Attendees of the 2025 Native American Summit perform a dance in the Illinois Capitol rotunda on March 12, 2025, in full ...

Supporters of Native mascots at schools say they are well-intended and don't cause harm. But several independent studies detail the adverse effects on Native Americans, particularly young people.

But as the Chickasaw Nation member grew up and learned about his Indigenous roots, he came to see the school’s mascot — a stereotypical Native American man wearing a headdress — as problematic.

President Trump vowed Monday to fight for a Long Island town to keep its school’s team name and logo after New York state demanded their removal because of a ban on Native American imagery.

But as the Chickasaw Nation member grew up and learned about his Indigenous roots, he came to see the school’s mascot — a stereotypical Native American man wearing a headdress — as problematic.