The Committee of 500 Years of Dignity & Resistance commemorates the 80th anniversary of the violent birth of the Atomic Age, in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We mourn and condemn the loss of innocent, civilian, and noncombatant lives by imperialist settler-states. We also grieve for our global relatives, human and otherwise, for the destruction that the Atomic Age has brought and its creation of a more dangerous world.

The victims of nuclear weapons and their production, unfortunately, extend far beyond the countless sorrows of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Today, communities continue to suffer from the effects of nuclear testing (including government experiments conducted on individuals) and extractivism. In the land currently called the United States, Indigenous People are disproportionately impacted by these. Communities in the Southwest have been subjected to dangerous working conditions in uranium mines, individuals have been forcibly experimented on, and have had their lands and water contaminated by radioactive materials. These are among the many lesser known casualties of uranium.

On 9 August, 2025, the Committee of 500 Years held a documentary screening and group discussion to raise awareness of these casualties, Cleveland’s role in the creation of the atomic bomb, and Indigenous resistances against the Demon Mineral.

Demon Mineral (2023) is an award-winning ‘anti-Western‘ documentary highlighting the Indigenous struggle for vital living space in the radioactive desert of the American Southwest. Spanning the breadth of the Navajo Nation, in a landscape perforated by abandoned uranium mines, the film unearths the thousand-years-long project of reclaiming sacred homeland.

Cleveland’s Contribution to the Manhattan Project

Though not often highlighted, Cleveland played a direct role in the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb. The most significant site was the Harshaw Chemical Company, located at 1000 Harvard Avenue where Big Creek flows into the Cuyahoga River.

From 1942 to 1953, Harshaw was contracted by the Manhattan Engineer District and later the Atomic Energy Commission to process uranium into uranium hexafluoride (UF₆); a highly corrosive gas used to enrich uranium-235. This enriched material formed the core of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Harshaw produced approximately 44,000 pounds of UF₆ during this period, making it a direct contributor to the weapons used during the war.

After uranium processing ended, the site continued operating as a chemical plant until the 1990s. Decades later, radioactive contamination was found in the soil and groundwater. In 1999, the Department of Energy transferred oversight of the site to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).

In December 2023, the Corps awarded a $13.4 million remediation contract to address the contamination. Cleanup includes the removal of radioactive soil, groundwater monitoring, and restoration of the site. Work is ongoing as of 2025.

More information and updates can be found at the Harshaw FUSRAP site.

Support Indigenous Resistance to Uranium Extractivism

Petitions (August 2025)

Save the Grand Canyon from Uranium Mining

The Pinyon Plain Mine threatens aquifers and Red Butte, a site sacred to Havasupai, Hopi, and Navajo communities.
Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/save-the-grand-canyon-from-the-pinyon-plain-uranium-mine
Region: Northern Arizona

Support the Navajo Nation’s Uranium Transport Ban

Despite the Navajo Nation’s law banning uranium transport across its land, trucks carrying radioactive ore are still using highways through the reservation.
Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/urge-governor-katie-hobbs-to-support-the-navajo-nation-s-uranium-transportation-ban
Region: Navajo Nation (Arizona)

Protect Bears Ears from Uranium Mining

Mining claims continue to encroach on Bears Ears National Monument, a sacred landscape for multiple tribes.
Petition:
https://www.suwa.org/action-center/protect-bears-ears
Region: Southeastern Utah

Indigenous-Led Organizations to Support

Diné CARE

(Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment)
Focuses on environmental justice, uranium legacy cleanup, and water protection in Navajo Nation.
Website: https://www.dine-care.org
Region: Navajo Nation (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah)

ENDAUM

(Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining)
Leads resistance against in-situ uranium leach mining near Crownpoint and Church Rock.
Information: https://swuraniumimpacts.org/endaum/
Region: Eastern Navajo Agency, New Mexico

Haul No!

