Opinion: Celebrate the Native origin of the Seattle Seahawks logo

Sometime in the 19th century, on the soggy, green coast of Vancouver Island, an artist sat down with some fresh cedar. She (or he, nobody really knows) crafted a beautiful mask to be used in the potlatch — the traditional dance festival of the Kwakawaka'wakw people. Our native artist had no idea, but that piece would go on to inspire millions.

Fast forward to 1975, when Seattle was awarded a new NFL franchise and team leaders needed a mascot. Fans offered up ideas, including the Silver Sasquatches, the Clam Diggers, the Kelpers, the Sawdust Eaters — even the Green State Geoducks. They went with "Seahawks."

When the time came to design a proper logo, one committee member recalled a mask he had seen in the 1950 book Art of the Northwest Coast Indians. With a few tweaks, our Seattle Seahawk was hatched.

In 1792, the Kwakawaka'wakw encountered Capt. George Vancouver, then, like most tribes, were decimated by disease brought by the traders and settlers. In the late 19th century, the potlatch was banned by missionaries. So it's possible that the creation of our original Seahawk was a subversive act — an act of staying true to your team, er, tribe.