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Below are 10 practical suggestions for engaging the issue of Native American mascots in today?s society.

(1) Love football? Love the Washington franchise? Great, enjoy the game, but wear the colors and not the name or logo.

(2) Visit the Washington, D.C., team Web site (www.redskins.com) and write an e-mail to team owner and president, Dan Snyder. Assure him that if he changes the name and logo, you will continue to support the team and that you?ll purchase sportswear with the new team name and logo.

(3) Contact newspapers, television and radio stations that cover the Washington football team games. Tell them that you find the Washington, D.C., football team?s name and mascot offensive. Express your appreciation if they are making an effort to include a balanced perspective on the mascot issue. If they are not, tell them you would like to read or hear other viewpoints and ask that they include articles and interviews with people that are working to dismantle the use of Native American names and imagery in sports.

(4) Learn more about Native Americans. Visit the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington and learn about the rich heritage of indigenous peoples. The museum offers workshops with visiting artists, historians and storytellers. Its Web site is: www.nmai.si.edu.

(5) Read articles written by Native Americans that discuss contemporary issues: www.indianz.com, www.indiancountry.com and www.ncai.com.

(6) Does your conference?s resource center and church library have books and recordings by Native Americans? The National Museum of the American Indian and Cokesbury have printed resources as well as recordings.

(7) Support your conference Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) by contributing to the Native American Ministries Sunday special offering in April. Invite a CONAM member to participate in a program at your church or speak to your congregation.

(8) Contact your conference Commission on Religion and Race and ask what they are doing to address the Washington football team name; find out how you can become involved.

(9) Visit the General Commission on Religion and Race website at www.gcorr.org for more information.

(10) Pray.