Opposes uranium ore transport from the Pinyon Plain Mine through Diné communities. Active in direct action and education.
Information: https://www.haulno.org
Region: Northern Arizona and Navajo Nation

Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition

Formed by five tribes to advocate for the protection of Bears Ears National Monument, including resistance to mining and other land threats.
Website: https://bearsearscoalition.org
Region: Southeastern Utah

Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE)

A coalition of affected communities working to address the impacts of uranium mining and promote cleanup and accountability.
Website: https://masecoalition.org
Region: Grants Mining District, New Mexico

Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment (LACSE)

Works to stop uranium mining near Mount Taylor, a sacred site for Acoma, Laguna, and other Pueblo peoples.
Information: https://swuraniumimpacts.org
Region: West-central New Mexico

RACIST STEREOTYPES

The Native mascots perpetuate the bloodthirsty savage stereotype. This stereotype puts forward the idea that all Native Americans are wild, aggressive, violent, and brave. These mascots portray us as violent fighters from the 1800s toting tomahawks, lances, as well as bows and arrows.

These stereotypes are seen in the very words of Native mascot supporters.

“I can think of no greater tribute to the American Indian than to name a team’s warriors after courageous, cunning—and feared—warriors of the Indian nations, the braves” (Davis, 2002) (Emphasis added).

“I look at that mascot, that Indian head, and it stirs me up. I think of getting real aggressive, and it brings out the aggressiveness in me. And it makes me go out there and really wrestle hard and fight hard, you know, because that’s what those Indians were” (Davis, 2002) (Emphasis added).

We can see the bloodthirsty savage stereotype in the minds of Cleveland Indians fans when they say things like this:

“No one want to play for a team called the losers, or the weaklings. No[.] The Indian is a fierce warrior willing to do anything to fight for what is right. People feel pride for wearing Chief Wahoo…” -William T. (Emphasis added)

“[Indians] is the name based on strong, courageous warriors…” -Dennis F. (Emphasis added)

“I could understand they didn’t like Chief Wahoo but using a name like Indians should be complimentary as they [sic] great warriors.” -Karen S. (Emphasis added)

“I’m going to State the obvious here all of these teams with Native American themed names are named that way because they were warriors they were Fighters [sic] it has nothing to do with putting them down.” -Sean L. (Emphasis added)

We can see Native mascot supporters — in their own words — perpetuating racist stereotypes of Native people referring to us as “warriors,” “fighters,” and “aggressive.” Natives are to be “feared” because we are “courageous” and “cunning.” They say that seeing an “Indian head” inspires them to “wrestle hard” and “fight hard.” None of these sports fans realize they are perpetuating racist stereotypes when they say these things.

Theses fans speak of us in the past tense when they say Natives “were”; implying we no longer exist. We only exist as Great Plains male warriors and chiefs of the 1800s.

In the past, Whites generated the stereotype of Native Americans as bloodthirsty warriors. They used this stereotype to legitimize killing Native people and restricting us onto distant reservations.

Native Americans are a common sports mascot/team name (i.e., Indians, Braves, Warriors, R*dsk*ns). Other common sports mascots are violent, predatory animals, like bears and wolves.

To use and symbolize Native Americans in the exact same way as violent, predatory animals is racist and dehumanizing…to say the least.

When someone starts a junior league hockey team, they probably want it to be named something that will strike fear into the hearts of their opponents.

Let’s see: We could name the team Bears, Tigers or Lions. Those are all scary and intimidating. Actually, let’s name the team “Warriors” and make our mascot the bloodthirsty savage, which is also scary and intimidating.

Many of the Native mascots are disembodied, floating heads of Great Plains male warriors or chiefs.

White people owning and parading around imagery of a disembodied Indian head has a different historical meaning for Native people.

For example, the Wampanoag leader Metacom (aka. King Philip) led a huge resistance movement against white settlers. Metacom was killed and decapitated, his head was placed on a pike as a warning to other Indigenous people for many years.

Cash bounties were offered to any settler who would kill Native American men, women, and children. For a time, the severed heads of Natives were brought in as proof of the killings in exchange for money.

