Pride over political correctness.
Via GF Trib
Mike Sangrey understands some people think his Chippewa Cree Tribe is selling out by taking money from the Washington NFL team’s Original Americans Foundation. Sangrey doesn’t care about that. There’s a spanking-new playground scheduled to open at noon Friday on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, and that’s what matters to him.
“If us accepting the money makes (the team and its owner) sleep better at night, then fine, I wish them a good night’s sleep,” Sangrey said. “What matters is our kids get to enjoy a new playground. And how can that be bad?”
The rodeo-themed playground belongs to the tribe, but the branding belongs to the Washington Redskins. The place is awash in the team colors of burgundy and gold. The team’s logo appears four times, near a slide here and a teeter-totter there. The team’s foundation paid roughly $200,000 for this gleaming tribute to itself.
Arguments over the Redskins are heard from the White House to trademark court to barrooms across the land, but there is little debate amid the rolling high-plains grasslands of northcentral Montana, where members of the business council of the Chippewa Cree Tribe say the name is fine with them.
“I have no problem with the name,” tribal chairman Rick Morsette said. “And if they’re willing to help our youth, that’s good too.”