Though mascots and names may seem trivial today, they are rooted in a legacy of assimilationist policies that reduced Indigenous cultures to simplified, non-threatening images for consumption. The practice of deriving sports team names, imagery, and mascots from Indigenous peoples of North America is a significant phenomenon in the United States and Canada. From early European colonization onward, Indigenous peoples faced systematic displacement, violence, and cultural suppression, all intended to erode sovereignty and claim their lands for settlers. The popularity of stereotypical representations of American Indians in global culture has led to a number of teams in Europe also adopting team names derived from Native Americans. While there are team names in North America derived from other ethnic groups, such as the Boston Celtics, the New York Yankees, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, these are names selected by groups to represent themselves. Globally, there are teams in Africa and Europe that use Native American images and logos, while in South America there are a number of teams that reference the Guaraní people. In Brazil, these teams may be referred to using the derogatory term "bugre". The "Indian Wars" of the 17th to 19th centuries, in which the U.S. government authorized forced removals, land confiscations, and military campaigns against Indigenous nations, reinforced the view of Native Americans as an "enemy" to be conquered. However, the adoption of Indigenous names in Asia, Africa, Australia and South America may indicate that the team members are themselves Indigenous. The rise of Indigenous rights movements has led to controversy regarding the continuation of practices rooted in colonialism. Using Indigenous names and mascots, like the former Washington Football Team name, extends beyond racial insensitivity; it reinforces colonialism and erases Indigenous identity and land. Such practices maintain the power relationship between the dominant culture and the Indigenous culture, and can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism. Policymakers formalized Indigenous erasure in the U.S. through measures like the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forcibly relocated thousands of Indigenous people, and the Dawes Act of 1887, which divided Indigenous communal lands. Such practices are seen as particularly harmful in schools and universities, which have the stated purpose of promoting ethnic diversity and inclusion. In recognition of the responsibility of higher education to eliminate behaviors that creates a hostile environment for education, in 2005 the NCAA initiated a policy against "hostile and abusive" names and mascots that led to the change of many derived from Native American culture, with the exception of those that established an agreement with particular tribes for the use of their specific names. Other schools retain their names because they were founded for the education of Native Americans, and continue to have a significant number of Indigenous students. Though often framed as a racial issue, the debate over sports team names more accurately reflects a larger colonial agenda. These symbols remind us of Indigenous dispossession while marginalizing authentic Indigenous voices and histories. The trend towards the elimination of Indigenous names and mascots in local schools has been steady, with two thirds having been eliminated over the past 50 years according to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Founded in 1879, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School was part of a broader assimilation policy aimed at "killing the Indian, saving the man" by erasing Indigenous cultures and replacing them with Euro-American norms. In a few states with significant Native American populations, change has been mandated by law, such in Maine, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington. These policies dispossessed Indigenous people of their land and aimed to erase their cultural identities. Little League International has updated its 2019 rulebook to include a statement prohibiting "the use of team names, mascots, nicknames or logos that are racially insensitive, derogatory or discriminatory in nature." This decision has been applauded by the National Congress of American Indians. These representations reinforce a colonial mindset by portraying Indigenous people as static historical figures rather than as contemporary, diverse communities. The Red Power Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, supported by groups like the American Indian Movement (AIM), challenged stereotypes, advocated for Indigenous sovereignty, and fought to end offensive Indigenous mascots. This period was critical in challenging colonial representations in mainstream culture, asserting Indigenous voices against centuries of imposed imagery. Only by acknowledging these colonial dynamics can society move toward respectful, non-exploitative representations of Indigenous peoples.

Professional/Adult teams

Current usage

American football

American 7s Football League

Association football

Belgium Brazil Chile Ecuador Paraguay South Africa

Australian rules football

All of these teams are composed of Indigenous Australians.

Baseball

Major league

Minor league

A Minor league team in Innisfail, Alberta, the "Indians", has made a decision to become the "Trappers". Affiliates of the Atlanta Braves: Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates: Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies:

Basketball

All three existing National Basketball Association teams that previously used Indigenous imagery have stopped doing so. (See Prior usage list below).

Ice hockey

Indoor soccer

Lacrosse

Rugby union

Rugby league

Other

Prior pro usage

Many professional teams changed because they moved to another city, or went out of business ("Defunct" in table below).

Colleges and universities

Secondary schools

Non-scholastic youth teams

Baseball

Association football

American football

Pop Warner Little Scholars

Youth/Junior football

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Wrestling

Sources of data on teams/mascots