Chilliwack retires racist mascot

[Rwede]

So a beloved character that is embraced as a leader is racist?

No wonder the aboriginals will never reconcile with the rest of the world.

You'd think that elevating and celebrating this mascot would be a positive, but some nutjob has to be "offended."

[JayByrd]

Chief Wannawin may not be the most derogatory image, but after all that's happened, yes, First Nations don't appreciate white folk taking elements of First Nations culture, cartoon-izing them, and using them as icons for fun and profit. Yes, we tried to eradicate your culture a while back, now we'd like to use it to entertain our children. But as long as we insist it's not racist, it's all good.

It's clear from the comments in this thread that many of us have no problem with indigenous people as long as they keep their mouths shut and stay out of our way.

[zzontar]

Yes, we tried to eradicate your culture a while back,

I'm confused, do you mean you were part of the eradication, everyone on the sports teams? *removed*

[the truth]

*removed*

[Bsuds]

*removed*

[the truth]

*removed*

[Dizzy1]

Chief Wannawin may not be the most derogatory image, but after all that's happened, yes, First Nations don't appreciate white folk taking elements of First Nations culture, cartoon-izing them, and using them as icons for fun and profit. Yes, we tried to eradicate your culture a while back, now we'd like to use it to entertain our children. But as long as we insist it's not racist, it's all good.

It's clear from the comments in this thread that many of us have no problem with indigenous people as long as they keep their mouths shut and stay out of our way.

Believe it or not, nobody owns any culture, whether it be Natives, Americans, Japanese, Chinese, French, German.

I'm failing to see how "cartoon-izing" someone is "offensive" or "racist". Go out and travel, every nation gets "cartoon-ized" whether it be American, German, Asian, whoever - and yet you don't hear them all boo-hooing about a non-issue.

There's a pub up in Rutland, great place. They've "cartoon-ized" a German woman for fun and profit. That's "offensive" and "racist" isn't it? Or is this just another one of those double standards against whitey?

[Dizzy1]

How incredibly racist and offensive!

[liisgo]

I saw a Kawasaki "ninja" motorcycle and a Suzuki Samara suv on that very same reservation.
Booth these names have a significant meaningful title to certain peoples. A very valued entitlement to special people among themselves.
Maybe they should remove these vehicles from their ownership, or is that different somehow???

[the truth]

yup

[Dizzy1]

I saw a Kawasaki "ninja" motorcycle and a Suzuki Samara suv on that very same reservation.
Booth these names have a significant meaningful title to certain peoples. A very valued entitlement to special people among themselves.
Maybe they should remove these vehicles from their ownership, or is that different somehow???

*cough cough* double standards *cough cough*