These Indian head mascots are a reminder of that genocidal violence.

It’s like these Indian Head logos are trophies or bounties being paraded around with pride.

These Native mascots erase cultural diversity. We are portrayed and only seen as a Great Plains buffalo culture from the 1800s. There are well over 500 federally recognized Native nations in what is currently called the United States. There are hundreds more state and non-recognized Native nations. Each and everyone one of them is historically and culturally diverse.

To teach children that all Natives are a Great Plains buffalo culture would be the equivalent of teaching children that all Europeans are French; the only European nation is France; and the only European language is French. That is what these Native mascots are teaching children about Native peoples and nations. They erase our cultural diversity.

HARM

There is over a decade’s-worth of scientific evidence showing that Native American sports mascots/team names cause real, measurable harm.

For Natives, these mascots damage our self-esteem, our ability to imagine future possibilities for ourselves, and our sense of community worth.

These mascots also increase negative feelings of stress, distress, depression, dysphoria, and hostility among Native people. This is all very dangerous considering Natives—especially Native youth—have one of the highest rates of suicide and depression in the US.

For non-Natives who are white, they increase racist attitudes, stereotyping, and discriminatory behavior towards Native Americans, and racist attitudes toward Asian Americans.

This is highly concerning considering that white people overwhelmingly hold positions of power in politics, economics, entertainment, and education. If they hold racist stereotypes and attitudes about Native people, they are more likely to engage in behavior that is harmful to our well-being and ways of life.

These Native mascots also foster a hostile learning environment. Native children suffer psychologically and emotionally in this kind of environment. Non-Native children are taught that stereotyping and discriminating against an entire race of people is acceptable.

When public schools and their students are engaging in harmful, racist behavior like this, is it any wonder these Native mascots cause harm? Is it any wonder that we have an epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women?

Do you need scientific evidence to prove to you that this behavior from students is detrimental and harmful to Native youth?

How can any Native child function and learn in a hostile environment like the ones shown in these images?

These students have put the severed heads of Indigenous women on pikes…just like King Philip.

NO HONOR

Native Americans have zero control over these mascots and team names. Often times, non-Natives claim that these mascots are honoring us.

Racist stereotypes honor no one. We do not honor a people by harming them.

Over 100 Native American tribes and tribal organizations have said they are not honored by these Native sports mascots and have called for their elimination.

Including but not limited to:

Nipmuc Nation

National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)

Native American Journalists Association

National Indian Education Association (2009 & 2013)

Society of Indian Psychologists

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (1999 & 2006)

United South and Eastern Tribes (2013, 2014, & 2020)

Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Seminole Nations

Navajo Nation (Largest federally recognized tribe in the US)

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma

These few examples and all of the scientific evidence showing harm give lie to the claim that Native sports mascots “honor” Native people.

According to other data at least half of Natives are offended by Native mascots and two-thirds of Natives whose Native identity is most important to them are offended by these mascots.

Based on the scientific evidence showing harm, the American Psychological Association (APA), American Sociological Association (ASA), and the American Anthropological Association (AAA) have all called for the elimination of Native sports mascots/team names.

The National Education Association (NEA) has called for the elimination of Native sports mascots.

TAKE ACTION

Given these facts, it is the hope of the Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance that you will join our efforts in eliminating harmful, racist Native American sports mascots from public schools.

Sign up for our mailing list at the top of our website for other action alerts.

Together, we can make a better future for our children both Native and non-Native alike.

FURTHER READING

Summary of Scientific Evidence 

“Twenty Years of Research Into the Health Impacts of Native-Themed Mascots”

The Harm of Native Mascots by Laurel Davis-Delano (2017)

The Problems With Native American Mascots – Davis (2002)

Interviews With Dr. Stephanie Fryberg (Politico & Fansided)

Native Opinion Data on Mascots

Harmful Psychological Effects (Report)

Missing the Point (Report)

Legacy of Racism in Sports (NCAI Report)

Expert Report of Dr. Jesse A. Steinfeldt