Nike made “new” uniforms for all 32 football teams in the NFL. In reality, they simply made technological advancements to material of the uniforms themselves, making them sleeker, tighter, and more strategically padded.
As Mark Parker, CEO of Nike, told the USA Today, the jerseys are up to thirty percent lighter, they’re made with a four-way stretch that gives players a more contoured fit with less material for tacklers to grab, and there’s built-in padding in certain parts of the uniforms. “It’s extra layers where you need it and none where you don’t,” he told the USA Today.
As for the actual look of the uniforms, most of the 32 teams in the leagues saw no discernible change in their logos, colors and designs…save for the Seattle Seahawks.
USA Today reports that the Portland, Oregon-based Nike drew on design features from the team and company’s home in the Pacific Northwest, and were inspired by the rich Native history of the region. Specifically, Nike drew on the designs taken from totem poles, making the bird on the helmet come to a significant point on the back. Instead of the Seahawks taking an Indian name and image for their mascot and logo, they’re simply allowing themselves to be inspired by the history and heritage of Native peoples of their region. See for yourself below, and let us know what you think:
ADR: Too bad that the Coast Salish, the people who’s land they’re on, never used Totems. That’s British Columbia and Alaskan Native peoples.
The Coast Salish are one of many people who inhabit the PNW, which yes does include Alaska and British Columbia tribes. Perhaps the designs were inspired by totem poles, but the carving and artwork on totem poles was also found on bentwood boxes, masks, weaving, canoes, and other forms of artwork, which was similar for most of the region. The Coast Salish lands stretch from southern Washington into British Columbia [Southern Coast Salish, Lushootseed [Puget Sound Salish, where Seattle actually is], Central Coast Salish, and Northern Coast Salish.] The PNW tribes are more than the Salish, and they all influenced each other in art.
Not to mention, fans of the Seahawks don’t have to live in only Seattle, they’re the team for our whole region [which includes Alaska]. So I think getting cranky that the designs are inspired by a native group of the region, instead of the specific group where Seattle is, is pointless. No where has anyone said the design was based on Salish totem poles, or that Seattle was once the land of the Tsimshian or Haida or Kwakwaka’wakw or Tlingit.
Not to mention, totem poles ARE a part of Salish modern day life and culture.They are used in many tribal buildings today in the Salish region, and modern Salish carvers are well within their rights to carve a totem pole [and do.] One was erected just last year in memory for carver John T. Williams in Seattle.
First, let me start off by quoting my friend who is Duwamish who read your comment; he says,
“Interesting as it is, and heavily considering how colonization has substantially misconstrued much of the greater public’s knowledge on exactly what each individual tribe did or did not do, it is hard to believe that the Duwamish tribe, whose land resided where current day Seattle, WA does, would appreciate the Seattle Seahawks misrepresenting Duwamish culture through foreign tribal art (Haida or Tlingit). Especially when the Seattle Seahawks attract national attention to the Duwamish land – which that land was never properly given to the Duwamish people. As you tried to mention: “masks, weaving, canoes, and other forms of art” — such as paddles, fishing hooks/lures, wood utensils, etc., would better represent the Duwamish people.
Should it always be the quickest stereotype that makes a bigger (false) impression of what the local indigenous peoples’ culture are? Does the Duwamish – not the Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Kwakwaka’wakw, other Coast Salish tribes – want the Seattle Seahawks – which, of course, the city of the NFL team’s home-turf is named after the Duwamish chief Seattle – to have their jerseys “inspired” by totem poles? Does the totem poles that “inspired” the Seattle Seahawks new jerseys accurately represent the Duwamish people, their land, and their culture? Or would it be better of the Seattle Seahawks to have jerseys inspired by the Duwamish people’s “other forms of art” found on drums, paddles, baskets, etc.
Honestly, it is rather upsetting seeing people think that Tlingit and Haida artwork is of Coast Salish culture. Modern society is considerably misconstrued of Coast Salish culture by Tlingit and Haida art being sold in gift shops, being on displays in city galleries, and now “inspiring” the Seattle Seahawks’ new Nike jerseys. Thus, should it really be that Tlingit and Haida art that is referred too on the Seattle Seahawks’ jerseys whenever the Seahawks play on national television? Or for the sake of acknowledging a tribe that has not been federally recognized by the U.S. Government have its art be referred too whenever the Seahawks play football?”
Secondly, it’s the Seattle Seahawks. Not the Washington Seahawks. Not the PNW Seahawks. True, the fans are not only from Seattle; but that’s a point that should really go without saying as that’s an obvious statement and is of little significance.
Also, the Salish (not Coast Salish) extend from Eastern Washington on eastward into Montana and Idaho. Lushootseed is also a language not a people.
Finally to address your comment which pertains to the totem pole carved for John T. Williams by his brother and family which was erected back in February: John T. Williams and his family are Alaskan Natives, not Coast Salish. At the memorial service back in August, they specifically had the folks whom were Alaskan Natives in the crowd to come up because they are the Williams’ Family’s people. The family most likely moved to Seattle during the 1950s or later during the termination period much like many other native people from other parts of the country. It’s not uncommon for urban natives to be from varying parts of the country and continent.
