The era of these masks was better. Dunc Wilson circa 1975.
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.
Traveling through western NC I came upon a Native American gift shop. Saw several nice items and was tempted to buy some craftwork but I realized it was all just a setup, an entrapment scheme to accuse me of cultural appropriation.
Well said.
Yup.
Sick of this.
We need to give them lists of things they can’t have. Basically they’re left with nothing.
Vancouver CUCKS.
The era of these masks was better. Dunc Wilson circa 1975.
Thank you.
You stopped because they removed her, or because she was there in the first place?
There used to be a different Indian woman as I recall.
Exactly.
This art was a tribute to and recognition of Indigenous history and culture. It was a sign of honor and respect.
There was no intent, real or imagined, to mock or degrade Indigenous people.
What he should have said was, 'I'm going to continue to wear this mask and wear it with pride for the Indigenous people of Canada and the honor and respect they deserve.'
Canucks are my team. And just like every professional sport nowadays, effing SJW aholes ruined it for everyone.
Being from Vancouver, these leeches called “First Nations” have the gall to bitch about this crap when they DONT pay any taxes, get FREE land from the govt and RECEIVE more than a thousand cdn dollars per month as part of the last agreement with the feds.
“RECEIVE more than a thousand cdn dollars per month “
PER aboriginal/first nation/indian/”native”/redskin in canada..I had a classmate at Kwantlen College who was FN and she didnt pay for anything including tuition but the rest of us had to get apply for grants.
Lord help us all! What in God’s world is a First Nation? I can’t keep up any more.
We need to just tell these perpetually offended jackasses that they need to revert to the style of living they enjoyed so much prior to contact with the Evil White Man (EWM).
EWM Christopher Columbus brought domesticated sheep to NA on his second voyage. The only indigenous breed, the Bighorn, was never domesticated.
No wool for them!
Same with hogs.
No bacon for them!
Cotton wasn’t introduced until 1556 in Florida and 1607 in Virginia.
No cotton for them!
Domesticated cattle, horses or any type of draft animal was brought here by the EWM.
They can walk damnit!
Successful large scale farming arrived with the EWM.
Let’em go hungry on their hunter/gatherer traditional lifestyle.
Anyway, its the silly assed Karens and wussified Chads who are pushing this pc crap. Karen and Chad need to STHU.
First Nations?
You mean, they’re not called “native Canadians?”
As an American of Italian ancestry, I guess I should be offended by Chef Boy-Ar-Dee ravoli in a tin can.
I want compensation! Fifty dollars bills and Benjamins will do.
If I were him I’d insist that I wasn’t “appropriating” anything.
“I’ve admired these people my entire life! I’m celebrating their culture. I wish all Canadians could be as brave and honest as these people. They are my heroes!”
Wouldn’t it be fun to see the progressives twist into pretzels?
So no one but a certain group can display and appreciate that art? LOL! I’d laugh in their silly faces. What a wimp.
“Canucks” is a racist pejorative. Vancouver must change the name of their hockey team.
I would apologize when the complainants quit appropriating long pants and button down shirts from Europeans!
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