UBCO sociology class calls on 麻豆精选 Chiefs to change 鈥渄erogatory鈥� name

A UBC Okanagan sociology class is calling on the owner of the 麻豆精选 Chiefs to change the team鈥檚 name because it鈥檚 racially insensitive.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to start a movement,鈥� said student Averia Debungie, who is part of a Sociology of Sport class at the university. She added that the Chilliwack Chiefs removed their mascot and discussions have arisen recently around McGill鈥檚 Redmen, so it is a timely discussion.

Westbank First Nation Chief Roxanne Lindley does not find the name offensive, she said in an emailed statement. A Facebook poll conducted by the WFN yesterday also found that 12 members who replied to the survey did not find the name racist.

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鈥淚t could also be how they鈥檙e not too sure on how (the 麻豆精选 Chiefs are perceived) out here. If they鈥檙e in their area and maybe (they don鈥檛 know) what it鈥檚 like to be a First Nations student at UBC where you do see the racism from outsiders. I think it鈥檚 a different perspective,鈥� said Debungie. The WFN鈥檚 office council building is 16 km from UBC Okanagan.

The class sent an email to the Capital News yesterday afternoon stating:

鈥淭he team logo of an 鈥榠ndian鈥� with two tomahawks springing from his head is offensive and insulting. The logo and club name have no place in our community 鈥� a community aiming to respect everyone and taking reconciliatory steps with Indigenous peoples. Therefore, in the spirit of reconciliation and reinventing our relationship with Indigenous peoples across the land, and in the name of decency, respect, and doing the just thing, we call for the removal of both the name and logo. Removing the name and logo would mark a progressive path for the 麻豆精选 hockey team and give it credence as a role model organization in sports teams鈥� rethinking, rebranding and renaming stereotypical, insulting, and often racial slur names. In moving forward, we hope this letter initiates a conversation/ meeting of those concerned to mitigate this matter and catalyze change within the 麻豆精选 Hockey Junior Club.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 been movements happening throughout the Canada and U.S. trying to get the names and logos removed. They鈥檙e not the ones who have lived that life, and they don鈥檛 know what it鈥檚 like,鈥� said Debungie.

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Grant Sheridan general manager and owner for the 麻豆精选 Chiefs said he values the opinions of the local bands over the university.

鈥淭hey sent it to the press and didn鈥檛 contact us. In nine years, we鈥檝e had four inquiries, all were responded to and invited to meet and discuss and not one person would take us up on that,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e talked to the WFN in the past鈥� but it hasn鈥檛 been an issue until this letter popped up.鈥�

鈥淚 would certainly rather hear from a local, provincial or national band than the student body, so I would suggest that they gather some data and some feedback. We鈥檙e open to talk about anything and everything,鈥� he said, adding he was disappointed he wasn鈥檛 contacted and the class instead chose to contact local media outlets.

Sheridan said he would 鈥渁lways鈥� be open to changing the team鈥檚 name, but it has to be with a purpose and intent.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not something that one person can just say hey, we don鈥檛 like the colour of your vehicle you should change it. There are lots of moving parts there,鈥� he said.

He said there are players, billots and staff that are Aboriginal.

An earlier version of the article said Averia Debungie was a professor, she is a student at UBCO.

@carliberry_
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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