Ontario father takes on City of Mississauga over Indigenous team names

While the high-profile #notmymascot campaign against the Cleveland Indianscontinues to play out, a Mississauga, Ont., hockey dad is waging a battle of his own.

"I've witnessed parents do the tomahawk chop during games," says Brad Gallant."I also heard a less than gracious parent spout anti-Native bile."

The status Qalipu Mi'kmaq filed a human rights complaint against Mississaugaa city with a population of over 700,000 people located just west of Torontoover its sponsorship of five minor league hockey clubs whose names and logos he says are culturally insensitive. The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario will hear his case on Nov. 21.

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Gallant believes team names like the Mississauga Chiefsand the MississaugaBravesamount to cultural appropriation that wouldn't be tolerated if it involved other cultures. He said he doesn't blame the clubs, some of which are decades old. Instead, Gallant said, leadership on the issue needs to come from the city itself.

"Individual hockey organizations aren't run by bad people, but hockey coaches aren't human rights experts. This is a cultural issue and I want to make sure the city is living up to its responsibility."

I also heard a less than gracious parent spout anti-Native bile. Brad Gallant

Gallant approached the city in early 2015 and asked that it cut its annual subsidies to teams with racially insensitive names and logos until they changed them. He also asked that it remove all banners and logos from municipal property. In response, a Mississauga official told him to speak to the teams directly, and offered to mediate.

Not good enough, Gallant said.

"By allowing those logos to be displayed and providing subsidies, the city is contributing to a hostile environment," he said.

In April 2015, he filed a formal application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

In a statement, the City of Mississauga said it doesn't believe it's in the best position to determine whether the logos are offensive. While it "takes very seriously the human rights complaint filed by Mr. Gallant," with respect "to the selection of team names, mascotsand logos, the city is not involved in any way in this process.

"The city will argue that it is placed in an impossible situation of determining whether it is to deny access to its facilities to certain organizations, and on what basis if such a responsibility exists."

Cultural appropriation

8 years ago

Duration 5:59

Brad Gallant and Jesse Wente on sports team names and logos that some find offensive

Since the application was filed, two of the five teams in question have voluntarily changed their names. The Lorne Parke Ojibwaare now the Lorne Park Clarkson Wildand the formerMeadowvale Mohawksare the Meadowvale Hawks.

Jeremiah Raining Bird, Gallant's lawyer, said an important aspect of the case is that it involves youth hockey being played at local rinks in the community.

"Abuse of mascots has a negative impact both on Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids alike. It perpetuates stereotypes. It's almost more important at the youth level than at the pro level for that reason."

Raining Bird said the city has a duty to uphold the Human Rights Code of Ontario and its own Pledge of Respect.

Gallant insists his campaign isn't about shaming anyone. It's about making sure the city takes a leadership role in addressing the issue, he said.

"I'm a believer in the system, and I'm hoping the system will come through."