Moreover, totem poles ARE NOT traditional to the region (as I stated before, they’re from British Columbia and Alaska… one area which doesn’t consider themselves apart of the PNW namely Alaska). If Coastal artists create Totems it’s generally to make money, not to practice their traditional art, modern or not. Though there are a good number of Totems here in Washington, many (that I’ve seen) are bullshit reproductions or blatant rip offs made by non-Native people, whose presence only further the misconception that the Coast Salish people traditionally carved Totem Poles.
To wrap this up and get to the main point which I expressed from the start of this forum: Totem Poles do not represent the people whom this land belongs to which the Seattle Seahawks choose to represent to the rest of the country. Thus using a totem pole as the inspiration of the new design only further spreads stereotypes and misconceptions of the people of this region and also misrepresents the peoples whom the Totem poles come from.
Might as well say that teepees belong in the northwest and should be an item which the Seahawks should use as inspiration.
I am Coast Salish. I am from Tulalip. Our tribe is made up of the the people from Seattle to Camano Island. This would include the Duwamish people. Many of our people are descendants of chief Sealth and are Duwamish descendants. (Duwamish is not a recognized tribe and so yes there are people who are trying to get recognized as Duwamish, however many were forced to move to Tulalip and surrounding tribes) that said. I know for a FACT that my people had “totem” poles or story poles as we call them. In our longhouses (this includes Duwamish band) story poles or carved poles indicated families and yes stories.
As I sit here with my family on our land, the same shore and beach that us Puget Sound, Salish Sea natives have lived on for over 4,000 years I can say I’m excited to see the inspired art, I only hope the art had actual Coast Salish Artists input.
Thanks, adailyriot, for the other input a well! Your friend has some good input, I enjoyed his point of view and yours. It’s not that I’m saying we should perpetuate stereotypes or anything. The information I talked about I learned in a art history class at Northwest Indian college. So forgive me, but because of how my studies are set up, I consider tribes in Alaska and British Columbia to be PNW. So when an article says the inspiration comes from “NW native designs” I don’t consider tribes in BC or southern Alaska coast out of that realm of possibility. Also, thanks for the further details on the John T. Williams pole. It was still an important day for Salish tribal members, all tribal members in the area regardless of tribe, as well as his family and friends and tribe, and the significance was not lost to anyone.
I don’t think it’s necessarily a requirement that the Seahawks [the Seattle Seahawks] ONLY represent Seattle. That is not how I see the them. I do see them as a team for the region, because I have friends and family members in Alaska who are more fanatic than I am. [My uncle who lives in Deering, AK which is in the arctic, has season tickets.] So I see them for Washington and for the PNW, not just Seattle. So I don’t think it’s bad if the uniforms are inspired by the region. Which is why I think it’s a cranky point!
Please see what Pipud said, she’s Tulalip, and she knows her culture. She’s amazing like that. And she knows it better than I do, because it’s HER culture.
I wasn’t referring to non-native owned buildings in my last paragraph. I grew up near the Puyallup Reservation, and live amidst the Muckleshoot Reservation. These tribes have totem poles present at their buildings. You should acknowledge that in modern PNW native culture, modern Salish cultures included, totem poles are used. It’s a disservice to modern natives to dismiss their lives and experiences as not “true” or “proper” culture/tradition. Totem poles may have originated in B.C./Alaskan tribes [if you’re going to dismiss Pipud], but they’ve since become a part of the Salish people’s culture too.
I’m not requiring you to change your opinion, you can keep it. Just something to think about and consider. A different point of view!
At this point, the same information will have been passed around. I’m sticking by the points I’ve said earlier and that my friend had also shared. He is also from Tulalip (from one of the many tribes that live at that reservation), and knows his culture as well. I said what I said before because at this point it’s just getting into tribal politics which I’m sure few of the people on here are aware of if they haven’t lived in Tulalip or know folks from there… and frankly I don’t think it’s worth having it spilled all over tumblr cuz most people aren’t going to understand it anyway. I’m saying this, and I know I only understand a very small fraction of it.
What I know of there regarding things is not my information to share either so I’m not going to post it on here.
But like I said, I’m sticking to my points regardless and reiterating that at this point it’s almost not worth discussing further as two of the people here that would know better than most folks (my friend speaking through me as he doesn’t have a tumblr nor want one) are both from the same reservation and still do not see eye to eye on this issue.
I understand that you don’t intend for me to change my opinion on this, but i’m still sticking to my guns.
When discussing a Tribe you're not from you always need to be respectful. If someone from that Tribe tells you they also know the culture and have been taught something is important to their Tribe then you need to respect that.
You should never talk down to someone who is discussing their own Tribe. You don't have to agree but you have to realize that it is their culture and not yours. Regardless of whether your friend is saying anything to you isn't the issue. The issue is that you're being disrespectful to someone who was trying to share their own culture or a certain part of their culture.
If your friend disagrees about the issue then he has the right to disagree because it is his own culture. It is pipud's culture and she can speak out about it if she disagrees. If you aren't from the same Tribe then you need to respect their opinions and keep your own separate.
Understanding other Tribes means respecting other tribes. Talking as though you are an authority figure for other Tribes is rude. It wouldn't be alright if someone else was arguing with you about your own Tribes so it's not alright for you to do it to someone who is from another Tribe with a different culture than yours.
