I am Dena’ina Athabascan and Unangan (Aleutian), an Alaska Native living in California. As a Native person, there is not a day that passes where I don’t come across some form of exploitive, anti-Native behaviors in play. Not a day.

Native imagery is everywhere in the United States. Our images, symbols, and cultures are used as commodities and novelties. Natives are used as logos, from butter packaging to cigarettes to baking soda to clothing. Natives are used as Halloween costumes. Native tribe names are used by the U.S. military as names for weapons. Native tribe names are used as names for vehicles. Natives are used as mascots for sports teams.

Racism toward Native people is normalized, so much so that many people do not see it as racism at all. Racist stereotypes of Native people are seemingly ingrained into the psyche of people starting in childhood, some subliminal, some direct.

Most of this Native imagery is constructed and controlled by non-Natives. While there is a constant omnipresence of such imagery, it is severely lacking real Native representation. People see more Native depictions created by non-Natives in media than they do of real Native people. This is how negative stereotypes and misconceptions are formed. This, whether consciously or not, embeds the notion that Native cultures are here for consumption. It suggests it is perfectly normal and acceptable to use Natives for products and profit, and to most people, it is — except to the very people being exploited.

Sports mascots based off of Native imagery started in the 1900s, a time when Native people were being subjected to “civilization regulations,” which essentially outlawed us from practicing our cultures, languages, and religions.

Professional sports teams as well as thousands of schools use Native-themed mascots and names. I believe schools are often where children are first introduced to these acceptable, normalized forms of racism; they learn that what would be considered inappropriate and racist to other races and cultures doesn’t apply to Natives for some reason. Proponents will say mascots “honor” us. But when actual Natives say otherwise, the same people “honoring” us will often dismiss us or start arguments. Quite the honor!

We’re told it’s not a big deal, we’re too sensitive, and that we should worry about bigger issues. What many don’t comprehend is that all of these issues concerning Natives and Native identity actually connect, converge, and come full circle. When we are seen as fictional characters, it dehumanizes us; when we’re not seen as people, the potential for violence toward us increases. It’s not “just a mascot” when these mascots perpetuate harmful stereotypes and actually generate more racist sentiments about Natives. Mascots have been shown to) have a negative impact on the self-esteem of Native children. Native students report that when they attend schools with Native mascots or team names, they are often victims of bullying. Native mascots monolith the varied, distinct tribes and nations spread across the Americas into one cliché mockery.

The NFL has a team called the Redskins, a dictionary-defined slur. The term originated from the practice of settlers collecting bloody Native scalps for bounty in the late 1800s. The MLB has a team called the Indians, and their mascot is Chief Wahoo, a grotesque red-faced “Indian” caricature. The team did state they will no longer feature Wahoo on their uniforms next year, but they will remain the Indians. These racist portrayals of indigenous peoples used under the guise of honor is the norm — a tradition, they say.