In 2014, we began a dialogue with a group of local leaders from various American Indian backgrounds and experiences. As an organization, our goal was to gain a better understanding of the issues facing Native American communities in our region and to explore opportunities to both raise awareness of Native American cultures and celebrate the rich traditions of tribes with a historical connection to the Kansas City area.
These meaningful conversations with the American Indian Community Working Group helped us to train us and our fans, and our partnership with these leaders has helped guide our American Indian Heritage Month Games, as well as the ceremonial Blessing of the Drum and the Four directions from Arrowhead Stadium. Our conversations also lead us to discourage fans from wearing ceremonial headdresses and American face paint with Indian themes in our stadium. We are grateful to the members of the working group for their advice and cooperation, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.
In addition to that ongoing collaboration, we have recently expanded our efforts by consulting with a national organization that works closely on issues facing American Indians and tribes. Based on these discussions, such as the work we have done over the past six years alongside the local working group, we will adopt the following measures / policies in advance:
- While we fans have discouraged mothers from wearing headwear for several years, they are immediately effective, fans will be forbidden to wear headgear in the stadium.
- Face painting is still allowed for all fans, but any face paint that is styled in a way that references or applies American Indian cultures and traditions will be banned.
- Fans will be asked to remove any Indian-themed face paint before passing security screen outside the stadium.
- We are engaged in an in-depth evaluation process of the Arrowhead Chop and plan to have additional discussions in the future.
- We explore all options for a changing moment of engagement from the Drum Deck that maintains a unifying effect between our fans and our players, but better represents the spiritual significance of the drum in American Indian cultures.
- This includes discussions on how to change the focus of the drum to something that symbolizes the heartbeat of the stadium.
- As permitted by NFL guidelines and the Department of Health of the City of Kansas City for the 2020 season-affected coronavirus, we will continue with many of the traditions we have introduced over the past six years , including the Blessing of the Four Directions, the Blessing of the Drum, as well as inviting members of tribes with a historical connection to our region to participate in our American Indian Heritage Month Game.
- Finally, we are investigating the establishment of a more formalized education program with input from both our local and national partners.
We are grateful for the meaningful conversations we have had with all of these American Indian leaders. It is important that we continue the dialogue on these important issues, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.
