Chicago (AFP)
The Chicago Blackhawks, who play in the North American Ice Hockey League (NHL), on Wednesday refused to change their name like other sports franchises singled out by Native Americans, but banned their supporters from wearing headdresses. traditional during matches.
"Headdresses will be banned for fans (...) when Blackhawks matches resume," the club wrote in a statement.
"These symbols are sacred, traditionally reserved for chiefs who have earned great respect within their tribes, and should not be generalized or used as a disguise or everyday dress," the Blackhawks continue.
The Blackhawks, three-time Stanley Cup holders in the past decade (2010, 2013, 2015) are emblazoned with a 19th-century Native American chief born in the Chicago area, whose name has also been used as a nickname since the club's founding in 1926.
In the midst of the anti-racist wave in the United States, several sports franchises with names evoking indigenous peoples (Indians, Chiefs, Redskins ...) were put under pressure to change their name, sometimes considered racist by Amerindian organizations.
In mid-July, the American football team of the Redskins (Washington), under strong pressure from its sponsors, changed its name, criticized for many years because of its racist connotation, temporarily renaming itself Washington Football Team.
The Edmonton Eskimos, a Canadian American Football League (CFL) team, also announced a few days ago that they were changing their names for the same reasons.
The Blackhawks also specified that they intended to set up and support various initiatives to highlight Native American culture and underline its contribution to society.
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