Missouri doesn’t grab the headlines like our east and west coast neighbors, and that is how we like it. This relative anonymity suits us just fine. We have strong agricultural roots, build lots of cars, and are often caricatured as barefoot hillbillies with a corncob pipe and an old coon dog for company. That is, until recently when our NFL football team went on a tear. Predictably, the Kansas City Chiefs ascension into the spotlight has awakened the folks who think we should change their name to the Kansas City (anything) other than something that disparages the American Indian. So far, we haven’t taken the bait. Here is how we got here.
The Chiefs were founded in 1959. Americans weren’t as sensitive back then, and Native American monikers were quite common. Sioux Chief baking ingredients, trains, cars, numerous aircraft and even Naval Officers and Army pilots reflect “Chief” in their titles. Webster says a Chief is highest in rank or authority. Who gave it a thought? That was then, before folks chose to be offended by just about anything. Chose is the operative word in my last sentence.
The football Chiefs were not actually named after a great plains Indian warrior. Their name rose from a white man who impersonated Native American Culture. The fellow was instrumental in developing the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, a part of the Boy Scouts Of America, back in 1925. Mr. H. Roe Bartle was as white as they come but says he was inducted into a local tribe of the Arapaho people. His Indian name was “Lone Bear” but he was referred to as Chief Lone Bear in the Mic-O-Say organization. You may remember that Bartle’s name is sprinkled throughout the history of Kansas City as he was a popular two term mayor in the ‘60’s. It was Bartle who convinced Lamar Hunt to bring the Dallas Texans football team to Kansas City. In a name the team contest, “Chiefs” kept surfacing and Hunt, in consult with “Chief” Bartle, found their name. Thus the “Chiefs” have as much a connection with the Boy Scouts as they do native Americans. By extension, the BSA incorporates Native American references into it’s organization. Bartle’s influence within the Boy Scouts extends into a beautiful, crappie filled cove on Truman lake at the Bartle Scout Camp, affectionally referred to as ”Boy Scout Cove”. (I have snatched untold numbers of fat crappie from these waters.)
One by one, out of respect for the folks who can find a reason to eliminate a black lady from a pancake mix box, monikers associated with the American Indian are being relegated to the trash bin of history. The Cleveland Indians and Washington Red Skins are notable examples. In some respects America hates tradition or is it that relevance only occurs when you are raising hell about something. You be the judge. The tomahawk chop and big drum at (gulp) Arrowhead (now GEHA) stadium will be next. This season a young boy in an Indian war bonnet was excoriated for his disrespect of Native American culture, evidenced by his headgear. I don’t know the kid, but am willing to bet that was not his intention.The Florida State Seminoles, Atlanta Braves and the Chiefs all depend on the “chop” to arouse the fighting instinct in their teams. Scant thought is given to dehumanizing the culture it is derived from, unless of course, you again “choose” to be offended.
Congratulations to the Chiefs! They are gridiron warriors of the first order who have obviously spent more time studying x’s and o’s than the battlefield strategy at Little Big Horn. Long live the tomahawk chop and big drum. Recently, old War Paint was retired. He was a beautiful Appaloosa ridden by an “Indian Maiden” around the field, stirring up the crowd. I am one old traditionalist who revers Arrowhead Stadium and Missouri’s own Chiefs! I also revere the Native American and his history, and choose to not be swayed by those who seek relevance by trading on their tragic place in our American culture.
Have a good week!
SR
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