America's largest Native group calls on Exeter Chiefs to 'drop deeply-offensive' imagery
They've written the club an open letter
Last updated 11th Nov 2021
The oldest and largest group in the US which represents indigenous people has asked Exeter Chiefs to stop using imagery, mascots and chants associated with Native people.
It's been a long-running debate about cultural appropriation, which ramped up recently after fellow Premiership rugby club Wasps asked fans to not wear headdresses to their stadium.
The National Congress of American Indians says use of the imagery is 'deeply harmful' to their culture - and have offered to work with Exeter on the issue.
An open letter to Exeter Chiefs
They've written the club an open letter asking them to consider the branding going forward.
"The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest, largest, and most representative organization in the United States serving the broad interests of Tribal Nations and peoples. It has been leading Indian Country’s consensus-driven movement to eradicate offensive and harmful Native 'themed' mascots, imagery and branding from sports and popular culture for more than fifty years.
"Since 1968, the NCAI has worked to educate schools, sports teams and leagues, and the general public about Indian Country's broad and longstanding opposition to this practice, and the deep and well-documented harms that the stereotypical and dehumanizing monikers, symbols, imagery, and fan behaviours associated with Native 'themed' mascot branding cause Native people, particularly Native youth."
"We are writing to inform you that our objections extend to the branding employed by the Exeter 'Chiefs', specifically the logo, the venue names (e.g. the 'Mohawk Bar'), the headdresses, and other uses of Native 'themed' collateral. The NCAI requests your support to retire all of the Native 'themed' imagery associated with the mascot branding of the Exeter 'Chiefs' Rugby Club.
"Ahead of the club member vote later this month, we wish to share with you resources documenting the ways this imagery and branding harms Native people through the offensive stereotypes it promotes, exemplified by Exeter 'Chiefs' fans' misappropriation of culturally sacred headdresses and face paint, and the degrading 'tomahawk chop' rituals they perform during matches."
Exeter's previous statement about 'cultural appropriation' claims
Speaking recently, Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said "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 is doing as well, and people in general. So for me, it’s a little bit of a non-story."
Exeter Chief Chairman Tony Rowe says that club members will be invited to have their say on the issue at the club’s scheduled AGM on 24th November.