This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/ontario-alcs-blue-jays-indians-chief-wahoo-offensive

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cleveland Indians' name and logo may be banned from Toronto ALCS games Cleveland Indians' name and logo may be banned from Toronto ALCS games
(about 9 hours later)
A court challenge launched in Ontario, Canada, is seeking to have the Cleveland Indians barred from using their name and logo in Toronto, just as Cleveland arrives in the city to take on the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the American League Championship series. A judge in Ontario, Canada has denied a request to have the Cleveland Indians barred from using their name and logo in Toronto, in a ruling issued just hours before Cleveland takes on the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the American League Championship series.
On Monday, the Ontario superior court will hear an application arguing the Indians’ name and mascot – Chief Wahoo, a cartoon drawing of a man with red skin and a feather tucked in his headband – are offensive and discriminatory. The legal challenge was filed by Douglas Cardinal, a prominent architect and indigenous activist based in Ottawa. On Monday, the Ontario superior court heard an application arguing the Indians’ name and mascot – Chief Wahoo, a cartoon drawing of a man with red skin and a feather tucked in his headband – are offensive and discriminatory. The legal challenge was filed by Douglas Cardinal, a prominent architect and indigenous activist based in Ottawa.
Cardinal is calling for the team to be banned from wearing their regular jerseys and having their logo or team name broadcast in the province. Instead, the team would be referred to simply as the “Cleveland team”. Cardinal had called for the team to be banned from wearing their regular jerseys and having their logo or team name broadcast in the province. Instead, the team would be referred to simply as the “Cleveland team”.
Some three hours before the game was set to begin, Judge Thomas McEwen dismissed his application, ruling that the name and logo of the Cleveland Indians is not discriminatory towards indigenous people under Canadian law.
In a statement, Cardinal said he was deeply disappointed. “That this kind of discrimination is not a violation of human rights underscores the challenge Indigenous Persons of North America continue to face,” he said.
“I hope that, one day, the Cleveland team’s ownership will realise that its racist name and logo has got to go — entirely. Until then, we will continue to argue our case before the appropriate legal authorities, and call upon everyone who supports our cause for equality to stand with us and express their support for the Indigenous Persons of North America.”
Cardinal, a recipient of the Officer of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honours, has also lodged complaints over the team’s name and logo with the Ontario human rights tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.Cardinal, a recipient of the Officer of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honours, has also lodged complaints over the team’s name and logo with the Ontario human rights tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The case is reminiscent of a similar controversy in the US, where campaigners have been pushing Washington’s NFL team to drop their Redskins nickname.The case is reminiscent of a similar controversy in the US, where campaigners have been pushing Washington’s NFL team to drop their Redskins nickname.
On Monday, a spokesperson for Cardinal said the legal challenge was more than just about images and words. “It’s the impact it has on the indigenous peoples. It is this statement that you are separate, that you are something to ridicule, that you’re a source of humour,” said Joe Householder.On Monday, a spokesperson for Cardinal said the legal challenge was more than just about images and words. “It’s the impact it has on the indigenous peoples. It is this statement that you are separate, that you are something to ridicule, that you’re a source of humour,” said Joe Householder.
He added: “Because of the game tonight, because the harm is happening for real, in real time across Ontario, we’re seeking an injunction to stop the use of the logo and the name tonight in the game and in the games going forward.”He added: “Because of the game tonight, because the harm is happening for real, in real time across Ontario, we’re seeking an injunction to stop the use of the logo and the name tonight in the game and in the games going forward.”
The series between Toronto and Cleveland comes amid Canada’s fledgling efforts to confront its historical mistreatment of the country’s indigenous population. The series has also prompted fresh scrutiny on Cleveland, which for decades has faced homegrown protests to its team name and logo.The series between Toronto and Cleveland comes amid Canada’s fledgling efforts to confront its historical mistreatment of the country’s indigenous population. The series has also prompted fresh scrutiny on Cleveland, which for decades has faced homegrown protests to its team name and logo.
Renu Mandhane, an Ontario human rights commissioner, last week challenged Canadian journalists to join her in refusing to utter the team’s name. “Will broadcasters & MLB stand up for Indigenous reconciliation and refuse to say the Cleveland name?” Mandhane wrote on Twitter.Renu Mandhane, an Ontario human rights commissioner, last week challenged Canadian journalists to join her in refusing to utter the team’s name. “Will broadcasters & MLB stand up for Indigenous reconciliation and refuse to say the Cleveland name?” Mandhane wrote on Twitter.
The sentiment was echoed by the United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ, headquartered in Toronto and Cleveland, who came together last week to push the team to ditch its outdated name and logo. “We join together to urge Cleveland’s baseball team to find a new name and a new mascot – ones that do not disrespect the wide and varied histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples,” the organisations said in a statement.The sentiment was echoed by the United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ, headquartered in Toronto and Cleveland, who came together last week to push the team to ditch its outdated name and logo. “We join together to urge Cleveland’s baseball team to find a new name and a new mascot – ones that do not disrespect the wide and varied histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples,” the organisations said in a statement.
The Cleveland Indians said the team is “cognizant and sensitive to both sides of the conversation”, noting the longstanding and deep attachment many fans have to the logo. “We continue to research our fan base to better understand their perception and stance on the logo, but at present time have no plans of making a change,” the team said in a statement to the Canadian Press. “We continue to have the Wahoo logo represented on our uniforms and home cap during the 2016 season.”The Cleveland Indians said the team is “cognizant and sensitive to both sides of the conversation”, noting the longstanding and deep attachment many fans have to the logo. “We continue to research our fan base to better understand their perception and stance on the logo, but at present time have no plans of making a change,” the team said in a statement to the Canadian Press. “We continue to have the Wahoo logo represented on our uniforms and home cap during the 2016 season.”