For many Native Americans , the decision to replace the former names of Washington’s NFL team and Cleveland’s MLB team was not just symbolic. It was a matter of dignity, safety and cultural survival . Now, after President Donald Trump called on both franchises to restore those names, old fears are resurfacing.

Both teams rebranded in the early 2020s after years of protest and legal challenges from Native American advocates. Washington dropped its former name, widely seen as a slur, before the 2020 season and adopted the Commanders name two years later. Cleveland abandoned its “Indians” name after the 2021 season, rebranding as the Guardians.

With Trump threatening to hold up the Commanders’ plan to build a new stadium in Washington if the team does not revert to its original name, Na

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