Major League Baseball

'Caucasians' shirt satirizing Chief Wahoo becomes popular on Canadian Indian reservations

Published Jul. 29, 2014 3:14 p.m. ET

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Brett Smiley

It's billed as the "Non-native American mascot," the satirical twin brother of Cleveland Indians' cartoon caricature Chief Wahoo. 

The grinning "Caucasians" logo on the T-shirt by Cleveland, Ohio-based Shelf Life Clothing Co. has become a hot item recently at Ontario First Nations reserves in Canada, according to a report by the Toronto Star. 

The surge in popularity follows a controversy in June in which Ojibwa DJ NDN (Nipissing First Nation) with A Tribe Called Red caught flak for wearing the shirt. At least one would-be concert goer accused the DJ of reverse racism. 

Tracy Bomberry of Six Nations told the Star that her shirt was well-received at a pow wow in her community.

According to Brian Kirby of Shelf Life Clothing, the company has shipped over 100 shirts to Ontario since the controversy involving DJ NDN. Some customers actually support the use of Chief Wahoo, Kirby said.

Chief Wahoo remains a part the Cleveland's outfit (home cap and sleeves), though in January the team changed its primary logo to a block C, replacing Chief Wahoo. 

Notice the dollar symbol on the Caucasians logo in place of a feather. Nice touch. The shirt can be yours for $22 plus shipping handling.

Please note that the "Caucasians" do not currently have any games scheduled. 

[H/T Toronto Star]

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