Acknowledgement Is Good

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States of America, and there was an announcement today by an NHL team that is a step in the right direction when it comes to reparations needed for the Indigenous Peoples in the US. While I generally dislike the term "Native American", I do understand the melting pot idealism that the US operates under that allows that term to remain in today's lexicon. I'm no linguist and I have zero influence in trying to change that term, but HBIC has and will continue to use Indigenous Peoples whenever referring to "Native Americans". My feelings towards the term aside, the celebration of Native American Heritage in the US comes with an NHL team making their own acknowledgements with respect to the community in which they play.

If you've been to a Manitoba Bisons game or listened to games on UMFM, you know that both Bisons Sports and UMFM recognize the Treaty One Territory on which the University of Manitoba is based and upon which we work prior to bringing each game to you. This isn't something we take lightly, and we're proud that we have been able to speak these words as a way to honour the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Métis Peoples. We share the land with them, and we will continue to recognize and honour our commitment to the territorial acknowledgements we have made.

I have wanted to see more territorial acknowledgements, and we got a few from Rogers Sportsnet on Hometown Hockey as Ron MacLean and Tara Slone would mention the territory from where they were broadcasting. It made me smile hearing those words on a Sportsnet broadcast, and I am always impressed by how they feature some of the Indigenous Peoples and their stories on the broadcasts. I'm hopeful this will continue as we move forward because it's a side of the game we never hear enough about, and one that I find absolutely enthralling.

In saying all this, the Chicago Blackhawks, who have faced their share of criticism for their logo and name, announced today that they too will read a Land Acknowledgement before each and every home game and before other teams events from this day forward! Their statement today read,

"The Chicago Blackhawks continue to grow in our commitments to honour and celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering our platforms, making meaningful contributions, collaborating with Native American people, and reimagining ways to support the many Native American people and communities we live amongst and alongside.

"Part of this work will include working with Native partners in educating our staff, fans and local community on the history of Black Hawk and original peoples of Illinois, as well as on Native American contributions to today's society. We will also continue to expand our investments in Native individuals and communities. Through these initiatives, we endeavour to build a community that is informed and respectful of Native American people and their culture."

This is a rather amazing step by the Blackhawks who had traditionally kept their contributions to the Native American Peoples around the Chicago area very quiet. Their engagement with the Indigenous Peoples for education, information, and history about the land and the communities who called it home is an amazing effort that needs both recognition and applause considering how professional sports teams haven't really been at the forefront in honouring the Indigenous communities where they play.

You might be asking what that statement before each Blackhawks game will sound like, and it seems the Blackhawks have already crafted the acknowledgement statement they'll be using. From their website, it reads,

Again, full marks to the Blackhawks for this classy acknowledgement that recognizes the various communities in the region as well as their namesake in Chief Black Hawk. Adding this to the beginning of all team events moving forward puts a little extra class in each of those events, and it's long overdue in professional sports when it comes to recognizing and fixing some of the things said and done in the past.

It should also be noted that the Blackhawks will be holding their fans to the same standard of respect that they're undertaking, and they made a very clear statement at the bottom of their webpage about games and events that reads,

We have always maintained an expectation that our fans uphold an atmosphere of respect, and after extensive and meaningful conversations with our Native American partners, we have formalized those expectations. Moving forward, headdresses will be prohibited for fans entering Blackhawks-sanctioned events or the United Center when Blackhawks home games resume.

These symbols are sacred, traditionally reserved for leaders who have earned a place of great respect in their Tribe, and should not be generalized or used as a costume or for everyday wear.

That, folks, is what we call "buying in entirely". That statement and the enforcement of this new policy are why I believe that the Blackhawks are truly doing the right thing, and the respect they're showing the Indigenous Peoples of the region with this policy speaks louder than the statement read over the public address system. I don't normally cheer for the Blackhawks, but this is a reason to change my mind entirely.

I mentioned above that the Blackhawks didn't really tout their work that they previously did with the Indigenous Peoples in their region, but they also announced that they'll continue to recognize the countless Indigenous veterans who have served the United States by continuing to support the Trickster Cultural Center and its annual National Gathering of Veterans. They'll also fund education programs through the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation that will tell the stories and life experiences of local Indigenous community members in stories through the team's various media forms.

I would love to see other teams follow this lead when it comes to showing acknowledgement and respect for the Indigeous Peoples in each region. There are teams who have specific games and nights for recognition of Indigenous Peoples and culture, but adding the statements to the start of each game honouring and acknowledging the Indigenous communities in each region where an NHL team is located is an easy move to make that would show a ton of respect for those Indigenous communities.

I get that not a lot of the other 31 NHL teams face the same heat that the Blackhawks do with regards to imagery, logos, and their names, but that shouldn't be the impetus for change either. It's an easy add to every team's routine, and it comes with such a good benefit that not doing it makes no sense.

Here's hoping the other 31 teams follow the Blackhawks' lead. If hockey truly is for everyone, starting with acknowledgement of the very region those NHL teams represent is a good way to open that door. Thanks for taking that first step, Blackhawks, so that others may follow.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!