Jeep owes the Cherokee Nation; it's time to pay up

[turbinetree]

Published 8:30 AM ET March 5, 2021/ Updated 9:32 Am ET March 5, 2021

It’s time Jeep and Stellantis, the huge automaker that owns the popular and profitable brand, pay their debt to the Cherokee Nation of American Indians. It won’t be easy, it shouldn’t be free, but it’s the right thing to do.

Jeep has reaped billions of dollars from positive perceptions of what "Cherokee" means since the first vehicle bearing the name — the 1974 Cherokee SUV — went on sale nearly 50 years ago. Jeep sells two vehicles bearing the name today, and is about to add a third.

The Cherokee Nation was never asked for permission or thanked for its contribution. It’s past time to fix that, or abandon the name.

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https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2021/03/05/jeep-stellantis-brand-cherokee-nation/4584322001/

[SharonAnn]

1. And what about the Chevy Impala? Impalas weren't asked or paid either.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. This is a shitty joke.

[Bradshaw3]

25. It is shitty but I'm not sure it's a joke

Plus reading some of the other comments below reveals a real antipathy toward Native Americans and a mocking of the use of their culture for commercial purposes. Not surprising I guess but I hope some on here would try to delve into the history of the peoples whose land we took and culture we almost destroyed.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

26. Par for the course.

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Dafuq? Comparing a vehicle named after a proud group of people to a vehicle assigned an animal name.

[Aristus]

24. Show me an impala that can consent to have its species name used for a car.

Or can sign a such a consent form. Then open a bank account for it to keep their royalties.

Then we'll get serious about your question...

[jmowreader]

29. Be careful. PETA might hear you.

Google “PETA monkey selfie.”

[Yeehah]

32. That's a stupid statement.

You're comparing antelope to Native Americans? That's not only stupid, it's sick.

[kcr]

36. Are you aware that impalas are animals? n/t

[DEbluedude]

2. Chevelles, GTO's???

[Sneederbunk]

3. Where were the Cherokee objectors 50years ago?

Were they just biding their time? Cherokees owned black slaves. They should get nothing.

[OnDoutside]

5. What's that about them owning black slaves ? I've never heard of this.

[Dream Girl]

10. They sure did. And some the Cherokee slaveholder were pretty brutal. They were also slave catchers.

At the same time there was some intermarriage between Cherokee and Blacks living in the south.

[OnDoutside]

12. But they wouldn't have been bought like Plantation slaves ? I hadn't

known about this at all.

[Dream Girl]

17. No not plantation slaves, but slave owners nonetheless.

[Sneederbunk]

18. Some brought their slaves with them on The Trail of Tears.

[OnDoutside]

23. Ok thanks

[tritsofme]

15. The Cherokee were among the so called "Five Civilized Tribes"

Who adopted many Anglo customs, including chattel slavery of Africans, before they themselves were eventually removed from their land.

[OnDoutside]

22. Thanks.

[Dream Girl]

27. I was about to post this.

[TheBlackAdder]

7. I remember a competing Boy Scout group called The Indian Guides-White suburbanites playing dress-up.

.

And that didn't last too long back then, because it was so wrong.

.

[Yeehah]

33. Why does it matter where the "Cherokee objectors" were 50 years ago?

Should a disrespectful act continue just because of the passage of time?

And why is it relevant that some individual Cherokees owned slaves? Please explain how that is relevant to a disrespectful act against the entire tribe.

You seem to have some issues with logic and other things, including morality.

[OnDoutside]

4. Or did Jeep popularize the Cherokee name in an America that

was very negatively disposed to Native Americans ?

[mopinko]

11. no.

popular culture at the time was often almost reverential. lots of wise elders and revered warriors. obviously they were also depicted as savage killers. but even then, they were seen in a lens similar to gangster worship.

once we had pushed them off their lands, we started pretending to respect them. the dead ones anyway.

[OnDoutside]

14. Interesting, thanks

[Dream Girl]

6. So how much do they owe? Was ever a contractual agreement? We're they challenged for

Infringing on a trademark? If not, that would constitute acceptance of use. They’ve had 50 years to object to this. There are scores of brands bearing the same name. How about “Apache, Navajo, Comanche, branded products? How much do they owe? Sorry, but this is kinda dumb. That’s not to say they couldn’t attempt to negotiate use now, but after 50 years, I don’t see how they can make a case for compensation if they haven’t at the late date.

[11 Bravo]

30. Why did you ignore the Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter? Do you hate that tribe?

There is no end to this.

[jmowreader]

31. I feel bad for the Comanches

The Army could never get that damned heli to work right.

I also feel for the Mohawk nation, whose namesake aircraft was a piece of crap. It was the only Army aircraft with ejection seats, and they got used on a semi-regular basis. However, the Mohawk people were greatly honored...when I was at Fort Hood, our Mohawk battalion trained every year over Mohawk lands (they made aerial photos of the entire national territory, which their land planning department used for whatever land planning departments do with aerial photos) and there was always a big tribal ceremony with blessings of the planes and a huge feast.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Bought this model last year and remarked this would probably be one of the last years that it

carried the name.

[mopinko]

16. i'm about to buy one.

have a ford transit connect now and fucking hate it.

looked at them the other day, and was so happy. last time i looked they were all wrapped in plastic bulbs.
wanted the gladiator, but liked what i saw in in the cherokee. had an 85 for a while. loved it but didnt use it often enough to keep it running smooth. it was a honey, tho.

[aikoaiko]

39. I almost picked up a GC Altitude but opted for Toyota Highlander instead.

More leg room in the second row even with front seats Alli the way back. And nice cargo space with the 3rd row folded down.

But I wish I had the vented seats.

[TheFarseer]

19. OK here's the thing

Jeep should pay the Cherokee nation BUT it can’t be so high a price that it’s not worth it or they’ll just change the name. People didn’t buy those vehicles because of the name! If their real goal is to get them to stop using the name, then that’s a different discussion.

[Dream Girl]

28. They should just demand that they drop the name, but this seems like a money grab.

[Sneederbunk]

20. I am still hoping for reparations for.the Rambler American.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

40. Ok, this made me laugh

and now it's off to hell for both of us

[WhiskeyGrinder]

34. Lotta weird pushback in this thread.

[MichMan]

35. UAW and the workers made a lot of money too.

They should also be held responsible I would think.

[kcr]

37. Don't know why anyone would think that.

They made the money because they worked. You know. Labor? Not because they owned the company or made any decisions regarding branding.

[BannonsLiver]

38. I don't see this transpiring.