Lily Gladstone, the first Native American woman to be nominated for Best Actress, recently spoke out about her concerns regarding the names and traditions associated with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. In a podcast interview on the "Variety Awards Circuit" released on Thursday, Gladstone, who is of Piegan Blackfeet descent, expressed her discomfort with the associations of the teams' names with Native American culture.

Gladstone specifically criticized the 49ers' nickname, which she noted was linked to the California Gold Rush, a time she described as "incredibly brutal" for California Indians. Furthermore, she took issue with the Chiefs' name and the tomahawk chop gesture performed by fans, stating that it was a reminder of the misrepresentation of Native Americans in Hollywood films.

The actress questioned the notion that the tomahawk chop was an "honor" to Native Americans and pointed out the insensitivity of using such symbols at sporting events. Native Americans have previously protested the Chiefs' name during Super Bowl events, and despite the team banning fans from wearing Native American headdresses and face paint before the 2020 season, there has been no indication of a potential name change.

Gladstone's remarks come at a time when discussions about the appropriateness of sports team names and traditions are increasingly prevalent. Her critical stance sheds light on the importance of respecting Native American cultures and histories in mainstream contexts like professional sports.