A UBC Okanagan sociology class is calling on the owner of the Kelowna Chiefs to change the team乌鸦传媒檚 name because it乌鸦传媒檚 racially insensitive.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e trying to start a movement,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 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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乌鸦传媒淚t could also be how they乌鸦传媒檙e not too sure on how (the Kelowna Chiefs are perceived) out here. If they乌鸦传媒檙e in their area and maybe (they don乌鸦传媒檛 know) what it乌鸦传媒檚 like to be a First Nations student at UBC where you do see the racism from outsiders. I think it乌鸦传媒檚 a different perspective,乌鸦传媒� said Debungie. The WFN乌鸦传媒檚 office council building is 16 km from UBC Okanagan.

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

乌鸦传媒淭he team logo of an 乌鸦传媒榠ndian乌鸦传媒� with two tomahawks springing from his head is offensive and insulting. The logo and club name have no place in our community 乌鸦传媒� 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 Kelowna hockey team and give it credence as a role model organization in sports teams乌鸦传媒� 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 Kelowna Hockey Junior Club.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 been movements happening throughout the Canada and U.S. trying to get the names and logos removed. They乌鸦传媒檙e not the ones who have lived that life, and they don乌鸦传媒檛 know what it乌鸦传媒檚 like,乌鸦传媒� said Debungie.

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

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

乌鸦传媒淚 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乌鸦传媒檙e open to talk about anything and everything,乌鸦传媒� he said, adding he was disappointed he wasn乌鸦传媒檛 contacted and the class instead chose to contact local media outlets.

Sheridan said he would 乌鸦传媒渁lways乌鸦传媒� be open to changing the team乌鸦传媒檚 name, but it has to be with a purpose and intent.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not something that one person can just say hey, we don乌鸦传媒檛 like the colour of your vehicle you should change it. There are lots of moving parts there,乌鸦传媒� 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.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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