Chicago Blackhawks Name and Logo History

Research and honesty would go a long way to understanding this Original Six name and iconic logo. Dishonest WOKE ideology will not.

As society is immersed in Marxist/Communist WOKE ideology one area under attack are sports team’s names and logos. The Cleveland Indians are now the Guardians and their logo Chief Wahoo is in the dust bin of history. The NFL Washington Redskins are now the Commanders and their long-time logo has joined Chief Wahoo.

These symbols were called “Racist” which brings me to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League, an “Original Six” team since 1926.

As the sold-out crowd cheered and Jim Cornelison’s voice carried throughout the building before a Blackhawks game in 2015, Julia Kelly felt pride and recognition, not only as someone who served in the U.S. Army for 28 years but also as a Native American.

Kelly, who is a cultural advisor for Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumburg, Ill., was proudly representing both that day while wearing a traditional Native American jingle dress, which has an Army patch on the back and her rank, command sergeant major, on the sleeves.

“I thought I was going to pass out,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s reaction would have been much different 10 years ago.

Kelly, who is of the Apsaalooke Nation, used to lump the Blackhawks in with the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves and the other sports teams she thought disrespected her heritage with their use of Native American mascots, logos and names.

She was disgusted by the Blackhawks at one point. But now she isn’t.

The Blackhawks put out their own anti-racism statement on June 1. A major theme among the nearly 400 responses to the statement on Twitter was the logo. A majority of the tweets condemned the use of the logo, but some defended it.

Who is right? Who is wrong? Are the Blackhawks actually any different than the Redskins and other sports organizations that are more widely criticized?

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian curator Paul Chaat Smith, a member of the Comanche Nation, called the Blackhawks a “good case study.”

“So in other words, unless all of the Native American people in Chicago and the Midwest with very few exceptions are against the Chicago Blackhawks using that name and logo, then the argument is somehow invalid?” Smith said. “So I think that’s kind of a trap. What I think is useful to think about is how this is part of a far, far bigger phenomenon and that what I wanted to avoid is being prescriptive. ‘OK, here are the rules. Here are the six points, and if you meet five of them, you should change the name.’ So I think it’s divided opinion.”

Black Hawk’s Story:

Black Hawk was born in Saukenuk, Illinois. A member of the "Sauk" (present-day Sac & Fox) tribe, he belonged to the Thunder Clan. An accomplished war leader and dignitary, Black Hawk has left a legacy and a long list of sites that carry his name. The most recognizable eponym would be the professional hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Mà-ka-tai-me-she-kià-kiàk, as Black Hawk was also known, was famed for his reputation as a warrior and his campaign to resist the takeover of his people's homelands. The largest known village on the Upper Mississippi, Saukenuk was more of a small city, comprising more than 100 lodges and some 5,000 residents.

It was in the Treaty of 1804 that the homelands of Black Hawk and his people were ceded to the United States by Quashquame, a Sauk chief. The treaty was resented by the Sauk people and especially Black Hawk, who felt that the chief was not in a position to sign the treaty that led to many Sauk siding with the British during the War of 1812.

Following the Treaty of 1804, most of the Sauk and Fox people had resettled to present-day Iowa. By 1830, the tribes fell under the leadership of Black Hawk's younger opponent, Keokuk. Recognized for his moderation and cooperation, Keokuk was more of an ally for the relocation of the Sauk and Fox tribes. Black Hawk did not acknowledge these treaties, and the war leader began his campaign to fight against its terms so the tribes could return to their homelands.

In 1831, displaced to present-day Iowa, Black Hawk joined with some of his followers to cross the Mississippi and reclaim their home in Illinois. This did not sit well with officials in the territory. Militia units used the threat of force to cause Black Hawk to sign the "Corn Treaty". This would, once again, push Black Hawk and his people to retreat to Iowa.

In April 1832, following a harsh winter, Black Hawk led 400 warriors and their families to the Rock River, where they would plant corn for the coming year. The Illinois governor again called up the militia and requested regular U.S. Army soldiers, even though the majority of these followers were children, women and the elderly. In search of allies, Black Hawk and his band continued up the Rock River, only to be met by uncooperative tribes and skirmishes.

On Aug. 1, under a flag of truce, Black Hawk made an attempt to surrender to the forces aboard the steamboat "Warrior." The soldiers upon the boat opened fire, killing many of his followers. Black Hawk pleaded with his people to retreat with him north, convinced that safety lay among the Ho-Chunk and Ojibwe people. His plea was ignored, and many of the band chose to stand their ground. On Aug. 2, over an eight-hour period, Black Hawk's band was massacred with no discrimination for any man, woman or child. His refuge with the Ho-Chunk people was brief, and he later surrendered to United States forces.

Following a brief imprisonment in St. Louis, Black Hawk was sent to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Jackson before being returned to Fort Armstrong. The return route to Illinois was circuitous, passing through all the large cities where tremendous crowds came to see him.

He lived the remainder of his life on tribal lands in Iowa until his death in 1838.

Blackhawk’s Official Statement in 2020

The Chicago Blackhawks name and logo symbolizes an important and historic person, Black Hawk of Illinois' Sac & Fox Nation, whose leadership and life has inspired generations of Native Americans, veterans and the public. We celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering ongoing reverent examples of Native American culture, traditions and contributions, providing a platform for genuine dialogue with local and national Native American groups. As the team's popularity grew over the past decade, so did that platform and our work with these important organizations.

We recognize there is a fine line between respect and disrespect, and we commend other teams for their willingness to engage in that conversation. Moving forward, we are committed to raising the bar even higher to expand awareness of Black Hawk and the important contributions of all Native American people. We will continue to serve as stewards of our name and identity and will do so with a commitment to evolve. Our endeavors in this area have been sincere and multi-faceted, and the path forward will draw on that experience to grow as an organization and expand our efforts.

On Tuesday, November 1, the Chicago Blackhawks host their annual Native American Heritage Month game spotlight, featuring a special opening performance by the YellowCloud drum circle (Forest County Potawatomi) and Starla Thompson (Potawatomi) showcasing a Jingle Dress dance, individuals from the original tribes of Illinois being recognized during our Land Acknowledgement, veterans and active service members from the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma honored during the national anthem, as well as a performance from dancers of the Sac & Fox Nation sharing their culture as part of Black Hawk's ancestral tribe.

Is this racist? Is this disrespectful? Afterall, many Indian organizations are willing participants. The Chicago Blackhawks have many initiates that are ongoing and continue their genuine dialogue with local and national Native American groups and are committed to collaborating with Native American people and communities.

A brief history: Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks joined the National Hockey League in 1926 as part of the League's first wave of expansion into the U.S. Along with the Blackhawks, the Detroit Cougars (currently the Red Wings) and the New York Rangers were also part of that first wave. The team got the name the "Black Hawks" from owner Frederic McLaughlin. He was a commander with the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 86th Infantry Division during World War II. The Division was nicknamed "Blackhawk Division" after Chief Blackhawk who was a prominent figure in the history of Illinois. Under the ownership of McLaughlin, the Blackhawks became the NHL's first team with an all-American born starting lineup.

Any controversy over a name or logo change will never end. However, if the Chicago Blackhawks organization fold on this issue, I time as a very, very long-time fan will end. Sports is evolving into too much ideology driven promotions, the inclusion and diversity bandwagon led by the “WOKE” crowd. I’m having none of it. Why not watch hockey, enjoy the sport and quit having the Marxist/Communist narrative shoved at us through intimidation.