The Spokane Indians are a Minor League Baseball team based in Spokane Valley, Washington, and the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The club has been part of the Spokane community since 1903 and plays at Avista Stadium.[1]
Design and History
In November 2006, the Spokane Indians unveiled a new visual identity created in collaboration with the Spokane Tribe of Indians, a partnership believed to be the first time a professional sports team worked with a local tribe to create a team identity.[2] The redesign was developed by Plan B Branding, a San Diego-based branding firm specializing in Minor League baseball, after the team met with the Spokane Tribe’s Culture Committee to discuss colors, icons, symbols and values.[3]
For the two decades prior to the 2006 redesign, the team had deliberately avoided Native American imagery in its logos, mascots and game presentation out of respect for tribal culture. During the logo development process, however, the Spokane Tribe’s Culture Committee indicated that subtle and respectful imagery would be welcomed.[2]
The new primary logo features two eagle feathers, described as one of the most revered symbols in Spokane Tribal culture, flanking an “S” taken from an early 1970s uniform to give the mark a nostalgic feel.[4] The primary hat logo features a capital “S” with an eagle feather accent, similar to a design the team used on hats in the 1960s and early 1970s.[2]
An alternate logo was also unveiled featuring the words “Spokane Indians Baseball Club” written in Salish, the language of the Spokane Tribe, and was initially used as a shoulder patch on home uniforms and some caps.[5] In 2014, the team introduced a home alternate uniform featuring “Spokane” written in Salish across the chest, a uniform that is now worn every day.[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The eagle feathers in the primary logo are a sacred symbol of Spokane tribal culture.[3] The National Baseball Hall of Fame describes the emblem as an “S” outlined in the team’s signature pale blue, crossed by a feather as an icon of the tribe.[6]
The team’s colors are red, navy blue, light blue and beige.[7] The 2006 uniforms featured a retro look with off-white uniforms and classic red script.[2]
In 2019, the team expanded its sustainability efforts with a Zero Waste Campaign, introducing a logo created in conjunction with the Spokane Tribe of Indians that incorporates a version of the eagle feather featured in the primary club logo.[8]
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