How does this happen, was this a publicity stunt? regardless of the storyline the latest entry into Canada’s only professional basketball league – NBL Canada will be changed.
Less than 24 hours after unveiling the name and logo for the Ottawa Tomahawks the ownership group is being forced to revise their strategy after Ottawa’s community poured their comments and voiced their opinion on BasketballBuzz and social media.
Much of the outcry has come from Canada’s native community as the term “Tomahawk” has deep roots in Canadian native indian culture and based on the recent developments of the “Idle No More” movement one has to wonder why the latest NBL Canada franchise decided to even go there.
According to owner Gus Takkale the team consulted the first nation community prior to making their decision.
Local First Nations DJ Ian Campeau tweeted at the team “You’re setting Ottawa back 30 years with naming your team ‘Tomahawks.’ It’s ridiculous and cultural appropriation.”
Last summer, Campeau had also launched a campaign over social media that took issue with the name of the Nepean Redskins football team.
But the basketball team’s owner, Gus Takkale said the Tomahawk name, which was selected after a public team-naming competition, is referencing a type of slam dunk rather than First Nations culture.
With all this happening we must take note, that the ownership was quick to respond to it’s community and willing to make changes to better name their franchise.
While this may be a situation that many would run from, the management team inside the Ottawa Franchise has stayed firm in answering and communicating.
