Cannupa Hanska Luger collaborated with the filmmakers of the horror film *Him*, directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele, to create a sports mascot named “Tinsel Larry.” The mascot appears in the film as the symbol for the fictional San Antonio Saviors team. Luger worked with lead costume designer Dominique Dawson on the design, which evolved from a “Conquistador Larry” concept into a “razzle-dazzle rose gold glitter monster.” Luger explained on Instagram that the mascot incorporates Indigenous references as a deliberate commentary on the racist history of sports mascots, calling it “an act of reclamation.”
The collaboration matters because it brings Indigenous critique into mainstream horror cinema, using the genre’s language to expose and invert harmful stereotypes. Luger, known for his Indigenous futurist practice, extends his artistic activism into popular culture, challenging the long-standing commodification of Indigenous identities in sports branding. The article also contextualizes the mascot within ongoing debates about racist team names and imagery, referencing the retirement of Chief Wahoo and the Washington Redskins name, while noting the Atlanta Braves’ continued use of Native-themed branding.