TORONTO — A thought-provoking video posted online last week is aimed squarely at the National Football League and the millions of fans tuning in to Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown.
The two-minute video supports the Oneida Indian Nation’s Change The Mascot campaign and the National Congress of American Indians — both opposed to the use of Redskins as a name for the NFL’s Washington team.
Critics believe the name is disparaging to Native Americans.
On Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is listening to those pushing for a name change.
“I’ve been spending the last year talking to many of the leaders in the Native American communities,” Goodell said at a news conference. “We are listening. We are trying to make sure we understand the issues.”
Goodell said the team was named Redskins eight decades ago to honour Native Americans and said polls show most people — including Native Americans — don’t want the name changed.
Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has said they have no intention of changing the name.
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