Both groups were intent on moving forward, but the question remained, “Where to begin?” The common ground that opened the door to a new era in the Inland Empire in Eastern Washington was a simple one – respect.

The partnership between Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Short Season Class A minor league baseball team called the Spokane Indians is coming up on its 10-year anniversary. It’s been a work in progress, but the foundation has been laid for a new era. In 2014, the baseball organization honored the original inhabitants of the land by changing the name across the front of their home uniforms to read Sp’q’n’i, the Salish word for Spokane, and made it its primary jersey, beginning with opening day in 2015.

Since this is not an all-Native team, like the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team, it is a revolutionary idea that has both tribal members and baseball people excited with the response received after its first full season. “I believe we’re the only professional baseball team in the country that has home jerseys in a language other than English,” Andy Billig, co-owner of Brett Sports and Entertainment, told ICTMN. “The partnership with the Spokane Tribe is about honoring the history and culture of not only the Spokane Tribe, but the entire region.”

In the 2006 off-season, the baseball team began a process to redesign its logo and uniforms. In working with tribal leaders, the result of the collaboration was a new look that included two logos, one in English and one in Salish, the traditional language of the tribe. In 2014, the working group took it one step further and made Sp’q’n’i the featured name for all to see. “This isn’t something the baseball team did on their own. They came to us for permission and involved us. We participated in the whole process,” Spokane tribal chairman Carol Evans said. “To see the jerseys in my language means a lot to me personally. In our case, our historical homeland includes the ball field that they play on. So it’s important to us that the public is aware of our history. I think it’s important for the people that live in the city of Spokane to know who the original people are. We were allowed to participate in events and tell the history of the Spokane people and our ties to the land. We’re proud to do that.”