Native American Journalist Explains Impact Of KC Chiefs On Stereotypes

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mattstaff
Feb 1, 2020 12:00 PM EST

Ahead of the big Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, Mohawk Writer Vincent Schilling, seeks to explain the impact of the KC Chiefs on offensive stereotypes concerning Native Americans and Indigenous people. Schilling's thoughts are definitely making a wave across Twitter.

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  • 01
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling So the #Superbowl this year is the @49ers and the Kansas City @Chiefs. As a former Sports Editor, and as a Native American journalist, I have a few things to say about this #AppropriationBowl. First, the Chiefs are not honoring Native people. I'll explain in a #Thread.
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 02
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs I typed 'Kansas City Chiefs' into Twitter Gif's and the offensive image of a man doing the Tomahawk Chop in a headdress is the third image to come up. Also, did you realize the @Chiefs got their name from a non-Native man who formed a fake Indian Boy Scout tribe, the Mic-O-Say.
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 03
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs As I wrote in my article: "The creation of the Mic-O-Say by Harold Roe Bartle, a non-Native man with a 25-cigar- a-day habit and a booming voice, was the man behind the catalyst leading to the eventual creation of the name for the Kansas City football team, the @Chiefs."
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 04
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs The Mic-O-Say became wildly popular and increased camp attendance in scout summer camps by young men who wished to incorporate Native American traditions into their scout activities. In 1928, Bartle was named the Scout Executive of the Kansas City area council.
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 05
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs Bartle was named Scout Executive of the Kansas City area council. Mic-O-Say was so successful, other camps were formed. Bartle's Mic-O-Say camp in Osceola, Missouri, now the 'Bartle Scout Reservation" still exists TODAY. So does the Mic-O-Say "Tribe" micosay.org
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 06
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs Bartle, who was known in many of his circles as 'chief' served as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, for two terms. In 1962 he helped to persuade Lamar Hunt, the owner of Dallas Texans football team to bring his team to Kansas City. Guess what Bartle asked the new team name to be?
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 07
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs Bartle asked for the name to be the Chiefs. The @Chiefs got their name from a non-Native man, who created a fake Indian Boy Scout tribe ... that still exists today. "How the Kansas City Chiefs got their name and the Boy Scout Tribe of Mic-O-Say"
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 08
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs So what do I as a Native man do? I ask that we spread awareness. Share our information, share our concerns. If you support the @Chiefs, I support your right to do so. But I ask that you not argue at me to change my position. Or tell me I should not be offended and be honored.
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 09
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs I also support the NFL players who have worked very hard to achieve their levels of athleticism. But I think of my grandmother, who was so afraid to be Mohawk, she never uttered a word in her language to me. Lest I also be stolen away to boarding school. I only ask for respect
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 10
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and @Chiefs So all said about the Superbowl #AppropriationBowl No doubt people will tell me to "Get Over It" or "Move On" but it isn't just about the team name. It is the sweeping approval from the @NFL to allow headdresses, face paint, Tomahawk Chops and more at games. #NolWontJustMoveOn
    via @VinceSchilling
  • 11
    Text - Vincent Schilling @VinceSchilling Replying to @VinceSchilling @49ers and 2 others The @NFL talks about the importance of Championships, or World Champions etc. etc. But I am waiting to see championship behavior from the world of sports in terms of respecting Native culture. Something I haven't yet seen.
    via @VinceSchilling

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