Raven Ziegler from Minneapolis protests the name nickname of the Washington team. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

The controversy over the Washington football team isn’t ending any time in the near future, but in the fictional near future? It’s been resolved. Fox’s new TV show, Minority Report, takes place in Washington, D.C. in the year 2065 where, among other things, the name of the Washington football team has been changed to the “Washington Red Clouds.”

Why the “Red Clouds?” Well, the show’s executive producers explained to reporters at the Television Critics Association’s bi-annual conference that it is meant to be a tribute to a “renowned Indian chief.”

Yes, the Washington football team’s name is racist—”redskin” is a dictionary-defined racial slur—but changing the name to a different Native American-related moniker only solves part of the problem. And it is just the latest example of a misguided understanding of the controversy over the team’s name.

Recently, a Washington football team fan launched a Kickstarter with the goal of changing the team’s name while protecting their team’s identity. “This brand has a tradition that goes back more than 80 years, and is beloved by millions of fans,” they write. “But with the current controversy the franchise name is viewed much differently now. Because of this fans have to endure protest, mockery and ridicule.”

To solve the problem of the fans suffering mockery, they’ve come up with a solution. They describe the project as a “grassroots effort to unofficially and publicly re-brand our beloved Washington Football franchise.” The result? The Washington Redspears.

Via Kickstarter.

The Kickstarter aims to put into production Washington Redspears merchandise that looks strikingly similar to current and past Washington football team merchandise, because, as the Kickstarter’s founder Jervay Wright says, “we contend that there is nothing wrong with the team’s brand.” In fact, the designs are so similar, that the team has objected to their use.

And therein lies the problem. “Redspears” and “Red Clouds” aren’t racist slurs, but they nonetheless appropriate Native American history and culture into brands and mascots. The same goes for teams like the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Blawkhawks, who use Native American imagery to sell their brand (though it should be noted that neither of those team’s names are nearly as offensive as the Washington football team’s).

Joel Barkin, the Vice President for Communications for the Oneida Indian Nation, says the group doesn’t endorse another native-associated name, but praises that at least it’s not a dictionary defined racial slur.

“I don’t necessarily expect the producers of [Minority Report] to understand the entire issue of native mascotary, but what they do clearly understand is that in the future people will not be using slurs as team names,” he said. “This is just another example of how Dan Snyder is losing the cultural battle around the team’s racist name. The reason this show can portray a future of the Washington team name being changed in a non-fantastical way is because of how badly they are losing the cultural battle.”

But while the producers’ choice to rename the team in Minority Report is a step in the right direction, they fail to understand it still turns an important part of Native American history into a mere mascot. Native American traditions are an important part of their cultural identity, and they shouldn’t be trivialized.

Take a good look at the picture at the top of this article and think about what that sign really means.