Cherokee Nation Leader Suggests Jeep Reconsider SUV Names

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky
cherokee nation leader suggests jeep reconsider suv names

The Cherokee Nation has requested that Jeep change the name of some of its vehicles. While you can probably guess which ones are causing offense, it should be stated that the automaker has been utilizing the Cherokee name to evoke a sense of power and natural harmony for over 45 years. But nobody is going to argue that native peoples have a decided advantage in who has first dibs on the title, especially in a time of unprecedented tensions regarding what’s deemed racially insensitive.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, certainly seems to think Jeep crossed a line. This is actually the first time the group has ever asked Jeep to change a vehicle’s name, though Jeep has also gone on record numerous times to defend its use.

The usual playbook involves Jeep assuring the media that the Cherokee name was always selected as a way to honor the Cherokee people’s strength and tenacity. But this time could be different with the Cherokee Nation using some fairly strong words while asking for the company to take specific actions. It’s also hard to argue for their not having a say in the application of a name they’ve been using since before people even had the capacity to dream up the automobile.

“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,” Hoskin told Car and Driver in a written statement responding to the tribal request. “The best way to honor us is to learn about our sovereign government, our role in this country, our history, culture, and language and have meaningful dialogue with federally recognized tribes on cultural appropriateness.”

This is part of a larger initiative on behalf of the Cherokee Nation to convince corporations to end their use of native names and mascots. While numerous tribal organizations have opposed such programs by suggesting they are markers of national pride in a people that deserve recognition and respect wherever possible, the dominant narrative among many tribes and social justice activists is that it would be better to simply stop using native terms outside of predominantly native groups.

“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,” Hoskin explained.

From Car and Driver:

According to Amanda Cobb-Greetham, a professor at the University of Oklahoma and director of the school’s Native Nations Center, the use of Native imagery in sports and popular culture started around the turn of the 20th century. At that time, there were fewer than 300,000 Native Americans living in the United States. “Because of the prevalence of the ideology that Native peoples would eventually disappear . . . Native Americans became part of the national mythology of the frontier and the west and the settlement of America,” Cobb-Greetham said. “And that’s when suddenly you have Native American mascots and products, cultural kitsch. Car names are a part of that.”

Jeep first used the Cherokee name in a 1974 two-door wagon (one available trim was called Cherokee Chief). It has since built cars called Cherokee continuously, but from 2002 through 2013 the cars were known as the Liberty in the North American market. When Jeep brought the Cherokee name back to its U.S. in 2013, a Cherokee Nation representative told the New York Times, “We have encouraged and applauded schools and universities for dropping offensive mascots,” but that “institutionally, the tribe does not have a stance on this.”

While Hoskin has spent a large part of the year advocating for COVID vaccines and trying to manage the response in regard to native groups, he has likewise taken a much stronger stance on what he views as cultural appropriation ever since Black Lives Matter put a spotlight on racial issues in America over the summer. “We hope the movement away from using tribes’ names and depictions or selling products without our consent, continues. We much prefer a cooperative effort than an adversarial one,” Hoskin said in 2020.

Ironically, the use of native iconography exploded in the early 20th century as a way to preserve and honor what many Americans assumed was a vanishing culture. But the tone of the country has shifted over the last 100 years and many now view those actions as insensitive. Though universal acceptance of the practice never truly existed among the tribal group at any point we’re aware of.

Other tribes have expressed support for the Cherokee Nation’s sovereignty, including those that don’t see a reason for anyone to take offense. Meanwhile, Jeep has reiterated that its vehicle names are carefully chosen to “honor and celebrate Native American people for their nobility, prowess, and pride,” adding that it looked forward to having an open dialogue with Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

Considering how important the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee are for Jeep, we doubt it’s interested in changing their names. Cynically, we’re going to presume the automaker will pay some kind of tribute to the Cherokee Nation (e.g. scholarship programs, commitments to tribal lands) so it can get the “necessary consent.” But that might be for the best since it could be argued that Jeep was profiting from a name that many will argue didn’t belong to it for decades.

[Images: Jeep]

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  • Jeff S Jeff S on Feb 24, 2021

    Possibly the Cherokees have reconsidered Jeep using their name since they are now owned by Stellantis and previously by Fiat both of which they don't want their name associated with. The Jeep name and quality has taken a nose dive in recent years.

  • Geo Geo on Feb 25, 2021

    If corporations only named their products and teams after white icons or symbols, I have no doubt that these "woke" groups would complain about a lack of diversity in product names and corporate branding. "Activists are fighting racism by demanding that people of color be removed from all media, brands, logos, mascots, and anywhere else they might pop up." (Babylon Bee). Insane.

    • See 2 previous
    • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Feb 27, 2021

      @Old_WRX “If corporations only named their products and teams after white icons or symbols…” PERFECT....tRump is orange!

  • Akear Lets be honest, Lucid will not be around in five years. It does not matter that it is probably the world's best EV sedan. Lucid's manufacturing and marketing is a complete mess. The truth is most EV companies are going under within the decade.
  • Peeryog OK , my fault. But there were a number of inadvertent scatalogical references in the original post. To which, having the intellectual maturity of a 12 year old boy, I snickered.
  • Ajla People that buy a new Silverado or Sierra without a V8 are like the people that get salmon at Peter Luger.
  • MKizzy The Mazda 6 wagon needs to be brought here pronto. Sexy looks aside, it would look less out of place in Mazda's CUV lineup vs the sedan, and since Mazda wants to go "premium," wagon customers tend to be the most affluent (if Daimer-Benz is to be believed). My second choice is the attractive Hyundai i40 wagon, which would replace the defunct VW Sportwagon in the small/mid size wagon niche.
  • Carlson Fan GM needs new leadership. A 9000lb off-road vehicle???? Don't get that thing stuck in a remote area.Imagine if they had brought back the iconic K5 Blazer name and built something to compete with the Wrangler like Ford did with the Bronco. They could have offered that with an electric power train in addition to the gas models. Ford may have some quality issues right now but whoever is steering that ship knows what they are doing. The Bronco & Maverick where both brilliant ideas.
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