Chief of Cherokee Nation wants Jeep to stop using tribe’s name

[Chrystal-J]

The principal chief of the Cherokee Nation wants Jeep to stop using the tribe’s name on its SUVs, saying it “does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car.”

Jeep started using the Cherokee name more than 45 years ago, including on the brand’s top-selling Grand Cherokee SUV. It also offers a smaller SUV called the Cherokee, which was its third best-selling vehicle last year in the U.S.


“I think we’re in a day and age in this country where it’s time for both corporations and team sports to retire the use of Native American names, images and mascots from their products, team jerseys and sports in general,” Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, said in a statement. “I’m sure this comes from a place that is well-intended, but it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car.”

Chief of Cherokee Nation wants Jeep to stop using tribe's name on SUVs (cnbc.com)

 

[Aabbie James]

Do you see this movement getting traction?

Where do you stand on the question?

 

[public hermit]

It is odd to name a product after a people. How about the Jeep Jew, or the Jeep Polish. Yeah, odd.

 

[Chrystal-J]

Do you see this movement getting traction?

Where do you stand on the question?

It is odd to name a product after a people. How about the Jeep Jew, or the Jeep Polish. Yeah, odd.

I'm Polish and I personally wouldn't have a problem with Jeep Polish. Seems like it'd be an honor. Not like it's a trash can company that wants to name their cans Cherokee trash.

 

[Tanj]

I've often wondered about how the US indigenous peoples feel about US army helicopters being named after them.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @Chrystal-J, Chrysler-Jeep's use of "Cherokee" hardly seems a dishonorable use of the name So I think there is a different reason behind Chief Hoskin Jr.'s complaint (my bet is that it has to do with $$*, but we shall see).

--David
p.s. if $$ is his real motivation and he prevails in court (gets Chrysler-Jeep to pay him for their long-time, and then perhaps ongoing, use of the name, "Cherokee"), just think of all of the businesses, products, cities, states (I believe that more than half of our states have Native American names of some kind, if memory serves), and the like that are named after Native American tribes, chiefs, etc., that could be forced to pay damages (for the past use of a name) and/or royalties (for the continued use of a name) to various tribes and/or families and/or individuals by using the same tactic, in lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit I admit that, if true, it is a savvy business move on the part of Chief Haskins, Jr., but I still don't like it.

Chief "Pontiac"​

 

[Chrystal-J]

Hello @Chrystal-J, Chrysler-Jeep's use of "Cherokee" hardly seems a dishonorable use of the name So I think there is a different reason behind Chief Hoskin Jr.'s complaint (my bet is that it has to do with $$*, but we shall see).

--David
p.s. if $$ is his real motivation and he prevails in court (gets Chrysler-Jeep to pay him for their long-time use of the name, "Cherokee"), just think of all of the businesses, products, cities, states (I believe that more than half of our states have Native American names of some kind, if memory serves), and the like that are named after Native American tribes, chiefs, etc., that could be forced to pay damages (for the past use of a name) and/or royalties (for the continued use of a name) to various tribes and/or families and/or individuals by using the same tactic, in lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit I admit that, if true, it is a savvy business move on the part of Chief Haskins, Jr., but I still don't like it.

Chief "Pontiac"​

It's lawsuits aplenty these days. (There's a city here in Michigan called Pontiac. Wonder if that's consider bad too.)

 

[jacks]

It is odd to name a product after a people. How about the Jeep Jew, or the Jeep Polish. Yeah, odd.

I kind of like "Jeep Jew". They may be running out of names, HERE is a list of manufactures and then down to model names. Whew! No wonder they are turning to just numbers and letters.

 

[public hermit]

I kind of like "Jeep Jew". They may be running out of names, HERE is a list of manufactures and then down to model names. Whew! No wonder they are turning to just numbers and letters.

Wow, I had no idea there were so many manufacturers, much less models.

 

[Albion]

Do you see this movement getting traction?

No doubt.

Where do you stand on the question?

If the chief of the Cherokee nation wants it removed, I'd suppose that the right thing would be to remove it. But there are tribes that didn't want their names removed from something or other and, you guessed it, the 'politically correct' crowd wouldn't hear of those people having a say in the matter.

 

[Aussie Pete]

The principal chief of the Cherokee Nation wants Jeep to stop using the tribe’s name on its SUVs, saying it “does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car.”

Jeep started using the Cherokee name more than 45 years ago, including on the brand’s top-selling Grand Cherokee SUV. It also offers a smaller SUV called the Cherokee, which was its third best-selling vehicle last year in the U.S.


“I think we’re in a day and age in this country where it’s time for both corporations and team sports to retire the use of Native American names, images and mascots from their products, team jerseys and sports in general,” Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, said in a statement. “I’m sure this comes from a place that is well-intended, but it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car.”

Chief of Cherokee Nation wants Jeep to stop using tribe's name on SUVs (cnbc.com)

How dumb is this. Companies use names that represent the supposed virtues of the products. That the name "Cherokee" is synonymous with a capable off road vehicle (according to Jeep at least) should be considered a compliment. No doubt the problem would go away if a sufficient amount of money was offered for the use of the name.

