Montana Blackfeet Tribal members sue Washington Commanders team over controversial logo

MONTANA — The descendants of a Montana Tribal chief are suing the Washington Commanders football team over a logo that was designed by one of the Tribe's chiefs.

The Washington Commanders have had a long connection with Montana, including using a logo designed by a Blackfeet Tribal member from 1972 until 2020.

Chief John Two Guns White Calf served as the inspiration behind the controversial logo for the Washington Commanders. Now, enrolled Blackfeet Tribal members are saying they are Chief John Two Guns White Calf's descendants and are seeking legal action against the NFL team and the artist saying this has resulted in economic losses and a loss in stature in their Tribe.

"They never concerned themselves with, 'Oh , maybe there might be people out there who may be his descendants.' They never considered the family," said Morningstar Gopher, one of the members of the estate of John Two Guns White Calf listed in the lawsuit.

The family said they trace their lineage to Rosa White Calf, the chief's eldest daughter who fell through the cracks after being enrolled in a boarding school.

"She got buried in the system," Gopher said. "She got buried by the tribe, by the church. I mean, she was married off at 13 years old. There was a 30-plus year age difference between her and her husband and the church lied about her age in order to get her married off."

Included on the suit are the former team owner Dan Snyder, managing partner Josh Harris, The National Football League, the estate of Walter "Blackie" Wetzel, several members from the White Calf family, and the Blackfeet Council.

"(Wetzel) may have designed the logo but that would be like me designing a logo off of Martin Luther King Jr. and going 'Oh, it doesn't matter,'" Gopher said.

Gopher said the family visited the Commander's headquarters in Washington D.C. and briefly spoke staff.

"I have gotten nothing at all, not even a 'hey, you need to talk to legal, or you need to talk to public relations' or anything like that," Gopher said. "There's been nothing in regard to any response. So (Mehta) has cornered us into this position because we're not going quietly."

Washington Commanders told NBC Montana they can't comment on any ongoing litigation.

Dustin Chouinard, the attorney for the estate of Walter "Blackie" Wetzel, said the family has not received any lawsuit.

"To the extent there may be claims that anyone but 'Blackie' Wetzel designed and created the logo is baseless," Chouinard said.