The iconic Washington Redskins’ image of Blackfoot Chief Two Guns White Calf symbolizes everything that Native Americans cherish about the warrior spirit that lives on in names of celebrated American sports teams. Wiping out Native team names and imagery out of a misguided effort to pander to a mob operating on all zeal and no history insults Native roots and traditions. It diminishes Native Americans. 

Please reconsider, as our case below clarifies.

In 1832, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the critical Worcester v. Georgia case, affirming the sovereignty of Native nations. In this case, key Native American allies supported Native American rights in the face of powerful activist groups fueled by aims of division, alienation, and dehumanization of Natives. activists fought so Native American Nations could not maintain sovereignty, and attempted to use “racism” as a means to achieve aims harmful to them.

We are a long-time supporter of the NFL’s Redskins, a team featuring a tribute profile of Chief Two Guns White Calf (not a mascot, but a respectful tribute). The Chief Two Guns White Calf imagery is equally as heroic to those early Native American supporters who stood and fought against the indiscriminate, ignorant, and destructive movement against Native independence.  

Your sudden capitulation in sponsoring the only top-tier professional sports team featuring a historic tribute to all Native Americans tells us, the 43,000 members of Save the Name, millions of Native Americans, and all Americans that Fed Ex, Pepsi, Nike & Walmart, no longer considers Native Americans equal to America’s Patriots, Texans, Cowboys, Raiders, Vikings, Browns, Giants, Buccaneers, 49ers, Steelers, Titans, or Packers - or as co-equal citizens deserving of a positive national and global spotlight.

The actual historic record demonstrates that the civics, tactical ‘warriorship’, and strategic ethics of the Redskin Warrior set the standards of today’s U.S. Army Special Forces Rangers and indeed our nation through our adoption of their Great Law of Peace as the cornerstone of our U.S. Constitution. For this, we are a grateful people and should never forget how hard we fought for this recognition - certainly Blackie Wetzel, the Native who gifted the symbol to the NFL in 1972 knew this.

Heroes aside, our nation’s Uniform Code of Military Justice - just like the Redskin culture - recognizes failures of individuals who show cowardice in times of conflict.

Today, the enemy is P.C. Politics, racism, and ignorance and your organizations is displaying cowardice despite netting millions in profit over the years.  Your companies are turning its back and running at a time when this nation and the Native American people need your help in defending and promoting the very real Redskins story at a point in U.S. history when your support is needed the most.  

In the 1830s, some 60,000 Native Americans were forced from their homelands and onto the deadly Trail of Tears where thousands died.  We suggest that most Americans would have supported the cause of the Natives back then should they have known better about the contributions, integrity and history of the Natives being unfairly evicted from participating in North American life as an equal.  

We note that Pepsi has never inquired about the Redskins history and traditions with the national Native American Guardian’s Association, a collection of inspirational Native American leaders who have successfully defended "Redskin” team names and respectful Native American imagery in the federal and state courts and around the nation in all levels of sports.

Native Americans feel abandoned by ALL these companies actions. Our question to you is, "why didn’t you know who we were during those years you made solid profits off the Redskin symbol?" The iconic Redskins’ image of Blackfoot Chief Two Guns White Calf is a respectful symbol that, the Native Americans have given so much of their lives and own funds defending - why are you abandoning them now? Where are our allies now? 

STAND DOWN....

Sincerely,

Save The Name, Founder.