 

[Sabertooth]

I'm Polish and I personally wouldn't have a problem with Jeep Polish.

(I've heard of Furniture Polish before...

)

On a related note,...
Straight Lesbians Want Their Identity Back (it's safe )

 

[Der Alte]

Where have these complainants been for umpteen years? I call this the band wagon affect. If it wa$ $o offen$ive why did it take 45 year$ for someone to complain.

 

[Kenny'sID]

It is odd to name a product after a people. How about the Jeep Jew, or the Jeep Polish. Yeah, odd.

To name it Jeep "Polish" for instance, would denote disrespect, at least unfortunately many would see it that way due to the uncalled for jokes.

But in my view, naming the Jeep after Cherokee, is very respectful. Its respecting what used to be, and in some cases still are, a people who are known for their great experience with the outdoors, and Jeep has always been about the outdoors.

But hey, let the people who made this a problem have their attention, because I think that is all they are after, making themselves look good to the more small minded among them.

 

[public hermit]

To name it Jeep "Polish" for instance, would denote disrespect, at least unfortunately many would see it that way due to the uncalled for jokes.

Good point.

But in my view, naming the Jeep after Cherokee, is very respectful. Its respecting what used to be, and in some cases still are, a people who are known for their great experience with the outdoors, and Jeep has always been about the outdoors

Yeah, I seriously doubt the intention was malevolent in using the name. It's probably just as you said, or something similar.

hey, let the people who made this a problem have their attention, because I think that is all they are after, making themselves look good to the more small minded among them.

I don't know. I imagine if I were Cherokee, this might be just one more thing that belonged to my people from which someone else profits. We lived on the east coast, then they droves us against our will to what became Oklahoma, via the Trail of Tears. If I were Cherokee I might be tired of people taking what wasn't theirs without even asking. Of course, I'm not Cherokee so I don't know.

 

[com7fy8]

It is odd to name a product after a people. How about the Jeep Jew, or the Jeep Polish. Yeah, odd.

It's lawsuits aplenty these days. (There's a city here in Michigan called Pontiac. Wonder if that's consider bad too.)

There are plenty of cases in which ships and places and streets are named after people, in order to honor them.

In the case of calling a helicopter the Apache, this I would say goes with how the Apaches were known superior fighters who could outmaneuver and outfight the invaders. And calling a jeep a Cherokee possibly is meant to indicate how the vehicle is superior in ability to go through various terrain and conditions . . . like how the people of the land were able to live in various conditions and terrain. So, the name perhaps is not really meant to single out the Cherokee people and honor them, but to poetically sell the vehicle as being adaptable and durable and for family use . . . since the Cherokee people, to my knowledge had a community-and-family culture - - being family but tough

Indians have taken the names of animals and used them to form names of Indian people > for example calling someone, "Running Bear". This was not considered an insult to the bear whom they considered to be their brother. Using an animal's name was done in order to reveal something about the person getting the name. It was not a dishonor, but descriptive.

 

[Kenny'sID]

I kind of like "Jeep Jew". They may be running out of names, HERE is a list of manufactures and then down to model names. Whew! No wonder they are turning to just numbers and letters.

I don't know. I imagine if I were Cherokee, this might be just one more thing that belonged to my people from which someone else profits. We lived on the east coast, then they droves us against our will to what became Oklahoma, via the Trail of Tears. If I were Cherokee I might be tired of people taking what wasn't theirs without even asking. Of course, I'm not Cherokee so I don't know.

You're right.

It's true, some Cherokees have a well deserved attitude, and though I may disagree with some of the decisions that attitude brings on, I can understand why they make such desions.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Where have these complainants been for umpteen years? I call this the band wagon affect. If it wa$ $o offen$ive why did it take 45 year$ for someone to complain.

Native American has a voice now. That , they didn't have right 45 years ago.

 

[public hermit]

There are plenty of cases in which ships and places and streets are named after people, in order to honor them.

In the case of calling a helicopter the Apache, this I would say goes with how the Apaches were known superior fighters who could outmaneuver and outfight the invaders. And calling a jeep a Cherokee possibly is meant to indicate how the vehicle is superior in ability to go through various terrain and conditions . . . like how the people of the land were able to live in various conditions and terrain. So, the name perhaps is not really meant to single out the Cherokee people and honor them, but to poetically sell the vehicle as being adaptable and durable and for family use . . . since the Cherokee people, to my knowledge had a community-and-family culture - - being family but tough

Therefore, in answer to

Possibly, the Jeep Cherokee has more traction.

That all makes a lot of good sense. The Apaches were definitely superior fighters, and super-slick, too.

One time (I read when I was a boy) Geronimo and his men put soldier uniforms on cacti. From the fort, across the desert haze, it looked like riders coming. So, the soldiers in the fort rode out to meet them. Geronimo and his men overpowered the contingency that was left at the fort and stole all their ammo, lol.

 

[cow451]

I've often wondered about how the US indigenous peoples feel about US army helicopters being named after them.

The Huey Tribe should get a licensing deal.