On Monday, representatives of the Oneida Indian Nation conducted a symposium in Washington, D.C. regarding the name of the local NFL team. The date and location was aimed at coinciding with the league’s quarterly meetings to be held in Washington.
Per the league office, NFL representatives were unable to attend the event, due to the quarterly meetings. But the NFL will be meeting with representatives of Oneida Nation next month.
In a letter sent Friday, October 4, NFL senior V.P. of labor policy and government affairs Adolpho Birch explained the situation to Peter Carmen, the Chief Operating Officer of Oneida Nation Homelands.
Birch suggested that a meeting be set to occur before the session currently scheduled for November 22. Birch also suggested the meeting occur in Manhattan or Verona, New York, where the Oneida Nation is headquartered.
Likewise, Birch reiterated a willingness to engage in constructive and meaningful dialogue regarding the issue of the Redskins name.
But where will a “constructive and meaningful dialogue” lead? It’s highly unlikely that opponents to the name will eventually decide, after hearing out the NFL, to drop the issue. And owner Daniel Snyder, who has said he’ll never change the name, seems more resolute than ever.
At some point (if he’s not already there), Snyder will become upset that the league is giving credibility to a group that Snyder necessarily believes has none. He is convinced the name isn’t offensive, and efforts by the league to engage those who do will serve only to make those concerns seem more reasonable.