Native American group calls on the Washington Commanders to revert to Redskins, launching petition to 'put an end to cancel culture': 'Cannot erase history'

A Native American group has called on the Washington Commanders to revert back to the Redskins to 'put an end to cancel culture.'

The organization, which was named the Redskins since it played in Boston in 1933, rebranded as the Commanders last year after pushback to the original name over its offensive connotations for Native Americans. 

However, just a year on from the debut of the Commanders name, the Native American Guardian Association (NAGA) has launched a petition to reclaim the Redskins name. 

The petition, which is 'designed to promote our history, put an end to cancel culture, and #ReclaimTheName 'Redskins,'' already has more than 80,000 signatures, according to the group. 

'We invite all Americans to stand up for the dignity of EVERY AMERICAN under assault in today's increasingly nonsensical culture wars' the petition says. 

A Native American group has called on the Washington Commanders to revert back to the Redskins (pictured, new owner Josh Harris) 

A hand-painted concrete barrier stands in the parking lot of FedEx Field in July of 2020

'This 'LINE IN THE SAND' moment reinforces undeniable history of the NATIVE AMERICAN assisting the FOUNDING OF AMERICA, with NATIVE AMERICAN principles used by the FOUNDING FATHERS in the US Constitution -- and, EVERY AMERICAN's right to the 1st and 14th Amendment and not to be targets of cancel culture or ESG. This is not a simple left or right issue for Americans; it reaches across the political spectrum dating back to our Founding Fathers.

'The Native American Guardian Association (NAGA) stands up for and is not only fighting back to preserve key elements of American History and the 1st and 14th Amendment, NAGA is fighting for the civil liberties of EVERY AMERICAN. Americans see they are losing their rights because of a vicious cancel culture that shows little care for their concerns or civil liberties; It is time to support leaders, brands and organizations who will stand with EVERY AMERICAN, rather than fighting against them. Join our fight and show your support by pledging your donation today!'

NAGA said it sent a letter to new Commanders owner Josh Harris, team president Jason Wright and head coach Ron Rivera last week, formally requesting the franchise 'rightfully change their name back to "the Redskins"'.

'You simply cannot erase history and target the Native American community by eradicating the name "Redskins" while being an organization that fosters other Constitutional rights, including players who don't honor the American Flag and kneel during our National Anthem,' the letter read in part. 

Washington's rebranding process began in 2020, when the team succumbed to yearslong pressure by dropping 'Redskins,' which is considered offensive to Native Americans. In 2021, the team played as the Washington Football Team.

During their 'Redskins' years, the team did have a dark-skinned, mohawked mascot adorned with loin cloth featuring the club's logo.

The club originated in Boston, where then-owner George P. Marshall had wanted to call them the 'Braves' but opted for his second choice due to the existence of the city's National League baseball team, which has since moved on to Milwaukee and Atlanta.

The term's origin is disputed, according to a 2016 Washington Post article, that claims it was first used as a pejorative as early as 1863 in Minnesota.

After defending the use of 'Redskins' for years, team owner Dan Snyder relented in 2020

Protestors pictured in 2014 - six years before the team would drop 'Redskins' 

They played as the Washington Football Team in 2021, before coming the Commanders in 2022

'The State reward for dead Indians has been increased to $200 for every red-skin sent to Purgatory,' read an announcement in The Winona Daily Republican. 'This sum is more than the dead bodies of all the Indians east of the Red River are worth.'

By 1898, Webster's Collegiate Dictionary began defining 'redskin' with the phrase 'often contemptuous.'

A 2016 Washington Post poll found that 90 percent of the 504 Native American respondents were 'not bothered' by the team name. Snyder ultimately wrote an open letter, defending his decision to keep the moniker by citing the study. 

However, that survey and other similar studies have been slammed by journalists and social scientists as being unreliable.

'The reporters and editors behind this story must have known that it would be used as justification for the continued use of these harmful, racist mascots,' read a statement from the Native American Journalists Association. 'They were either willfully malicious or dangerously naïve in the process and reporting used in this story, and neither is acceptable from any journalistic institution.'

In March of 2020, UC Berkeley revealed a study that found that more than half of its 1,000 Native American respondents were offended by the team name.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that a trademark law barring disparaging terms infringes on free speech rights. Prior to that, the United States Patent and Trademark office had tried to revoke the Redskins' trademark because it was a racial epithet.

Before the 2021 season, the team banned fans from wearing headdresses to home games.

The name change was one of several controversies Snyder faced during his tenure as owner before he sold the team last month. 

Snyder sold the organization to the Harris-led consortium for a record-breaking $6.05 billion. 

Before the 2021 season, the team banned fans from wearing headdresses to home games

The incoming ownership group includes Harris, who also owns the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, as well as Los Angeles Lakers legend and Dodgers co-owner, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson.

An NFL team has to wait five years before it can rebrand again. However, there is an exception if a new ownership takes charge. 

Harris could look to rename the organization in order to establish a clean slate, according to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr.

However, the new owner insisted that a name change was not a priority, according to ESPN.