"It's erasing their cultural identity"
Exeter Chiefs for Change have praised Premiership rugby club, Wasps, for speaking out against the use of Native American stereotypes
Last updated 15th Oct 2021
A campaign group is urging Exeter Chiefs to 'be the bigger person'.
The club is once again facing calls to move away from its use of Native American imagery.
Premiership club, Wasps, have released a statement, saying they have called upon rugby bosses to 'formally address' the controversial headdress worn by some fans.
Exeter Chiefs for Change have praised the Coventry-based team for publicly acknowledging the issue, saying it feels like a 'huge step forward'.
Elizabeth Holloway is from the group and tells us it is time for the Chiefs to move on:
"They're just making themselves look on the wrong side of history the more it goes on.
"There's no issue with the word 'chiefs', but just separate it from the Native American imagery.
"Devon and Exeter, in particular, has such a rich culture and history of its own. You could use some of the chiefs and imagery that was associated with that, which means that you're celebrating and promoting and raising awareness around your own culture as well."
Elizabeth Holloway - Exeter Chiefs for Change
A petition was set up last year, calling on Exeter to drop its 'harmful use' of Indigenous peoples' imagery and branding. The club chose to retain their name and logo, but they did retire their 'Big Chief' mascot.
Elizabeth says the 'outdated imagery' is preventing Indigenous people from owning their identity:
"There's hundreds of different nations and to try and reduce them to one image, it's erasing their cultural identity and it causes proven harm.
"I know that the club didn't start it with negative intentions and the fans don't think that they're mocking or harming, but actually knowing that this information is out there; knowing that this strength of feeling from Indigenous people around the world is there; we just felt that really needed airing and amplifying and raising with the club and the right people."
Elizabeth Holloway - Exeter Chiefs for Change
Exeter boss, Rob Baxter, has since dismissed Wasps' call for a rugby-wide review on supporters wearing Native American headdresses - describing it as 'a bit of a non-story'.
He says the criticism is 'ill-timed', insisting there are more important matters at hand:
"I don’t think there’s anything for us to say on another club’s statement that actually doesn’t do anything.
"They’ve made a statement saying they’re not doing anything about it. So I don’t think there’s anything for us to comment on it, they’re probably the people to ask.
"Most people’s view, which is very much the same as mine, is that in the here and now, where we are as a country and the things we have been through, I can think of far more important things that I need to focus on.
"The club needs to focus on and people, in general, want to focus on beyond whether a supporter supporting a club in Devon’s going to wear a headdress or not.
“That is most people’s view on it, that is certainly my view on it in the here and now. I’ve got to be careful what I say, I’m not overly affected by it. I take a pretty simple view on these things, I tend to look at things from a lot of perspectives.
"Right here and now when you see what’s really going on in the country and what’s really important, that’s what I’m focusing my energy on. And I know that’s what the club are doing as well, and people in general. So for me, it’s a little bit of a non-story."
Rob Baxter - Director of Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs face Wasps at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday (16 October), with the hosts urging supporters not to wear headgear.