What is the Tomahawk chop, and why is it controversial?

(NewsNation) — While people across the country prepare to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, one group will protest a gesture used by Kansas City Chiefs fans known as the “Tomahawk chop.”

“Not In Our Honor” plans to voice their concerns Sunday afternoon outside Allegiant Stadium, where the Chiefs are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers.

What is the Tomahawk chop?

The “Tomahawk chop” is a gesture and chant used at Kansas City Chiefs games, often before kickoff with the big drum and after touchdowns to show support for the team. Fans typically move their arm up and down in what appears to be a chopping motion.

Who started the Tomahawk chop?

Chiefs Kingdom isn’t the only fanbase using the “Tomahawk chop.”  The Atlanta Braves and the Florida State Seminoles also take part. The gesture has been featured at different sporting events for the last three decades.

According to reports, the Chiefs’ use of the chop started after Northwest Missouri State’s marching band played at one of Kansas City’s games.

“In 1990, the band played at one of Kansas City’s games. Al Sergel, a Florida State graduate, led the musical group as the band performed FSU’s war chant during the game,” Sporting News reports. “It got the attention of players and then-Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Soon, it became a fixture at Chiefs games, too.”

Controversy surrounding the Tomahawk chop

The “Tomahawk chop” is considered a gameday tradition for some or a sign of synchronized racism for others.

The chant has been called “the most racist gesture demonstrated on the American sporting landscape.” Critics say it perpetuates offensive stereotypes about Native Americans.

“Not In Our Honor” is calling for Kansas City’s football team to change its name and end the use of the “Tomahawk chop” and “big drum” at events.

“We all need to evaluate why the city of Kansas City continues to tolerate being represented on the global stage by a football team using stereotypes of a race of human beings, their sacred objects and imagery as its mascot. We need to take a hard look at all of our roles in allowing this to continue,” the group shared in a news release.

The Chiefs said the origin of its name has no affiliation with American Indian culture, but acknowledges that much of the team’s early promotional activities relied heavily on “messaging depicting American Indians in a racially insensitive fashion.”

“Over the course of the club’s 60-plus-year history, the Chiefs organization has worked to eliminate this offensive imagery and other forms of cultural appropriation in their promotional materials and game-day presentation,” the team said on their website.

In 2014, leaders with the team started talking with the American Indian Community Working Group, seeking education on key issues and evaluations of gameday traditions. Since, the Chiefs banned headdresses and face paint at Arrowhead Stadium on gameday.

But some say that’s not enough.

“There has been no reconciliation despite the team leadership’s claims of change and their hand-picked ‘working group.’ The small changes they have made, i.e., banning headdresses and face paint, make it obvious they are aware all of their imagery and branding is problematic at best,” Not In Our Honor said.

The Chiefs isn’t the only team that’s come under fire for the use of Native American imagery in sports. The Washington Commanders, formerly the Redskins, and the Cleveland Guardians, formerly the Indians, changed their mascots in 2020.

The Chiefs and the 49ers will face off for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET.