The National Congress of American Indians began campaigning against these mascots in the 1960s. In 2005, the American Psychological Association called for the immediate retirement of all American Indian mascots, citing research on harm to Native young people's self-esteem. That same year, the NCAA barred schools with "hostile and abusive" Native imagery from hosting championship events.
Professional teams changed only after decades of protest and, in 2020, pressure from sponsors. Washington's NFL team dropped its name, a racial slur, in July 2020 and became the Commanders in 2022. Cleveland's baseball team announced in July 2021 that it would become the Guardians.
Hundreds of high schools still use Native mascots. Supporters often say the names honor Native people, but most national Native organizations disagree. The mascots turn living peoples into costumes and keep Native people frozen in the past.