"Resolution and legislation ask Navajo Nation council to oppose offensive sports names", 2 Mar 2014

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission has approved a resolution recommending the Navajo Nation Council oppose the use of "disparaging" references to Native people in professional sports franchises.Three commissioners unanimously passed the resolution, which recommends the council oppose the use of names such as "redskin," "redskins" and "chiefs," on Friday...The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in September 2007. It sets the individual and collective rights and the rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health and education of indigenous peoples.It also prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples...Although the bill mentions that several professional sports franchises utilize references to Native Americans in mascots and team names, it only lists the Washington Redskins by name...With Native Americans facing high rates of suicide, violence against women, racial and hate crimes, poverty, unemployment and loss of identity and culture, the use of such terms has "a negative psychological effect on Native Americans, such as promoting low self-esteem and self-image in Native youth who are already disadvantaged by social ills beyond their control," the draft legislation states..