CALGARY — Officials with a minor hockey league team in Calgary have agreed to revamp their logo and consult with an Indigenous leader on creating a new one.
Bryan Boechler, president of the Northwest Warriors, tells CTV Calgary they took it seriously when concerns were expressed regarding the depiction being used on the team's sweaters — a drawing of an Indigenous man with feathers attached to his hair.
He says they wanted to get direction from the Crowchild family, noting that the naming of the Crowchild Twin Arena and the Crowchild Hockey Association was intended to honour Chief David Crowchild, chief of the Sarcee Nation from 1947 to 1953.
Boechler says the organization has reached out to Tsuut’ina Chief Lee Crowchild and the two sides are working together to create updated images honouring Chief David Crowchild.
He says Chief Lee Crowchild supports the continued use of the current logo until new jerseys are introduced, a process that will likely take three years.
Crowchild says he thanks the Warriors for being proactive and "creating a frank and respectful dialogue that led to mutual agreement."
Opposition to the Northwest Warriors jerseys surfaced earlier this month after a seven-year-old Indigenous girl chose not to play for her minor league hockey team because she considered the logo to be offensive.
(CTV Calgary)
The Canadian Press