Using Native Americans as mascots Joining us live now to discuss today's announcement is crystal echo hawk founder and CEO of illuminative that's a network of activists and tribal leaders combating racist team mascots Crystal thanks for joining us today I want to find out is today the last chapter in a very long saga here in Washington for you or did that come some time ago 18 months ago when the team announced it was getting rid of the name that you wanted them to get rid of Well thank you for having me I mean I think today really signals the start of a new chapter I think down to the very last minute I think on some level a lot of native peoples were holding their breath to really make sure that whatever the team chose was not going to in any way be related to native peoples because there's been so much distrust of the team based on its treatment of Native Americans over the last 90 years So I think we all kind of on some level had a site read the sigh of relief this morning to kindly hear the name change And I think this new chapter needs to not only be about the new name but it needs to be about how the team is also going to repair the harm that it perpetuated by having a dictionary defined racial slur in the harm it caused against Americans for such a long time You have been asking the franchise to apologize for bearing its old name for more than 85 years He never got that apology Is the new name too late No I think there's never it's never too late to apologize right And I had a conversation last week with the team which I made it very clear that I felt that Native Americans were determining of a formal public apology You know they've kind of signaled that in private I think to a lot of different folks across any country but to see that public acknowledgment and apology And I think also activists made American activists like Suzanne harjo and Amanda black horse and so many others were really viciously targeted by the team and by the fans for a very long time and really harassed And so I think those activists also are deserving an apology and to be really celebrated for their monumental work This is a win against racism This is a civil rights victory This is a win against racism And I think the team can really step into this new leadership opportunity by first apologizing making a plan about how it's going to address the harm It's caused in the past and going forward has a huge leadership opportunity to really share its story and to help be a part of eliminating all Native American mascots across sports Crystal great to get your perspective today Thanks for coming on That's crystal echo hawk founder and CEO of illuminative It's 1244 Let's give them something to talk about summer will be here before you know it Just announced wolf traps summer lineup includes Bonnie rapes Sting Jason isbell and the 400 unit and the goo goo dolls The world Yo-Yo Ma little big town Steve Martin and Martin Short Sheryl Crow and many more will be live at wolf trap this summer Become a wolf trap member today for early access to tickets Join now at wolf trap dot org.