Gyasi Ross: Indian Country can't get enough of Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks, as they get ready to crush the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, are undoubtedly the most Indian-nest professional sports team in the entire world, with the possible exception of the Arizona Coyotes and the Green Bay Packers. I mean, sure, there are teams that are clearly Native-inspired—the Redskins, Chiefs, Blackhawks, Browns (AYEZZZZZ!!). Yet those teams aren’t really that Native-friendly because they’re not really in locations where there are lot of Natives. I mean, Chicago? Washington, DC? Kansas City??

Yikes. There’s a few Natives in those towns, but not a bunch. That says to me that those teams were probably NOT really named those Native-inspired names out of deference to Indian people.

Plus each one of those franchises seems to like Natives in image only. Headdresses. War whooping. They don’t seem to really be interested in really knowing any Native people. So they’re kinda lying…

The Seahawks, on the other hand—their very logo is strongly influenced by northwest coastal Native art. Great things inspire imitations—in the same way that so many Native people and white people and Asians are inspired by hip-hop, an artform created by black people, many people are inspired by our beautiful art. I know a few people hilariously throw a fit whenever any non-Native does art or clothing that is inspired by Native art or clothing, but many more love Native-inspired art.