The 'Educate, Not Eradicate' Movement: 5 Shocking Facts About The Native Americans Guardian Association (NAGA)

The Native Americans Guardian Association (NAGA) is one of the most polarizing and widely discussed organizations in the ongoing debate over Indigenous representation in American culture, particularly regarding sports mascots. Founded in 2017, NAGA operates under the powerful, two-pronged motto, "Educate Not Eradicate," positioning itself as a grassroots movement dedicated to promoting accurate education about Native Americans while simultaneously advocating for the retention of Native-themed names and imagery in sports.

As of today, December 17, 2025, the organization remains highly active, notably following the high-profile dismissal of its lawsuit against the Washington Commanders football team, a legal battle that brought its controversial mission into the national spotlight. NAGA’s stance—that these names honor, rather than demean, Indigenous heritage when properly contextualized—puts them in direct opposition to major organizations like the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), creating a complex and often misunderstood internal debate within the broader Native American community.

The Guardians' Leadership and Founding Profile

The Native Americans Guardian Association (NAGA) was co-founded by several Native American advocates in June 2017, but its public face and driving force has been its leadership team, which includes its first presiding President and Co-Founder, Eunice Davidson.

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Eunice Davidson: Co-Founder & President

• Role: Co-Founder, first presiding President, and Board Member of NAGA.
• Native Name: Wicanhpiwastewin, which translates to "Good Star Woman."
• Key Activities: Davidson has been instrumental in leading the organization's national advocacy efforts, including sending a demand letter to the Washington Commanders ownership and spearheading the subsequent lawsuit. She represents the organization's core belief that Native American imagery in sports, when treated with respect, is a form of cultural visibility, not cultural appropriation.

Tony Henson: Executive Director

• Role: Executive Director of the Native Americans Guardian Association.
• Focus: Henson works alongside Davidson to manage the organization's operations, outreach programs, and educational initiatives.

NAGA Board Members and Key Entities

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The organization is governed by a board of directors that includes figures like Crystal Tso, Jonathan Tso, David Finkenbinder, Demetrius Maraz, Jeffrey Charley, and David Davidson. This diverse leadership team, all advocating for the "Educate Not Eradicate" principle, demonstrates the grassroots nature of the movement, which often contrasts sharply with the positions of long-established, national Indigenous rights organizations.

The Washington Commanders Lawsuit: A Critical Update

One of the most significant and recent events to define NAGA's public profile was their lawsuit against the NFL's Washington Commanders franchise. This legal action was a direct challenge to the team's 2020 decision to retire the "Redskins" name and subsequent rebranding efforts.

The Basis of the Legal Challenge

In September 2023, NAGA filed a lawsuit in a North Dakota Federal Court against the Washington Commanders and key leadership, including new owner Josh Harris. The core of the lawsuit was a series of explosive claims:

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• Defamation: NAGA alleged that the Commanders organization and its officials defamed the association by implying that those who supported the former name were racist or bigoted.
• Civil Conspiracy: The suit claimed that the Commanders conspired with other entities, specifically mentioning the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), to "silence the voice of indigenous people" who opposed the name change.
• Civil Rights Violations: NAGA argued that the name change was "degrading" and "insensitive" to their culture, an ironic twist given the decades-long push by other groups to change the name for the exact same reasons.

NAGA's position was that the former name was intended as a term of honor, referencing Native American warriors and heritage. They argued that by succumbing to pressure and changing the name, the Commanders were effectively *erasing* a part of their cultural history that many Indigenous people wished to preserve and educate the public about.

The Lawsuit's Dismissal

In a major development that concluded the high-profile case, the lawsuit filed by the Native American Guardian's Association against the Washington Commanders was ultimately dismissed. While the specific details of the dismissal are complex, the outcome underscores the significant legal and public relations challenges NAGA faces in its mission to reverse the trend of mascot eradication. The court's decision effectively validated the Commanders' right to change their name and rejected NAGA's claims of defamation and conspiracy, forcing the organization to refocus its efforts away from the courtroom.

Educate Not Eradicate: NAGA's Core Philosophy and Programs

Beyond the contentious mascot debates, the Native Americans Guardian Association operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a primary focus on education. Their motto, "Educate Not Eradicate," is the philosophical backbone of their work, arguing that cultural visibility and accurate historical teaching are the true paths to honor and respect.

The Partner School Program

To put their educational philosophy into action, NAGA has launched the "Partner School Program." This is a new, education-based pilot program designed to work directly with schools and educational institutions. The program's goals include:

• Curriculum Advisement: Providing consultation and resources for the integration of comprehensive and accurate Native American curriculum into public school systems.
• Historical Context: Teaching students and the public about the true history and cultural significance of Native American names, imagery, and symbols.
• Combating Stereotypes: Using education as a tool to move beyond simplistic stereotypes and foster a deeper appreciation for Indigenous cultures.

This initiative highlights the organization's dual strategy: fighting for the retention of imagery while simultaneously pushing for the educational context they believe is missing from the public discourse. They argue that when a school or team commits to teaching the history behind the name, the name itself becomes a teaching tool, rather than an offensive relic.

Broader Advocacy and Controversial Partnerships

NAGA's advocacy extends beyond the NFL and high school mascots. As a grassroots movement, they are involved in numerous local debates across the country, often providing a counter-narrative to other Indigenous activist groups. Their willingness to challenge the prevailing narrative has led to some controversial partnerships, such as their collaboration with the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans to celebrate Christopher Columbus. This move, which drew denouncement from other Chicago-based Native American organizations, further solidifies NAGA's position as a non-traditional voice in the Indigenous rights movement, often willing to align with groups that other Native organizations consider problematic.

The Native Americans Guardian Association remains a powerful, albeit controversial, entity in the American cultural landscape. Their "Educate Not Eradicate" campaign forces a difficult conversation: is it more respectful to remove and erase a name, or to retain it and use it as a mandatory opportunity for education and honoring Indigenous history? The dismissal of their high-profile lawsuit has not silenced the organization, but rather pushed them to double down on their educational programs and grassroots advocacy, ensuring they will remain a central figure in the ongoing debate over Native American representation for years to come.