Daniel Snyder continues his fight against the organized protest of his team's nickname.
USA TODAY Sports on Monday night reported that Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, still is trying to convince American Indians that "Redskins" is not a derogatory term by announcing the creation of the "Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation" whose focus will be "to tackle the troubling realities facing so many tribes across our country" on the team's website.
In a letter addressed "To Everyone in our Washington Redskins Nation," Snyder writes:
Several months ago I wrote you about my personal reflections on our team name and on our shared Washington Redskins heritage. I wrote then - and believe even more firmly now - that our team name captures the best of who we are and who we can be, by staying true to our history and honoring the deep and enduring values our name represents."
Snyder writes that he spoke to Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians chairwoman Mary L. Resvaloso, whom he quoted as saying, "There are Native Americans everywhere that 100% support the (Redskins) name. I believe God has turned this around for something good."
According to USA TODAY Sports, Snyder added that he and his staff have traveled to 26 tribal reservations across 20 states in the past four months. He includes statistics on rates of poverty, diabetes, alcohol and drug use, violence and suicide among American Indians that he hopes his foundation can help alleviate.
The foundation is in place in lieu of Snyder changing the Washington football team nickname, which has been the target of criticism by select members of Indian tribes, activist groups and even U.S. congressmen.
Gary Edwards, a Cherokee and retired deputy assistant director of the U.S. Secret Service, is the head of the foundation, which is already identifying potential impact points to assistant American Indians.
It is interesting to note, however, that except for using the team nickname as part of the Washington football franchise, Snyder does not interchange the term "Redskins" with "Native Americans" in his letter.
And it also remains to be seen whether his actions will create a rift between the supportive Indian communities and those tribes who take offense and now might view their fellow Indian brethren as being lured into support by money.
Do you think Daniel Snyder is trying to buy the Indian community's support, or is he being genuine with his foundation? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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