A panel discussion, march and protest are planned by a coalition of Native American activists in Arizona who are challenging the use of the ethnic slur, “Redskins.” The protests will take place on Sunday, October 12, when the Washington NFL team plays the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix.

Members of Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry (EONM), a group of parents who have spoken out against the name; a coalition of native activists, Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots; members of Indigenous Action Media and others will help lead the protests.

Nicholet Deschine Parkhurst of EONM organized the protests. “We really wanted to increase exposure of the Native community that have an opinion against the mascot,” Parkhurst said. “Arizona is home to 22 tribes. There’s a large presence of Natives…[and] we want to show that we have large group of people who oppose the mascot.”

Demonstrations informally began on Wednesday when Dr. Stephanie Fryberg presented a talk “Stolen Identities: How Indian Mascots Reflect and Reify American Conversations on Race” during a discussion at Arizona State University. Fryberg, an associate professor of American Indian studies and Psychology at the University of Washington, is renowned for her research on the effects of Native Mascots on Native American’s self-esteem. Fryberg found that exposure to Native Mascots reduce the self-esteem of Native American youth—even of those who say they are “okay” with being mascotted. Her work has been cited by the American Psychological Association in their 2005 resolution calling for “the immediate retirement of all American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams and organizations.”

On Sunday, a full day of events is planned, beginning with a protest march at 9 a.m.; and then a press conference at 11 a.m. with speakers, including Amanda Blackhorse (Diné, lead plaintiff in Blackhorse v Pro-Football, Inc.), Simon Ortiz (Acoma poet, writer and professor), Kenrick Escalanti (artist Amay Tadits, Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe, President, Kwatsan Media, Inc.), Nicholet Deschine Parkhurst (Hunkpapa Lakota/Diné, Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry, doctoral student of Public Administration & policy) and students from Native Youth United.

At noon, protestors will rally at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, directly north of the University of Phoenix Stadium corner.

However, not all Natives there that day will come to rally for a name-change. ICTMN has confirmed that Zuni Tribal Governor Arlen Quetawki Sr. plans to attend the game as a fan of the team. His tribe made news when they accepted an offer from Dan Snyder, the team owner, of financial gifts made through his Original Americans Foundation.

There are also unconfirmed reports that through Snyder’s OAF, Native American students from Red Mesa High School, whose school nickname is the “Redskins,” were invited and will attend the game. ICTMN called the high school’s principal Blane Baker, but calls were not returned before this article was posted.

To date, the Cardinals have refrained from using “Redskins” in their advertising. The slogan the team is using for the game is “We’re Marching on Washington.” Protesters are encouraged to thank the team for this bit of restraint. 

More information about Sunday’s protest can be found on Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry or Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots Facebook pages. Other sponsors include Indigenous Action Media.

What: March, rally and press conference with Native American groups against the Washington NFL team’s name on October 12.

When: Themarch starts at 9 a.m.; the rally and news conference at 11 a.m. at 95th Avenue and Maryland.

Where: North of the University of Phoenix Stadium corner, at the intersection of Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, Glendale, Arizona.