After the Chicago Blackhawks announced earlier this month that they would keep their current name but pledged more support to the Indian community, they explained more of these plans on Wednesday.
The club initially announced that after further dialogue with local and national Indian groups, headgear from the United Center and all team events would be banned.
“We have always kept the expectation that our fans maintain an atmosphere of respect, and after extensive and meaningful discussions with our Indian partners, we decided to formalize these expectations. In the future, headgear for fans attending Blackhawks-approved events or the United Center will be prohibited when Blackhawks’ home games resume, ”the team said in a statement.
“These symbols are sacred, traditionally reserved for leaders who have earned great respect in their tribe, and should not be generalized or used as a costume or for everyday wear.”
The team also said it plans to “further integrate Native American culture and storytelling across the organization,” from broader community engagement to front office staff training and increased presence in our game presentation, in our arena and on all digital channels of the team. ” “Said the team.
“Education will be our beacon and these efforts will continue to honor Native American contributions to our society, including the Black Hawk heritage, and show that these achievements are not limited to history books and museums, but are currently flourishing in our military business , the arts and more, ”continued the team’s explanation.
The club also said they are working on “building a new, state-of-the-art grand piano at the Trickster Cultural Center”. The Chicago Blackhawks Cultural Education Center will include Native American artefacts from the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History and “incorporate increased use of technology to create an interactive space for students throughout Chicagoland, northwest Indiana, and southern Wisconsin to address their core curriculum . “
Although other organizations across the sports world have recently decided to rename to avoid adopting indigenous culture in the form of team names or mascots, the Blackhawks claim that their situation is unique as the organization is named after a specific person.
The organization announced that it would release further details of its community engagement plans in the coming months.
