Deep Thoughts • 01/09/2020
Deep Thoughts Sudbury Star - September 1st 2020 - Hockey Diversity Alliance & Indigenous Players
Deep Thoughts
with
Mark Seidel
It was with great interest that I saw that the Hockey Diversity Alliance was formed because I thought that there are numerous issues we can improve in the game and this was a good first step. Having been scouting for 29 years, I have seen and heard a lot about non-white players & I think a lot of that has to stop and has no place in the game. I have a ton of respect for almost everyone on that Alliance and the work they have done however, I was very disappointed when I saw the “Hockey Diversity Alliance Pledge” and carefully went through all of demands that they have made to improve the game. I found a number of quota’s for “Black executives” and “Black hockey-related personnel” and “Black non-hockey related personnel” but nowhere in the document do I see any such requests for Indigenous people. If diversity in off-ice positions is so important(and it is), why no demands for people from First Nations? Canada has 42% of the players in the NHL and a terrible track record in its treatment of Indigenous People & yet they seem to get lip service with this pledge and I don’t think it is right. Throughout my scouting career, no race has been slighted more than Indigenous players and to have no voice or inclusion in the HDA is a shame. Do you think Jonathon Cheechoo or Jordin Tootoo or Ethan Bear or Carey Price or Chris Simon or Craig Berube or Denny Lambert have any thoughts on how we can improve the game & the experiences for their people? I’m betting they do and to not be included in that movement reflects badly on the HDA. Furthermore, I watch a lot of the entitled, sanctimonious , holier than thou Canadian “Social Justice Warrior” mouthpieces on Social Media ripping into the USA for their treatment of African Americans in the US but I never hear a peep out of them about the historically abysmal record that Canada has in its treatment of its First Nations people. Perhaps those people should have the same outrage about the conditions in First Nation Communities or the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women before they lecture the USA about their record. This is a very personal matter for me and I’m tired of the neglect & the white washing of history of the First Nations people. The game of hockey is a great sport and everyone within it is working to make it better and more inclusive. To make substantial change, it will take time, effort and everyone pulling in the same direction but to not include and consult with Indigenous People significantly diminishes the work this group is doing.
with
Mark Seidel
It was with great interest that I saw that the Hockey Diversity Alliance was formed because I thought that there are numerous issues we can improve in the game and this was a good first step. Having been scouting for 29 years, I have seen and heard a lot about non-white players & I think a lot of that has to stop and has no place in the game. I have a ton of respect for almost everyone on that Alliance and the work they have done however, I was very disappointed when I saw the “Hockey Diversity Alliance Pledge” and carefully went through all of demands that they have made to improve the game. I found a number of quota’s for “Black executives” and “Black hockey-related personnel” and “Black non-hockey related personnel” but nowhere in the document do I see any such requests for Indigenous people. If diversity in off-ice positions is so important(and it is), why no demands for people from First Nations? Canada has 42% of the players in the NHL and a terrible track record in its treatment of Indigenous People & yet they seem to get lip service with this pledge and I don’t think it is right. Throughout my scouting career, no race has been slighted more than Indigenous players and to have no voice or inclusion in the HDA is a shame. Do you think Jonathon Cheechoo or Jordin Tootoo or Ethan Bear or Carey Price or Chris Simon or Craig Berube or Denny Lambert have any thoughts on how we can improve the game & the experiences for their people? I’m betting they do and to not be included in that movement reflects badly on the HDA. Furthermore, I watch a lot of the entitled, sanctimonious , holier than thou Canadian “Social Justice Warrior” mouthpieces on Social Media ripping into the USA for their treatment of African Americans in the US but I never hear a peep out of them about the historically abysmal record that Canada has in its treatment of its First Nations people. Perhaps those people should have the same outrage about the conditions in First Nation Communities or the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women before they lecture the USA about their record. This is a very personal matter for me and I’m tired of the neglect & the white washing of history of the First Nations people. The game of hockey is a great sport and everyone within it is working to make it better and more inclusive. To make substantial change, it will take time, effort and everyone pulling in the same direction but to not include and consult with Indigenous People significantly diminishes the work this group is doing.
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