If you follow the Atlanta Braves or you’re interested in local sports history, you’ve probably heard the name Chief Noc-A-Homa (often spelled “Knockahoma”). This character was once a central part of the Braves’ game-day experience in Atlanta, but today he’s also a key example in conversations about Native American imagery in sports.
This guide walks you through who Chief Noc-A-Homa was, how the mascot was used in Atlanta, why it was retired, and how the legacy shows up in today’s Braves culture—so you can understand the topic in a clear, Atlanta-focused way.
Chief Noc-A-Homa was a Native American–themed mascot used by the Atlanta Braves for decades.
For many long-time Atlantans, memories of afternoon games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium include seeing smoke rise from a teepee and a costumed figure celebrating near the bullpen.
At Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Chief Noc-A-Homa had a teepee set up in the outfield seating area. When a Braves player hit a home run, the “Chief” would:
This made the character a visual and energetic part of the game-day atmosphere, especially in the 1970s and early 1980s.
For many years in Atlanta, the role of Chief Noc-A-Homa was most closely associated with Levi Walker Jr., a member of the Odawa (Ottawa) Nation:
However, the character and presentations followed stereotyped images of Native Americans, which later drew more scrutiny and criticism, even as some local fans remembered him fondly as part of their Braves childhood.
If you live in Atlanta now or are visiting for a Braves game at Truist Park, you won’t see Chief Noc-A-Homa. The mascot was retired decades ago in part because of growing concerns about offensive and stereotypical imagery.
Over time, Native American groups, advocates, and many local residents began to say that:
Even though some fans associated the character with team spirit and nostalgia, others in Atlanta and beyond felt the mascot was disrespectful, especially as more people became aware of Native perspectives on appropriation and representation.
Across professional and college sports, there has been a broader shift away from Native-themed mascots and logos:
Chief Noc-A-Homa is now often mentioned as an example used in conversations about how the Braves’ image has evolved and what still needs to change.
The Chief Noc-A-Homa character gradually faded out, with the teepee removed and the mascot role ended in the 1980s. Key points about that phase-out:
While the Braves still use Native-inspired imagery in other ways, Chief Noc-A-Homa himself is no longer an official part of the team’s branding or in-game experience in Atlanta.
If you attend a Braves game today at Truist Park in Cumberland (just northwest of Atlanta), what you experience is very different from the era of Chief Noc-A-Homa at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium.
At a modern Atlanta Braves home game, you’re more likely to encounter:
The old teepee-in-the-outfield display does not exist at Truist Park.
Even without Chief Noc-A-Homa, Native themes haven’t disappeared entirely:
Chief Noc-A-Homa often comes up now when Atlantans discuss:
Even though the mascot is gone, Atlantans still run across references in different ways.
If you talk sports around The Battery Atlanta, in local bars, or with long-time season ticket holders, you may hear:
These discussions can be a chance to explore how Atlanta has changed culturally and how the city re-examines its traditions.
You may also see Chief Noc-A-Homa appear in:
If you’re a collector in Atlanta, Chief Noc-A-Homa items are often treated as historical artifacts rather than endorsements of the imagery itself. People buy or display them to represent an era of Braves baseball, with varying degrees of reflection about the mascot’s implications.
Atlanta has several institutions and community spaces where sports history and social issues intersect, including:
These settings can offer a more critical, educational context for understanding how the mascot fit into broader patterns of representation.
When people in Atlanta talk about Chief Noc-A-Homa today, the conversation often widens to real Indigenous history in Georgia, which is much deeper and more complex than a sports mascot.
Before removal and displacement, several Native nations had homelands in what is now Georgia, including:
Those histories involve:
Against that backdrop, using a simplified, cartoonish “Chief” on the field in Atlanta is increasingly seen as minimizing that deeper history and lived reality.
If you’re interested in understanding Native perspectives beyond the old mascot, you can:
This can help reframe Chief Noc-A-Homa not just as a quirky part of Braves trivia, but as a starting point for deeper learning.
| Aspect | Chief Noc-A-Homa Era (Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium) | Modern Braves Era (Truist Park) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Mascot | Chief Noc-A-Homa, Native-themed character | Blooper and other non-Native entertainment characters |
| On-Field Symbol | Teepee in outfield, dances after home runs | Digital displays, music, & between-inning events |
| Native Imagery Use | Central live mascot with Native costume & name | Team name & tomahawk logo remain; no Chief Noc-A-Homa |
| Public Discussion | Less mainstream criticism at the time | Frequent debates about representation & the tomahawk chop |
| Fan Experience Focus | Character-based, physical presence in outfield | Broader entertainment experience at Truist Park & The Battery |
If you’re coming to Atlanta and want to connect the story of Chief Noc-A-Homa to places you can actually visit:
This can give you a fuller picture of how Chief Noc-A-Homa moved from a beloved in-stadium character to a subject of reflection and debate in Atlanta.
In Atlanta today, “Chief Noc-A-Homa” is no longer a living mascot, but a historical symbol and a point of discussion about how the city, its fans, and its teams talk about Native imagery, identity, and respect. Understanding that past can help you better read the present-day Braves experience—and the conversations that surround it.
