Cherokee Chief Demands Apology for Brown Staff Behavior

Staffers mocked Elizabeth Warren's alleged heritage with war whoops and "tomahawk chops"

The Cherokee Nation principal chief on Wednesday demanded an apology from Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) after his staffers mocked Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren's heritage by shouting "war whoops" and doing the "Tomahawk Chop" at a campaign rally.

"The Cherokee Nation is disappointed in and denounces the disrespectful actions of staffers and supporters of Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown," Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Bill John Baker said in a statement obtained by National Journal. "The conduct of these individuals goes far beyond what is appropriate and proper in political discourse."

"The use of stereotypical 'war whoop chants' and 'tomahawk chops' are offensive and downright racist. It is those types of actions that perpetuate negative stereotypes and continue to minimize and degrade all native peoples."