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Canadian Indigenous historian urges Canucks to retire 'orca' logo
A Canadian Indigenous studies and history professor is urging the Vancouver Canucks to retire their primary logo out of respect for the Coast Salish nations, calling its use an example of cultural appropriation and the furtherance of colonialism.
Sean Carleton, who teaches as the University of Manitoba, explained that the 23-year-old logo was designed without consultation from Indigenous leaders. For that reason, he argues, the Canucks are not just carrying out their business on stolen land, but using imagery taken from Indigenous culture as their means to profit.
“How can you continue to develop meaningful relations with Coast Salish nations when you continue to profit from branding that is appropriating their art style?” Carleton asked in a lengthy Twitter thread.
Vancouver’s orca logo, created in 1997, features Haida and Coast Salish-inspired elements. It was first created, in part, as a reference to its new and current ownership group, which previously went by Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment.
This week, the Cleveland Indians became the latest professional sports team to announce plans to abandon an identity of racist or appropriated logo or nickname origin, an announcement that helped prompt Carleton to share his thoughts on the Canucks’ main logo. However before Cleveland’s decision was made, the imagery used by the Canucks and their players was placed under the microscope with calls for cultural appropriation.
Vancouver’s new free agent netminder, Braden Holtby, issued an apology last weekend after commissioning a popular Sweden-based artist to design a new mask that features Indigenous artwork.
Here’s a look Braden Holtby’s new #Canucks mask courtesy of artist David Gunnarson on IG: pic.twitter.com/z1K5eA1rUE
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) December 11, 2020
In his apology, Holtby vowed to not only scrap plans to use the mask, but to also work with a local Indigenous artist on a new design.
The Canucks have not responded publicly to demands that they abandon the orca logo. More than a year ago, team owner Francesco Aquilini told a radio program that he “liked” the logo and that it “represents the current generation” of fans but that it could potentially be tweaked.
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