Relatives of famed John Two Guns White Calf are calling on the NFL to reinstate the Washington Redskins logo that features their ancestor's image.
Washington DC's NFL team was named the Redskins from 1937 to 2019, before owners decided to drop the nickname and logo, citing it as offensive. Despite fan outcry, the team has consistently maintained it will not bring back the Redskins.
“The fans want him back and we want him back,” said Two Guns' nephew, Thomas White Calf.
White Calf met with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mt.), who has been working with the family to tell their story.
“Our ancestors were the most famous and most photographed Native people in history.”
During the Fox News interview, Whitecalf appeared with his mother, Delphine Whitecalf, the niece of a former Blackfoot chief. The two He told the media They want a “seat at the table” when it comes to the Washington football organization, now called the Commanders.
Blackfoot members argued that having the logo was actually a point of pride for their tribe.
“Our ancestor was one of the most famous and most photographed Native Americans in history,” White Calf said. He continued, “Two Guns is on the Indian Head nickel. I'm proud of him. The Blackfoot are proud of him.”
Senator Daines characterized the issue as “righting a wrong” and said the logo symbolizes the country's Native American history, adding that the Two Guns story should be “celebrated with fervor” across the country.
The Washington Commanders responded to the comments, saying they planned to work with Republicans to honor the team's traditions.
“At the senator's suggestion, we have a great relationship with Ryan Wetzel, grandson of Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, who designed the logo, and we look forward to honoring that legacy,” a Commanders spokesperson said.
The late Blackfoot chief Wetzel reportedly created a portrait of Two Guns White Calf in 1971, which reportedly garnered widespread support; an NFL team adopted the portrait as their team logo in 1972.
But the Wetzel family argued that the football organization has ignored them for decades.
Redskins legend Mark Rypien recently said the team needs to remember its roots and get back to playing like the Redskins, but he also said the name change needs to be embraced.
“These are the times we have to deal with right now. … We're going to root for these guys, because these are the times.”
He continued, “I'm rooting for these players, this team, and I want this Commanders football team to be able to play football again like the Redskins played in our day.”
During a press conference ahead of the 2024 season, Commanders owner Josh Harris said the Redskins name “cannot be resurrected.”
“We've been very clear, for obvious reasons, we cannot reinstate the old name,” Harris explained. Boldness.
The team also told Fox News that they have no plans to bring back the old logo.
Two Guns was born in Montana in 1872 and fought to preserve Native American culture.
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