[URBAN NOTE] "Mississauga Chiefs keep their name with First Nations blessing"

[rfmcdonald]

The Toronto Star's Azzura Lalani reports on a controversy I had not heard of before.

In the heated debate over teams with indigenous names and logos, one Mississauga team is keen on keeping theirs — and it has an indigenous community’s blessing.

The Mississauga Chiefs, who play in the Mississauga Girls Hockey League, have had the name since the team’s inception, but their logo, an arrowhead, was designed more recently after a dialogue with the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.

“I don’t believe they have to change (their name),” said New Credit Chief Stacey Laforme. “They’re not the only people who have chiefs. We have police chiefs, fire chiefs …

“I don’t find it offensive and they represent themselves in a good way and they have met with us to talk. I think it’s an opportunity to educate them and to educate the fans.”

The Chiefs were among five hockey teams in Mississauga cited in a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario over team names and logos deemed “racially insensitive.”