Anyone who puts forth that Native American mascots, in their current form, are a purely honorific representation is wrong. In order for something to be honorific, the person being honored must, you know, feel honored.

In the 2004 study, “American Indian Social Representations: Do They Honor or Constrain American Indian Identities,” researchers found that the American Indian social representation (i.e., Pocahontas, Chief Wahoo, or Negative Stereotypes) depressed how American Indian participants felt about themselves, their community, and what they want to become or are able to become.

As a society, we must draw a line.

Those of us who have the power to create and promote the symbols that depict Native Americans in sports must use that power with great, moral restraint.

There are present day symbols that are clearly over that line, including the Washington football team and the “Chief Wahoo” symbol of the Cleveland Indians.

Both water down Native Americans to a long ago disproven stereotype, and cause real injury to the peoples they depict.