1 Native American mascots have long been a hot-button issue, but the subject seems to be reaching a tipping point—if it hasn't already. The Native American mascot controversy dates back several decades. Professional, semi-pro, college, and high school teams across the country have adopted names, logos, and imagery that portray Native Americans in a certain light. As the argument goes, these images and terminology promote and sustain the marginalization and cultural appropriation of Native cultures. There's a case to be made that they consitute microaggressions toward individuals descendant of those who owned North American land long before The United States of America ever existed.