and Updates

November 2021
Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: More School Districts Retire their Native "Themed" Mascots, NCAI Shares Statement on Atlanta "Braves" Mascot and Fan Rituals (11.04.21)

October 2021
NCAI Reiterates Longstanding Opposition to Atlanta Braves' Mascot and "Tomahawk Chop" Fan Ritual as Team Plays in World Series (10.27.21)

August 2021
Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: NCAI Launches State Activity Tracker (08.03.21)

July 2021
NCAI Commends Announcement by Major League Baseball's Cleveland Franchise of Its New Name "Guardians" (07.23.21)

Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: NCAI President Commemorates Anniversary of Retirement of Washington Football Team's Mascot; More Schools Retire Their Native "Themed" Mascots (07.19.21)

Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: NCAI Presents Overview of National School Mascot Tracking Database; More Native "Themed" Mascots are Retired, Replaced (07.12.21)

June 2021
Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: Colorado and Nevada Pass Bills Banning Native "Themed" Mascots, Logos, and Team Names (06.08.21)

April 2021
Ending "Indian" Mascots Update: The State of Washington Bans Native "Themed" Mascots, Logos, and Team Names (04.28.21)

July 2020
NCAI Statement on the Washington Football Team's Retirement of Racist Mascot (07.13.20)