ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves are promising to continue their dialogue with the Native American community in the wake of St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley's criticism of the Tomahawk Chop chant.
Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he thinks the chant is insulting, and the 25-year-old rookie said he was disappointed when it was heard during Game 1 of the NL Division Series.
Helsley is a member of the Cherokee nation. The Tahlequah, Okla., native speaks the Cherokee language and is one of only a few Native Americans in the majors.
The Braves said they "appreciate and take seriously" Helsley's concerns, adding that it has "worked to honor and respect the Native American community through the years."
Hearing the chant by the fans, a part of the Braves' tradition since it was borrowed from Florida State beginning in 1991, was a shock for Helsley.
"I think it's a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general," Helsley said.
"Just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who aren't intellectual. They are a lot more than that. It's not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It's not."
