"Officially a Washington Redskin!" Kendal Thompson wrote on Instagram on July 26, 2016. Photo from Instagram
Kendal Thompson, a member of the Kiowa Tribe, has signed with the Washington NFL team and is hoping to land a spot on the roster for the upcoming season. Prominent Native activists, dozens of tribes and nearly every major Indian organization oppose the use of harmful stereotypes in sports. But Thompson, who was raised in Oklahoma with a strong connection to his Kiowa heritage, isn't bothered by the team's controversial mascot. "Even in my Native American heritage, there’s never been any offense taken to the name of any of the sports teams, the Indians, the Redskins," Thompson told EPSN. "It’s a part of our American history. We used to go to a powwow in Oklahoma City called Red Earth. So it just depends who you talk to, whether they take offense or not. As far as my family and heritage, we don’t take offense to that. It was never a topic." Incidentally, Thompson played football for the University of Utah, whose "Utes" mascot has been embraced by the Ute Tribe. He also played for the University of Oklahoma, where his father, Charles Thompson, was considered a standout until his arrest for drug trafficking. Thompson's mother, Kori Kaubin, is a member of the Kiowa Tribe. Read More on the Story:
As Kendal Thompson tries to make Redskins, he clings to Native American roots (ESPN 8/8)
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