The Atlanta Baseball Team told season ticket holders in a letter that they have no intention of changing their name. In the letter, the team said the “tomahawk chop” chant used by fans is under review, and that they are seeking input from the Native community, fans, players, and former players as it examines the fan experience – including the chant.

As Washington’s professional football team retires their name, a curator at the National Museum of the American Indian talks about the country’s attachment to Native American imagery and the history of these images. Meanwhile, Psych Central released an article describing the psychological impact that Native American mascots may have on Indigenous people, including negative feelings of personal and community worth.

A federal appeals court temporarily halted a judge’s order that the Dakota Access Pipeline be shutdown in three weeks, though the court made clear the administrative stay “should not be construed in any way as ruling on the merits of the case.” The stay will remain in place until the appeals court rules on whether developer Energy Transfer can keep oil flowing while the court decides the appeal of the shutdown order.

Missouri voters in Jackson County will vote in November on whether to remove the statutes of President Andrew Jackson from the downtown Kansas City courthouse and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence.

North Dakota jail employee has been suspended and ordered to attend meetings of the Fargo Human Relations and Native American Commissions as part of an agreement to keep her job at the jail after posting a video on social media featuring a Native American caricature.

Keep reading for a full news update.  

Washington Football Team

Seeing Native Americans Nowhere, And Everywhere 

New York Times, Jennifer Schuessler, July 14 

On Monday, the N.F.L. team in Washington announced that it would be retiring the name “Redskins” and its feather-topped Indian head logo, abruptly reversing its staunch defense of a name long considered as a racial slur.

The Deep History – And Troubling Impact – Of Sports Teams Using Native American Mascots 

Time, Anna Purna Kambhampaty, July 14 

On Monday, Washington, D.C.’s NFL team announced that it would be retiring its logo and changing its name. Though the news came just 10 days after the team announced a “thorough review” of its name, it follows years of criticism of a name that has been widely recognized as a slur against Native Americans. In 2013, Snyder, the team owner, had vowed to keep the name as it was, and stuck by his vows until now, despite the urging of Native American activists as well as sportscasters’ and media outlets’ decisions to stop using the term.

Native Americans See Hope In ‘Day Of Reckoning’ That’s 20 Generations In The Making 

NBC News, Ethan Sacks, July 14 

It was more than a sports logo, it was a symbol.

On Monday, Washington’s NFL team announced that it would change its nickname and logo, which has been long been decried as racist and dehumanizing by Native American advocates. Owner Dan Snyder had previously vowed that he would “never” change the name — but that was before demonstrators across the United States and beyond took to the streets after the death of George Floyd to protest systemic racism. 

As Indian Country Rejoices Over Washington Team Name Change, Leaders Remind Us: “This Is The First Step Of Many.”

Native News Online, July 14 

On Monday afternoon, Clyde Bellecourt, one of the co-founders of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was on hand at a press conference to react to the news that Washington DC’s professional football team officially announced that it would be parting ways with its team name of more than 87 years—the “Redsk!ns.”

Beyond The Headlines Of Washington NFL Team’s Name Change

Native News Online, July 14

Reaction was swift after Monday’s announcement by the Washington NFL franchise that it was dropping the racist name it has held for 87 years. The retirement of the team’s name is historic because it comes after decades by American Indians calling for a name change. Native News Online received statements and reactions from tribal leaders and advocates from around the country. 

Column: What’s In A Name? Stubborn Snyder About To Find Out

AP News, Jim Litke, July 13

Try to think of a more deserving guy in all of sports than Dan Snyder to get his name-change plans caught in a vise. Go ahead, we’ll wait. In the meantime, let’s all savor this quote from the owner of the Washington NFL franchise formerly-known-as-the … (which was precisely the problem) the last time Native American advocates lobbied for a name change: “We’ll never change the name,” Snyder told USA Today in 2013. “It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”

The Psychology Of Native American Sports Mascots

Psych Central, John Grohol, July 13

Americans are starting to come to terms with the insidious nature of racism — in the way we act, how we speak about others different than us, and yes, even our team mascots. It’s a hard thing to realize that many of the things people took for granted or were seemingly “normal,” probably weren’t normal for every American. 

Nationwide Protests: 

California Ski Resort Eyes Name Change Over Derogatory Term

AP News, July 13

California’s popular Squaw Valley Ski Resort is considering changing its name to remove the word “squaw” — a derogatory term for Native American women — amid a national reckoning over racial injustice and inequality. The word “squaw,” derived from the Algonquin language, may have once simply meant “woman,” but over generations, the word morphed into a misogynist and racist term to disparage indigenous women, said Vanessa Esquivido, a professor of American Indian Studies at California State University, Chico.

Jackson County Voters To Decide Whether To Remove Statutes

AP News, July 13

Voters will decide in November whether to remove the statutes of President Andrew Jackson from the downtown Kansas City courthouse and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence. The seven white members of the Jackson County legislature voted Monday to put the local question on their general election ballot, The Kansas City Star reported. Its two Black members voted against it.

Braves Say They Won’t Change Name But Studying Chop Chant

AP News, Charles Odum, July 13

The Atlanta Braves say they have no plans to follow the lead of the NFL’s Washington Redskins and change their team name.  “We will always be the Atlanta Braves,” the team said in a letter to season ticket holders on Friday. The letter was obtained by The Associated Press on Monday. The tomahawk chop chant used by Braves fans is under review, however.

