I see that the Exeter Chiefs/cultural appropriation malarkey reared its ugly head again at the weekend with Wasps asking the RFU to consider a ban on fans wearing Native American headdresses.
This particular hot potato was first in the news over a year ago when, under pressure from a group of its own fans to change its Native American branding, the club unilaterally decided that use of such branding was, in fact, highly respectful – a stance maintained by owner Tony Rowe who continues to insist that the club is not trying to belittle anyone’s heritage.
To me this is quite simple.
No one is suggesting that the Exeter Chiefs change their name. They have apparently been known as the Chiefs since the 1900s and there is no reason to change that.
Equally, no one is suggesting that the club, in using Native American imagery, is deliberately trying to offend anyone or belittle their heritage.
But to continue to use such imagery when you know it causes offence, effectively insisting that people who are offended by its use are wrong when they say that such use is disrespectful to their culture, is just plain ignorant.
I don’t think this will go away. The branding will have to change sooner or later. Exeter again have an opportunity to do the right thing – I hope they take it.
