The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that they will ban fans from wearing Native American headdresses, face paint, and clothing at Arrowhead Stadium. The team also discussed that they are “engaged in an in-depth review process of the Arrowhead Chop,” which is also used by fans of the Florida State Seminoles, Atlanta Braves, and other sports teams with Native American associations.
The Chiefs also hope to shift the focus from the war drum that is tackled at the start of games to “something that symbolizes the heartbeat of the stadium.”
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In a statement on Thursday, the Chiefs said the changes came after many talks with national organizations working closely together on issues affecting Native Americans. These decisions also come after the Washington Football Team who decided to drop his “Redskins” name.
“In 2014, we began a dialogue with a group of local leaders who shape different Indian backgrounds and experiences,” the Chiefs said in their statement. “As an organization, our goal was to better understand issues facing American Indian communities in our region and to explore opportunities to raise awareness of American Indian cultures and to celebrate the rich traditions of tribes with a historical connection to the Kansas City area. .
“We are exploring 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,” the team added.
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However, the Chiefs did not mention her nickname, her logo of “KC” in an arrowhead, as the name of Arrowhead Stadium in the statement. But the team said it was investigating the creation of a formalized education program, and it promised to continue talks with Native American groups in advance.
“We are grateful for the meaningful conversations we have had with all of these American Indian leaders,” the team said. “It is important that we continue the dialogue on these important issues and we look forward to continuing to work together.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
