Letter to the Editor: Tell HRTO and Hockey Canada, We Are Not Your Mascot!

by Brad Gallant.  I have taken the City of Mississauga to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario over their financial and moral support of 5 teams that continue to use native mascots. The City of Mississauga’s Request for Summary Hearing (dismissal) was recently denied, as was their request for the process to be handled by their internal human rights complaints process.

The HRTO has recently granted a case assessment direction that the 5 hockey clubs who would be denied subsidies, if I am successful, should have the option to intervene in the Case.  At the same time, they have shared my imperfect complaint with Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto so that First Nations authorities in Ontario can opine on the complaint while reserving the HRTO’s right to weigh in as well.

This is why I am sharing my story with you. If you believe that you or your child should be able to walk into a school, a mall, an arena, watch TV, or browse the internet without having their heritage singled out for racist caricatures, then please join my fight.  Write to the HRTO quoting case 2015-20625-I at hrto.registrar@ontario.ca with your support abolishing government support for ethnic mascots. Write to your band’s chief to let them know that you want them to make a statement against native mascots to the HRTO.

I should also tell you that when I answered Mississauga’s initial response of my complaint I cc’ed Hockey Canada and their five main sponsors.  I believe that if a child can be suspended for using an ethnic slur on the ice, then first nation’s people can correctly have the expectation that they can attend and participate in a minor hockey game without enduring racial prejudice on team’s sweaters or building walls.

I want Hockey Canada to bring their policies on native mascots in line with their general harassment policies, and Glen McCurdie, VP of Customer Relations of Hockey Canada recently replied that he intends to request a working group on native mascots at the August Board meeting of Hockey Canada.

So you understand, I am pursuing Mississauga’s support of native mascots rather than the taking on individual clubs since I want to prove that the financial support of ethnic mascots creates a hostile environment for the disrespected and demeaned group.  When Mississauga affiliates with, through reduced ice rates and complimentary marketing space, organizations that use native mascots they are creating a hostile environment for first nation’s people in Mississauga.

I am disputing the use of my tax dollars to underwrite a hostile environment for First Nations’ people like myself in Mississauga facilities.  I am complaining about the ongoing practice of the City of Mississauga and many public corporations, who have committed to the provisions of the Human Rights Code of Canada, while sustaining their financial support of sports organizations that demean and dehumanize first nation’s people.

I believe that without the financial support of the government and their corporate sponsors that all native mascoted organizations would be forced to change their name. I believe that if I am victorious, if corporations see that Mississauga is creating a hostile environment for first nation’s people by financially supporting native mascots, than most corporations will stop sponsoring native mascoted teams rather than be exposed to employee or customer harassment charges.

This is important because studies show that native mascots are psychologically damaging to our kids.  Our kids are taught that bullying and ethnic slurs and caricatures are not permissible in today’s society.  To use an ethnic slur in school is met with suspension.  But when the City does it, when they post it on Mississauga’s walls, it is okay.  When the hockey star wears it on his jersey it is a compliment. We should be honored, since Canada’s institutional ignorance tells us it evokes positive images.

We, our kids and other kids know, however, that native mascots are wrong. The names are offensive. Braves and Chiefs embody stereotypical images of first nation’s people; no other ethnicity has to endure any slur in Mississauga’s buildings.

It is the use of a living people that is offensive.  Mohawks and Ojibwa are the only living people used by third parties as mascots in Ontario.  Living mascots are crude and archaic, punishments once faced by both groups to be minimized with R words, but now only reserved for proud first nations.

We, our kids and other kids know, however, that native mascots are wrong. The names are offensive. Braves and Chiefs embody stereotypical images of first nation’s people; no other ethnicity has to endure any slur in Mississauga’s buildings.

It is the use of a living people that is offensive.  Mohawks and Ojibwa are the only living people used by third parties as mascots in Ontario.  Living mascots are crude and archaic, punishments once faced by both groups to be minimized with R words, but now only reserved for proud first nations.

The caricatures themselves are most offensive. First Nations logos often feature depictions of native mascots with sloped brows.  Such depictions were common when logos like the Redskins and Blackhawks logo were first drawn.  They were drawn to illustrate the sub human features of the depicted group, to illustrate their inferior nature, to justify their inferior treatment. The Blackhawks and Ojibwa logos that depict Native as Neanderthal preserve the central principles of White Supremacism   Combine it with the Stone arrow on the Chief’s logo and the picture of stone age, Neanderthal native is complete, reinforcing hostile treatment against first nations people, and teaching nonnative children the ABCs of racism.

This is what my complaint is about.  It is about more than sports teams.  It is about first nations people being fully covered by the rights and protections guaranteed under the Human Rights Code of Canada.  It is not about the intent of those who create the hostile environment, it is about the elimination of hostile environments towards first nations people. And if I fail, I will share all the documents I have collected for the next person to take up the battle to ensure that all Canadians understand that First People Are People First!

Brad Gallant is a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band. He lives in Mississagua. After university, he taught in Japan for 3 years.  Brad completed his MBA at the University of Notre Dame.  He currently is producing an education video series on energy efficiency called “Going Green to Save Green.” His 13 and 15-year-old daughters as well as his 18-year-old son love to play hockey. To contact Brad, email at brad@beyondgreenconsulting.com or phone at 647-309-8345.