List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples


While the history of colonization and marginalization is not unique to the Americas, the practice of deriving sports team names, imagery, and mascots from indigenous peoples of North America is a significant phenomenon in the United States and Canada. The popularity of the American Indian in global culture has led to a number of teams in Europe also adopting team names derived from Native Americans. In Asia, Africa, Australia and South America, the adoption of indigenous names generally indicates that the team members are themselves indigenous. While there are team names in North America derived from other ethnic groups, such as the Boston Celtics, the New York Yankees, the Montreal Canadiens, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Minnesota Vikings, these are names selected by immigrant/settler groups to represent themselves.
The rise of indigenous rights movements has led to controversy regarding the continuation of practices rooted in colonialism. Such practices maintain the power relationship between the dominant culture and the indigenous culture, and can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism. Such practices are seen as particularly harmful in schools and universities, which have the a stated purpose of promoting ethnic diversity and inclusion. In recognition of the responsibility of higher education to eliminate behaviors that creates a hostile environment for education, in 2005 the NCAA initiated a policy against "hostile and abusive" names and mascots that led to the change of many derived from Native American culture, with the exception of those that established an agreement with particular tribes for the use of their specific names. Other schools retain their names because they were founded for the education of Native Americans, and continue to have a significant number of indigenous students.
The trend towards the elimination of indigenous names and mascots in local schools has been steady, with two thirds having been eliminated over the past 50 years according to the National Congress of American Indians. In a few states with significant Native American populations, change has been mandated by law, such in Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington.
Little League International has updated its 2019 rulebook to include a statement prohibiting "the use of team names, mascots, nicknames or logos that are racially insensitive, derogatory or discriminatory in nature." This decision has been applauded by the National Congress of American Indians.

Professional/Adult teams

Current usage

[American football]

Belgium
Brazil
Chile
Mexico
Paraguay
South Africa
All of these teams are composed of Indigenous Australians
A Minor league team in Innisfail, Alberta, the "Indians", has made a decision to become the "Trappers".
Affiliates of the Atlanta Braves:
Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates:
Affiliate of the Texas Rangers:
All three existing National Basketball Association teams that previously used indigenous imagery have stopped doing so..
Many professional teams changed because they moved to another city, or went out of business.
Old NameSport/LeagueCity, StateYear ChangedNew NameNotes
Akron IndiansNational Football LeagueAkron, OhioDefunctAkron ProsChanged back to the Indians in 1926, then folded
Tri-Cities "Blackhawks"National Basketball AssociationMoline, Illinois1951Atlanta HawksTeam was also the Milwaukee & St. Louis "Hawks"
Buffalo BravesNational Basketball AssociationBuffalo, New York1978Los Angeles ClippersAlso the San Diego Clippers
Burlington IndiansMinor League BaseballBurlington, North Carolina2006Burlington RoyalsChanged affiliation from Cleveland Indians to Kansas City Royals
Canton/Akron IndiansMinor League BaseballAkron, Ohio1996AerosFormer farm team for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians National Football LeagueCleveland, OhioDefunct
Cleveland Indians National Football LeagueCleveland, OhioDefunct
Duluth EskimosNational Football LeagueDuluth, Minnesota1927Defunctalso known as the Duluth "Kelleys"
Edmonton EskimosCanadian Football LeagueEdmonton, Alberta2020Edmonton Football Team will be the interim name.
Flint IndiansMichigan Baseball LeagueFlint, Michigan1941NA
Golden State WarriorsNational Basketball AssociationOakland, California1971NAOriginally Philadelphia Warriors, then San Francisco Warriors, dropped Indian imagery when they move to Oakland
Gwinnett BravesInternational LeagueLawrenceville, Georgia2017Gwinnett StripersOriginally Richmond Braves, renamed as Gwinnett Braves upon move, rebranded after 2017 season. The Stripers continue to be the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
Indios de Ciudad JuarezMinor League BaseballCiudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico1984Defunct
Kansas City ScoutsNational Hockey LeagueKansas City, Missouri1976now the New Jersey DevilsFirst moved to Colorado and became the "Rockies"
Kinston IndiansMinor League BaseballKinston, North Carolina2012NAreplaced by the Carolina Mudcats
Mexico City AztecasContinental Basketball AssociationMexico CityDefunctOnly one season 1994-95
Oorang IndiansNational Football LeagueDefunctConsisting mostly of Native Americans
Ottawa TomahawksNational Basketball League of CanadaOttawa2013Ottawa SkyHawksName changed shortly after announced due to controversy, team folded after one season.
Salisbury IndiansMinor League BaseballSalisbury, MarylandDefunct
Sheboygan Red SkinsBasketballSheboygan, Wisconsin1952Defunct
Springfield IndiansAmerican Hockey LeaguePeoria, IllinoisRivermenFirst moved to Worcester and became the IceCats
Streatham RedskinsNIHL South Division 1London, England2016Streatham Ice Hockey Club
Syracuse ChiefsMinor League BaseballSyracuse, New YorkChanged from Native American logo and name in 1997 to "Skychiefs" with aviation theme and reverted to "Chiefs" in 2007 but with train logo.
Swift Current IndiansWestern Major Baseball League Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada2017Swift Current 57'sThe team dropped the "Indians" name in 2016.
Toronto TecumsehsNational Hockey AssociationToronto, Ontario1913Toronto Ontariosrenamed the Toronto Shamrocks in 1915 and ceased operations later that year
Washington RedskinsNational Football LeagueLandover, Maryland2020Washington Football Team will be the interim name. See Washington Redskins name controversy

Colleges and universities

Secondary schools

Non-scholastic youth teams

Baseball

[Pop Warner Little Scholars]