WARRIORS LOGO FOUND TO BE OFFENSIVE
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – A committee is calling on a Western Hockey League team in Saskatchewan to reconsider the use of its 1984 logo in 30th anniversary celebrations.
The retro logo of the Moose Jaw Warriors shows an image of a First Nations person on a skate and waving an axe.
The logo was criticized when it was re-released in February, but detractors were from mainly outside the city.
The debate was renewed last month when Cree recording artist Buffy Sainte-Marie visited Moose Jaw and said the logo had to go.
Barb Frazer, chairwoman of the Moose Jaw Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee, says the group is recommending that the logo be retired.
She also says the team should consult aboriginal people and groups for direction and advice.
“Buffy Sainte-Marie came into town and I was a little bit embarrassed that it took a cultural icon to really get us to bring awareness to this,” Frazer told city council Monday.
“When she was here last, she brought this up … that this was a stereotype, that this was a logo that had to go.”
Frazer said she has no problem with the current logo showing a chief wearing a headdress or with the team’s name.
City council agreed to send a letter to the team to express concerns.
“This is certainly not a broad-sided attack on the Warriors,” said Coun. Don Mitchell. “There is concern … about a kind of caricature presentation of the Hollywood version of cowboys and Indians. That might have been acceptable in the 1980s, but it’s not a fair representation.”
The team has not been contacted by the advisory committee, so Mayor Deb Higgins decided to speak to the Warriors directly.
Three city councillors voted against the motion to send the team a letter. They said the city should not get involved directly and suggested it should be the committee that sends a letter to the Warriors about its concerns.
(CHAB)
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
In the logo case, they are getting themselves featured and they are all in a frenzy.
If there is no case and they are ignored, then they are also in a frenzy.
Unbelievable. This political correctness thing has got to stop. I wonder if Ms. Saint-Marie wouldn't have a problem with a logo of a greasy old farmer with ripped up coveralls, straw hat and a messy beard. As a farmer I would be very offended by that!!!!! (sarcasm)
oh boy where is it going to end.
Farming is an occupation not a race. I am not First Nations, don't know anyone who is so I feel free to comment. I don't care whether they use it or not but obviously it is hurtful for some. Let's be a little sensitive to our Natives and not bring back these old logos from a bygone era.
I agree in some cases political correctness is just stupid. Like not saying Merry Christmas because it might be non-inclusive.What a bunch of garbage that is. I do feel this logo doesn't need to be brought back.
I'm going to stand my my comments I texted into Sports Cage yesterday. I want to preface it before hand. Do I find these logos, and team names offensive? Not in the least. Do they have to change? Absolutely. We live in a very different time, than when that jersey/logo was in style. I may have brought an over reach with my comment yesterday to the show, but I'm going to stick with it. The issue is not political correctness. The issue may not even be the lack of intent to offend a group of people. The fact is, the… Read more »
I hate it but…..I agree win Obama. He has it right on.
I realize I'll be a voice in the wilderness on this particular comment board, but this logo is offensive and the Warriors need to do the right thing and leave it in the past instead of dragging it out again. It used to be acceptable for Hollywood actors to act in blackface at one point as well, but times change (accept in Saskatchewan apparently, after listening to the Cage and the comments about this topic yesterday) and common sense prevails. Rod, how can you say you see the point people have about the name Redskins, and not see same here?… Read more »
Whatever the reason if you look at objectively it is a ridiculous logo.
Given the tragic history of the encounter between settlers and aboriginal people on the continent, the logo is clearly offensive,not just to First Nations people but to many in this province who understand our history. It would be akin to a logo of a slave picking cotton for a team in Alabama. I am sure a logo for a community team in Moose jaw, without racist stereotypes, is possible. The old chest nut phrase "political correctness", is always trotted out by some white folk who harken back to a time(not too long ago) when their was more freedom to engage… Read more »
Time for people to grow up and to stop hating the white race. Reverse racism is a serious problem in today's world and the more we give in to cowards and low lifes that want to change everything in the world so that the white people suffer the worse it's going to get. I'm proud to be white and I'm certainty not racist!
-Carl
You want to talk about stereotypes? I'm sick of being stereotyped as a rich white man who has had everything handed to him by his rich well to do parents and hasn't suffered any hardships or had to go through any pain. I worked my butt off to get what I've got in life and have had to deal with a whole bunch of hardships. People whose feelings get hurt over a sports logo are petty socialists who need to be ignored permanently!
Some of this political correctness is getting down right stupid and ridiculous… I guess with Polish heritage in our family. I should be really pissed at Bick's pickles. They make light of my Polish heritage by picking on my Pickle!…
Bick's® Polski Ogórki Dill Pickles makes light of my Polish Manhood.
Oh my I am so offended. How could they do that to me. Im so hard done by… Give me a break and lighten up people. Especially Political organizations with no real agenda or even a business plan.
Mr Peter Endowed
Cucumber man, not a pickle!
No Carl, I don't think you're proud. I think your a Xenophobe who meets the definition of self-loathing, and against everything that doesn't walk, talk, or waggle like you. Nobody is trying to change everything about the world or have what's called reverse racism. That is distortion thinking on your part. You are making assumptions, and dealing with absolutes that are not based in fact. I get it. You like the logo. I get it, that you wonder what is the big deal. You need to understand dealing with First Nations there is a concept of World Views. I'll give… Read more »
I grew up in Regina and but I haven't lived there for years (now in BC). Although I love Saskatchewan, I admit it took me many years and much education to realize that much of my thinking around Canadian Aboriginals was based on stereotype, however I never realized that while living there. Saskatchewan, or in this case, Moose Jaw Warriors, get your head out of your a** and get wake up to 2014. It's never too late for sensitivity training or to take some sort of cultural awareness course. I love the Riders and visiting Sask, but I can only… Read more »
This is an ongoing load of BS that is perpetuated by people who choose to pontificate from their left leaning soap boxes. As an aboriginal person I see no more issue with this logo as I do the cross tomahawks on the Chicago Blackhawks Jersey, or the Braves uniform and the tomahawk chop done every home game, or the Balfour Redmen or the Portland WinterHawks. Buffy St Marie while being from this province has long been removed from both this province and this country. Her professional status gets her a soapbox to say her piece. Bringing up this issue does… Read more »
Who the hell is Buffy Saint Marie to be contributing her thoughts on this? Marie was probably one of the worse Canadian singers in history and nobody ever told her to quit singing or admitting she was Canadian. Time to sit back Buffy and puff on your Peace Pipe.
My dad played for the Millers in 1939 before he went overseas during the war. He's still around and wonders why the team picked an aboriginal cartoon instead of a soldier to pay tribute to Moose Jaw's connection with the Canadian Army.
Funny how "whitey" never finds racist names/logos offensive.
This is simply about sensitivity and respect. The logo offends many people, it should go. It's that simple.
….just sit back and read these comment….this is the result of parenting plain and simple.
Obama leads the way, and makes the most sense.
Again.
PERSONALLY… WHO CARES?! COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS KIND OF SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF TIME…
AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK ANY HOCKEY FANS WOULD SKIP GOING TO THE GAMES IF THEY DIDN'T USE THE OLD LOGO… MIGHT NOT WORTH THE HASSLE