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New Vancouver Canucks goalie apologizes, as artwork on custom hockey mask accused of cultural appropriation.
CTV News Vancouver ^ | 12/13/20 | Emad Agahi

Posted on 12/13/2020 1:23:18 PM PST by mkleesma

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks goalie Braden Holtby is apologizing after the artwork on his new custom-painted mask was criticized for appropriating First Nations art.

“I wanted to make sure I apologize to anyone I offended. It was definitely not my intent and I definitely learned a valuable lesson through this all and will make sure I’m better moving forward,” Holtby said in an interview with CTV News.

Pictures of Holtby’s custom-designed hockey mask were posted by artist David Gunnarsson on Instagram, but taken offline the next day after comments on social media began describing it as appropriating First Nations cultures.

The goalie mask is specially painted so that the wearer would appear to be wearing a mask with the face of a “thunderbird.” The text in the post describes the mask as “Thunderbird, The Northwest Coast Indigenous Myth.”

But a First Nations leader and a First Nations artist are speaking out against the design, which includes a painting style characteristic of several coastal First Nations such as the Haida, Tlingit, Heiltsuk and Kwakwakw’wakw.

“Immediately thoughts of cultural appropriation come up,” said Robert Philips, First Nations Summit Political Executive and member of the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (Shuswap) of the Canim Lake First Nation.

“When we see the mask, although looking brilliant, one of the first questions you ask is ‘who made it?’”

Gunnarsson, who in a 2019 Sportsnet article was described as “one of the most prolific goalie mask artists in the sport,” is based out of Sweden.

He has not yet responded to emails from CTV News Vancouver.

“I believe as well that it is cultural appropriation however I feel the artist has taken a step in the right direction by removing it,” said Jay Soule, an Indigenous multi-disciplinary artist based in Toronto.

Soule, who is from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, is also a long-time advocate who raises awareness about cultural appropriation of Indigenous arts through his website.

“When you think about the Indigenous economy and how it has been affected by all of this work coming from overseas, it is catastrophic to Indigenous artists and artisans who are trying to make a living through their work,” said Soule.

The front page of his website says that there is “a direct link between the importation of internationally made ‘Indigenous’ items, such as dream-catchers, masks, totems, statues, moccasins, images and other objects, and the devaluation of authentic, Indigenous art.”

“It’s about educating people about why it’s inappropriate, how it is inappropriate, who it hurts and how it hurts,” he said.

Both Soule and Phillips suggested the right method for Holtby would be to reach out and collaborate with an Indigenous artist for his mask design.

“He clearly likes Indigenous art that’s why he has chosen that style of work. Definitely collaboration with an Indigenous artist would be huge. How great would that be for Indigenous people to be represented in an organization like the NHL,” Soule said.

Holtby said that because of the uncertainty around the start of the NHL season his mask design was rushed – and that he will not be wearing it.

“The goal was and still is to include an Indigenous artist and try and pick their brain to see how they would design a mask to best represent the history and culture around this area especially because it’s so vast,” he said.

Holtby suggested that his mask-wearing could be part of First Nations storytelling, but did not specify which story from within the province’s 198 distinct First Nations he wants to help tell.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: appropriation; canucks; cultural; goalie
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Good Lord. Cultural Appropriation, huh? His newly repainted mask should be a figure of a white man giving the middle finger salute.
1 posted on 12/13/2020 1:23:18 PM PST by mkleesma
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To: mkleesma

He “learned a valuable lesson”?! F’n pussy


2 posted on 12/13/2020 1:28:33 PM PST by albie
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To: mkleesma

“When we see the mask, although looking brilliant, one of the first questions you ask is ‘who made it?’”

In the early 21st century, the world descended into tribal chaos.


3 posted on 12/13/2020 1:28:49 PM PST by Flick Lives (#resist)
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To: mkleesma
There are men, women...
and there are Canadians.
4 posted on 12/13/2020 1:29:27 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: mkleesma

Holtby was a politically active while in Washington, big into promoting “Hockey is for Everyone”, the NHL’s gay outreach. (”Everyone except Bible-believing Christians...)


