To put it context, think T. Hawk from Street Fighter, or maybe even Ratonhnhaké:ton from Assassin's Creed 3. (Yes, they're caricatures, but I can't think of too many other examples of Native American figures off the top of my head.)
There's no need to carbon copy, as that'd be really awkward. But could there be some stuff in the future that takes notes from such culture? Or could that be perceived as offensive?
Xenohaz7 votesEchoing LaoBushido's thought that no particular culture in League really seems like a good fit, Native American-esque stuff can be dangerous ground for creative departments. There are some really bad precedents with things inspired by Native American culture in entertainment. Because the vast majority of portrayals of Native Americans or their culture in fiction consists of caricatures like the ones you mentioned, that is what many people unhappily expect to see when they hear about a new portrayal, so their guards are put up immediately and they might not be willing to give it a chance. Since, again, a parallel in League doesn't really exist, it would seem forced.
darkdill1 votesFair enough.
I was just spitballing, really (if that's the term).
Scryer4 votesNidalee.
LaoBushido4 votesshe's more of a tarzan, or amazon culture
darkdill2 votesThis. Especially the former.
LaoBushido2 votesto be fair it just would not fit , at least for now, i mean there are no fractions atm that fit the mold,
darkdill1 votesMaybe a skin?
Scorpio Flameth1 votesUncle Ryze
LaoBushido1 votesan American yes but not the native American yousomart if referring to.
LaoBushido1 votesthat is actually an interesting question, but i have noticed something in my 4 years of playing no thanksgiving skins. so going of your point i think riot is too scared of being consider offensive culturally i mean.
Retillin2 votesWell question, what culture would you say 
belong to? I'm not saying they ARE a Native American, however they each have aspect that are related to ideas in Native American history/culture.
Remember, there is/was not single culture. But spirits of vengeance, duality of death, using/becoming animals, ect... all had large roles in different cultures of Americans prior to the 1600s.
Riot can't make a Teemo skin that uses teepees for mushrooms. But with just a little thought on a champion, you can break down ideas about that champion. And you start to see a lot of the ideas on any culture are shared by many many other cultures.
A Liberal3 votesUdyr and Kindred could definitely be tied to native american beliefs, to a lesser extent nidalee. can't really see Kalista though.
Jingerbeardman2 votesmayan and aztec culture is about the only safe zone when it comes to native american. the issue is that for some reason many dont see the mayan and other central american native cultures as "native american" when they really were.
Gorgannan2 votesI think people here are thinking about it too much. "They can't or they'll offend."
There are dozens of cultures that are done tactfully. I'm sure Riot could do a Native American.
Now where they would come from, that's another idea entirely. They could easily do an ancient group, such as the incans. This would also mean a more jungle oriented culture.
With panthers.
We have yet to see HUMANS in the Plague Jungles. Why not?
Hell, they could go African and give us a Witch Doctor.
darkdill1 votesHumans besides Nidalee, you mean.
Gorgannan1 votesHuman**s**
She's not a society of people. She can't have a 1 man culture.
GreenLore1 votesI'd actually always hoped for some sort of animal civilization living in the plague jungles,I mean 
comes from there and 
was also transformed there in his old lore(and it was never made clear where
came from,so it is possible that he also came from the plague jungles)
Gorgannan1 votesEh. That would seem VERY kiddish, unless it was a society of all the same animal.
GreenLore1 voteswhile it does seem a bit odd,it would simply add a lot more possibilities.
Also it could be justified by that mystical stone in the plague jungle simply giving sentience to every animal that comes close to it,so it would actually make sense for multiple species to get that.
Gorgannan1 votesBut for all of them to build a society together? THAT'S the part I have a problem with.
GreenLore1 votesOf course it doesn't have to be well organized or anything,it could be more tribal in nature,maybe even with different subfactions depending on the species. Keep in mind that probably not whole species would become sentient at once,but only few of them,so cooperation would be most likely necessary(and easier done if you are able to talk to each other) if they really want to built up anything
Gorgannan1 votesEhhhhhhh.... It still seems very kid's cartoon thing. Even if it's scary place with lots of war, it's like dragon warrior, a kids game :P
Sona Ping2 votes"There are dozens of cultures that are done tactfully. I'm sure Riot could do a Native American."
"Hell, they could go African and give us a Witch Doctor."
...Really?
Gorgannan1 votesA stereotypical role in a society doesn't automatically make it a caricature. I don't really see what your problem is.
Sona Ping2 votesI am not minding a Witch Doctor champion. But you are talking about doing things tactfully, when things like "Witch Doctors" and the like have been complained about for exactly that reason.
Gorgannan1 votes"Witch Doctor" isn't a problem. It's a skinny black dude with a mask and giant guages all over his face with a pot belly and a charm in every hand that is the problem.
Sona Ping2 votes"Witch Doctor" isn't a problem. It's a skinny black dude with a mask and giant guages all over his face with a pot belly and a charm in every hand that is the problem.
That's your opinion on what the problem is and that's fine and all...
A stereotypical role in a society doesn't automatically make it a caricature. I don't really see what your problem is.
But people can and will complain about a Witch Doctor African precisely because it's a "stereotype" and an "inaccurate representation of African societies". Which doesn't work with idea of treating things "tactfully", as you put it.
Gorgannan1 votesIt's not a stereotype. It's a part of the history. They existed. That's like calling a knight a stereotype. Treating it tactfully means you don't just throw every witch doctor stereotype in the mix. THAT would make it a stereotype. This is obviously just a disagreement on semantics, and we're not going to convince each other, and I'm tired of this conversation. Please don't respond.
EmittingXs1 votesdoing so would only incur "damages" to riot. let's look at a very notable example, the women in league. A LOT of people are "offended" by their portrayal. trying to put a native american-type character in the game would pose the question of "how?" how are they going to portray that culture without stepping on people's shoes? how are they going to make this character look visible to that culture? how do they pick from the many cultures in our current world that would best express the term native american (as in, which people are they going to be inspired by)?
there's a lot of thinking that would have to go into this and the last thing riot would want to mix are stereotypes and actual portrayals. everyone thinks feathered hats but how would that come across to people? i personally don't think this community is ready for that sort of character.
Peridition1 votesI would love to see some champions inspired by Native American mythology and folklore
Wendigo - Algonquian legend of spirits who possess people in during harsh cold and drive them to cannibalism
**Naayéé’ Neizghání and Tobadzischini **- who were twin monster-slayers of Navajo legends
**The Raven Mocker **- Cherokee legend, who takes the lives of the sick and old
A Liberal1 votesI would really like a native american champion, but at the same time why don't we have an Australian aboriginal champion? Why no Indus Valley champion? Why no Aztec Champion?
Maple Crusader1 votesWendigo monster/skin!
okino1 votesi think some players may get butt hurt over that. like they may think its racist or something. but if it wasn't weirdly stereotypical, it'd be cool
CasterGilgamesh1 votesi think the closest would be 
PapaGreg211 votesI would almost guarantee this never happens because somebody will be offended and Riot doesn't want the bad PR from fringe groups that thrive on dumping on anything cultural no matter how well made it is. I would buy it if they ever made it though
Niyumi1 votesJust don't call them Native American, 'cause they're not native. Though I'd be fine with a champ that takes after American Indians; the Tauren in WoW were cool to listen to, and all that spiritual stuff is cool. Could have some kind of shamanistic champ that calls on spirits to do things. Or some Indian mythical creature, or an Aztec monster, or something like that. That'd be neat.
-- I remember this discussion in another post a while back (About them being native and all that). xD