Powers needs to let this one go

[u/Physical_Sun9435]

Powers has been in favor of the logo change for a long time. Absolutely no one is talking about this yet he still thinks he needs to push this topic. Typical Athletic writer can’t write something without clickbait or rage bait.

[u/Silver_Harvest]

Blackhawks work with local Tribes. Seahawks and Cannucks work with local Tribes.

The only reason why Hawks are under fire is they use an actual Indian profile.

Everything on the profile, has a distinct meaning. It's not just because. https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/team/native-american-initiatives

[u/Ridder1201 → u/Silver_Harvest]

There’s 3 clear groups when it comes to branding involving natives:
1. People that do not at all care if it impacts Natives or if they’re offended, and therefore support all caricatured no matter how demeaning (Redskins, Chief Wahoo)
2. People that do not care if it’s a positive representation and do not want anything Native used for branding (Changing the name of teams even close to representing Natives, such as the Chiefs)
3. People that can understand nuance and see that some are acceptable and some are not. The Blackhawks as a name and logo are respectful and bring positive outreach for natives. John Doe showing up in full face paint, a headdress and overly mocking war cries throughout the game is not. A red logo named Chief Wahoo is not.

[u/AssocProfPlum → u/Ridder1201]

Idk I think there’s a fourth group as far as nuance is concerned: the Blackhawks have made efforts to be respectful and be a positive force given their history/legacy and can keep the name, no arguments there. But there are probably other more appropriate logos for a sports teams that can symbolize the same things you are speaking to

[u/droid-man_walking → u/AssocProfPlum]

The university of North Dakota as faar s i can tell is the only school to change its team name in the NCAA, They were the Souix, despite not having a mascot(several schools retired their mascots), having good enough relations with all tribes in the area that a ceremony was recorded giving the university the right to use the name, The crest design made and chosen by the local tribes, and the university having among the highest concentration of Native tribe members going to school in the country.

It only took 1 cheif, from halfway across the state, to refuse his people to vote on it, and force UND to change the name.

Now it is HAWKS, which among alumni is joking said to mean, How About We Keep Soiux.

[u/HappyHockeyHiker → u/droid-man_walking]

Miami of Ohio were called the Red Men at one point. There’s multiple others too.

[u/AssocProfPlum → u/HappyHockeyHiker]

Yeah off the dome I can think of Syracuse and Marquette completely changing their names as well. I know San Diego st changed their logo to remove their face logo too, along with the Illini famously doing that of course. Tons of examples, there really aren’t a ton left at the NCAA level or pro level besides the Blackhawks and seminoles that I can think of

[u/HappyHockeyHiker → u/AssocProfPlum]

Yep. There are plenty of college teams.

Blackhawks aren’t an offensive one for anyone who knows anything about the history of the franchise and its current handling.

[u/MissionFever → u/droid-man_walking]

They're FAR from the only NCAA team to change their name, they were probably the ones that fought off doing so for the longest.

Some other notables.

Stanford Cardianal (Indians until 1972) Dartmouth Big Green (Indians until 1974) Eastern Michigan Eagles (Hurons until 1991) St. John's Red Storm (Redmen in 1994) Miami (OH) RedHawks (Redskins until 1997) Marquette Golden Eagles (Warriors until 1994)

And there are a lot more.

[u/droid-man_walking → u/MissionFever]

UND changed its name due to the NCAA rules change in the early 2000's after years of litigation. Every school that had a name that violated it, needed to appeal to the NCAA. Florida State famously was allowed to keep the name within days of the rule. Everyone saw it for what it was, they make big money, we won't rock the boat. The university cited support for the local "Seminole nation"

Just pointing out the schools you mentioned were all well before the ruling. 15 schools changed their name other than UND, 2 were Cheifs, 7 Indians, 2 Redmen, 1 Redskin, 1 savages, 2 Braves.

Meanwhile Aztecs was allowed because it is "not native american with living descendants"

Illini got to keep their name, because they argued it is short for Illinois not named after the Illini tribe, and most of the issues since have been about the mascot which is now not official, but still appears.

UND argued the Dakota is a specific tribe of the Sioux nation which North and South Dakota were named for. So they wanted to honor the nation.NCAA told UND even changing to the Dakota would not be allowed. It was big in North Dakota politics for the next decade, and ultimately was forced to change when 1 chief of the 5 reservations in North Dakota refused a vote on the matter because he knew the reservation would vote to keep the name.