A Devils Lake-based nonprofit group has sued the N-F-L’s Washington Commanders, their new owner, and a prominent Native American advocacy group in federal court, claiming the team’s refusal to change its nickname back to the Redskins is an attempt to eradicate Native American history.
The Native American Guardians Association, known as “NAGA,” accuses the Commanders, their leadership, and the National Congress of American Indians of defamation in the suit, saying that team employees called NAGA a “fake group” and conspired to violate NAGA’s civil rights after a petition it championed to reverse the name-change went viral.
The Washington team dropped the Redskins name in 2020, after sponsors and advocacy groups claimed the name was offensive.
NAGA claims the term Redskins carries deep cultural and historical significance, honoring the bravery, resilience, and warrior spirit associated with Native American culture.
NAGA says shortly after a a new ownership group took over the Commanders this summer, the group’s petition demanding that the new owners change the team’s name back to the Redskins collected more than 130,000 signatures.
NAGA’s President is Eunice Davidson, a longtime supporter of UND’s former “Fighting Sioux” nickname.
The civil complaint, filed today in U-S District court in North Dakota, demands a jury trial.
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(KNOX/KFGO)