5 posted on 12/13/2020 1:30:05 PM PST by Stingray51 ( )
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To: mkleesma

6 posted on 12/13/2020 1:30:47 PM PST by gunsequalfreedom
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To: mkleesma
“It’s about educating people about why it’s inappropriate, how it is inappropriate, who it hurts and how it hurts,” he said.

Answers to those questions would be interesting.

7 posted on 12/13/2020 1:30:52 PM PST by FatherofFive (Go to the gym. Go to the range. Winter is here)
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To: mkleesma

I think it’s safer to just ban indigenous art and only use art from white people which is in no way offensive or politically loaded.

What a bunch of morons.


8 posted on 12/13/2020 1:32:11 PM PST by Skywise
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To: Stingray51

“Goaltender Braden Holtby says he won’t visit White House with Capitals on Monday”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/03/22/goaltender-braden-holtby-says-he-wont-visit-white-house-with-capitals-monday/%3foutputType=amp

Dummy player hoisted with his own petard


9 posted on 12/13/2020 1:35:10 PM PST by Stingray51 ( )
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To: mkleesma

Patrick Roy says ‘Piss off.’


10 posted on 12/13/2020 1:36:02 PM PST by real saxophonist ("Congress Shall Make No Law..." They should have stopped right there.)
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To: mkleesma

‘cultural appropriation’ The most pansified whiny sentence ever-


11 posted on 12/13/2020 1:36:10 PM PST by Bob434
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To: Bob434

Attempts at a Caste system.


12 posted on 12/13/2020 1:39:32 PM PST by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: mkleesma

This goalie should have never apologized for the so called cultural appropriation of the Art work on his face mask.

If any thing he should have stayed that the people complaining about it should have taken the art work as an honor.


13 posted on 12/13/2020 1:42:00 PM PST by puppypusher (The world is going to the dogs.)
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Mental midget


14 posted on 12/13/2020 1:42:34 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: mkleesma

...the right method for Holtby would be to reach out and collaborate with an Indigenous artist for his mask design.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So the solution to his wearing a mask painted with an indigenous design is to have his mask painted with an indigenous design?

This stuff is pure calvinball.


15 posted on 12/13/2020 1:44:46 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Flick Lives

Give them what they wish for.....forget about them and never mention them again in any form. As for them, have them give up the wheel...cultural appropriation.


16 posted on 12/13/2020 1:54:02 PM PST by Enten (I don't have islamophobia...I do have islamonausea)
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Stop it! Just stop it. Quit supporting the anti-freedomers by giving any credence to this cultural appropriation crap. Sheesh. Be a man.


17 posted on 12/13/2020 1:55:45 PM PST by SuzyQue
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To: gunsequalfreedom

That’s a beautifully drawn mask, and it promotes the native culture of the northwest. What is the problem?


18 posted on 12/13/2020 1:56:31 PM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: mkleesma

Those “First Nations” mofos need to check their privilege!

Are they wearing clothing made of anything except tanned animal skins?
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!

Are they using modern doctors and medicine instead of traditional herbs and medicine men?
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!

Are they using methods other than their feet to travel from one place to another?
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!

Are they living in modern housing instead of their traditional teepees and lodges?
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!

Are they using electricity to light their homes? Electricity, natural gas or diesel fuel to heat those homes?
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!

Someone needs to slap these mofos with a nice hard REALITY CHECK and tell them to STHU.


19 posted on 12/13/2020 1:57:20 PM PST by oldvirginian (Behind enemy lines in the Old Dominion)
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To: mkleesma

Unless it was copyrighted material, there’s nothing to
apologize for. Screw it.


20 posted on 12/13/2020 2:04:07 PM PST by DoughtyOne (I'm calling for terrorist and criminal reform. Defund them now.)
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