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             In modern society the Native American Indian is still viewed as it was in the fifteenth century. John Wayne movies and professional sports' mascots have strengthened western society's stereotypical perception of Native American Indians. The Hollywood movies have always given the American public a very vivid portrayal of the stereotypical American Indian. He is a "red-skinned" man atop a horse, wearing a war bonnet of bright feathers, his face is adorned with vivid war paint, and across is back is slung a bow and some arrows. His home is a teepee on the plains of the Midwest, he hunts buffalo and fish, and he is a menace to western society. This vision of Native American Indians has reached far into American Society. No more is this stereotype more evident than in the mascots of America's professional and collegiate sports teams.

             The Washington Redskins, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Indians, the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago Blackhawks, and of course the Florida State Seminoles are all sports teams whose mascots portray the traditional stereotype of an American Indian. At home games Chief Osceola rides out onto the field atop his horse, wearing war paint, feathers in his hair, and carrying a flaming spear. The vision that this portrays is that of a fearless warrior, which Chief Osceola rightfully was. However, to watching fans the view that they have of the Seminole Indians is the stereotype provided by Florida State University's mascot. The majority of society knows little about the culture and traditions of the Seminole Indians that sets them apart from other Native American Indian tribes. In the professional and collegiate sports arenas the Indian mascots used do little more than further societies stereotype of Native American Indians. .

             Today there is little that American Indian tribes can do in order to maintain their existence and preserve their cultures. They are faced with an overwhelming stereotype that hampers their attempts to portray their individual tribal identities to the world.