Law

Judge Rejects Lawsuit From Former Attorney At National Congress Of American Indians

Indianz.com, Acee Agoyo, July 14

A federal magistrate on Tuesday issued a ruling in John Dossett v. Ho-Chunk Inc., dismissing a lawsuit filed by the former high-ranking attorney at the National Congress of American Indians. John Dossett was “terminated” by NCAI following allegations of sexual harassment at the nation’s largest inter-tribal advocacy organization, Magistrate Stacie F. Beckerman noted in the 26-page ruling. She said he was asked to resign but he “refused.”

Oklahoma Ruling Shakes Up How Police, Courts Handle Crimes Against Native Americans

The Wall Street Journal, Christopher Weaver, July 14

For most of the past 100 years or so, city police in Tulsa, Okla., likely would have handled the investigation such as the one that opened last week into whether a white man killed a Native American woman in a city park. Instead, local law enforcement had to step aside, because the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a swath of Oklahoma—including most of Tulsa—is for certain legal purposes part of a reservation for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, a Native American tribe.

COVID-19:

Monday Navajo Nation COVID-19 Update: 56 New Cases

Native News Online, Levi Rickert, July 13

On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 56 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 401 as previously reported on Sunday. 

CARES Act

The Original First Responders Should Not Be Left Out Of Navajo CARES Act Funding

Indianz.com, July 14

The Diné Hataałii Association has released a statement in response to the Navajo Nation President and Vice President’s line-item veto of the Navajo Nation Council’s allocation to the association of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding.

Other:

Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Dakota Access Line Shutdown 

Associated Press, July 15

A federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily halted a judge’s order that the Dakota Access Pipeline be shut down in three weeks.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an “administrative stay” of the judge’s order. Though the appeals court said it “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits” of the case, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

Tribal Courts Should Abolish Cash Bail 

High Country News, Michael Daugherty, July 15 

Many of us already know the difficulties caused by systemic inequity’s impacts on reservation communities: a lack of basic utilities, crumbling or underdeveloped infrastructure, voter disenfranchisement. Now, the current moment is highlighting another difficulty: the criminal justice system’s disproportionate impact on Indigenous peoples.

‘A Lot Of Questions’ In Potential Remington Arms Sale To Navajo Nation

Indian Country Today, Mary Pember, July 14

The Navajo Nation seemed to be the answer to Remington Arms’ legal problems. The venerable arms maker is over 200 years old but has been struggling under the weight of lawsuits relating to the manufacture of AR-15 style automatic weapons, typically the gun of choice for perpetrators of mass shootings.

Seeing Native Americans Nowhere, And Everywhere

The New York Times, Jennifer Schuessler, June 14 

On Monday, the N.F.L. team in Washington announced that it would be retiring the name “Redskins” and its feather-topped Indian head logo, abruptly reversing its staunch defense of a name long considered as a racial slur. But there’s one unexpected place where the team’s logo will be preserved, at least through 2027: in the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. 

Want To Win? Consider 3 Native Women For Vice President

Indian Country Today, Mark Trahant, July 14

Former vice president and the presumptive nominee Joe Biden says he will announce his running mate before Aug. 1. He has said it will be a woman. And a lot of the speculation says it will be a woman of color.

Chuck Hoskin: Inter-Tribal Council Utilizing Technology For Meeting And Business

Indianz.com, Chuck Hoskin Jr., July 14

Even through this national health crisis, the business of our tribal nation carries on. We are committed to providing the housing, health care, education and other essential services that our people expect from a responsible, caring government. During the pandemic, we are doing more than ever to help our Cherokee Nation citizens meet basic needs through food distribution and telemedicine. Cherokee Nation is not alone in the endeavor – 37 other federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma are also executing strategic plans to keep their government flexible and responsive.

Nakotah Larance Known For ‘Thrilling, Unforgettable’ Performances

Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, July 14

Hoop dancer Nakotah LaRance, Tewa, Hopi, Navajo and Assiniboine, was a world-class athlete and performer. When he danced with Cirque du Soleil at the 2015 opening of the Pan Am Games in Toronto, more than a million television viewers and thousands of people in the live audience watched.

‘Treaties Are Still In Full Force’

Indian Country Today, Mark Trahant, July 14

Nearly fifty years ago the Native American Rights Fund was established to defend treaty rights, sovereignty and human rights. Today’s Indian Country Today goes is John Echohawk, Pawnee. “Human rights issues have always been one of the priority issues the Native American Rights Fund focuses on. And we go way back working with Suzan Harjo against that offensive name of that team.”

Deputy Suspended For Posting Offensive Video On Social Media

AP News, July 13

A Cass County jail employee has been suspended for a day without pay and ordered to attend some meetings for posting a video on social media that many considered offensive. Deputy Tamara Holland admitted posting a video on Tik Tok that featured a Native American caricature and received a considerable amount of negative feedback. Sheriff Jesse Jahner says Holland will be required to attend meetings of the Fargo Human Relations and Native American Commissions as part of an agreement to keep her job at the jail.

Report: ND program to support tribal youth is sustainable

AP News, July 13

A program that allows North Dakota to provide court services to tribal youth is sustainable and beneficial, according to a new report. Last year, the Spirit Lake Tribe signed the first memorandum of understanding with state officials for a 5-year pilot project, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Out of five Native American tribes in the state, the Spirit Lake is the only one to sign an agreement.