Lily Gladstone is not pleased with the name of the Super Bowl champions, and she maintains that the mascot of the NFL runner-ups is not much of an improvement either.
A panel discussion was held at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival last weekend, before the Chiefs upset the 49ers. During her remarks, the actress and activist criticized the Chiefs supporters for their usage of the tomahawk chop, which is a hand gesture and chant that is employed by fans of teams who have Native American mascots representing them.
The gesture, according to LG, serves as a reminder of what Hollywood has done to Native Americans. He pointed out that the chant was utilized in older Westerns before indigenous actors were given the chance to play prominent parts in the film.
Gladstone has said that she is irritated when individuals assert that the chant is intended to be a symbol of “honor,” and she has also referred to it as the “commodification” of her people.
In her explanation, Lily said that the pioneers, who were known as the 49ers, who traveled west in search of gold were a precursor to “an incredibly brutal time for California Indians.” Therefore, an NFL club that uses that name is not completely innocent either.
In passing, I should mention that there are occasions when people demonstrate against the Chiefs’ name. One such demonstration began before to the Chiefs’ triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII in the previous year.
Other professional sports organizations, such as the Cleveland Guardians in Major League Baseball and the Washington Commanders, have already altered their names in response to criticism, despite the fact that their previous titles were very obvious warning signs for activists.
