EloraFergusToday received the following letter to the editor from Sean Hunter regarding the Elora Mohawks lacrosse team.
Congratulations Elora Mohawks on your successes in lacrosse. As the Western Champions you will face off against the Eastern Champions the Kahnawake Hunters.
But here is where it gets awkward...
The Elora Mohawks will be playing against the Kahnawake Hunters who come from the Mohawk reservation of Kahnawake. This tone deaf cultural appropriation is repugnant and highly disrespectful.
I can't help with being utterly disgusted with the fact that the team representing Elora, and the Township of Centre Wellington have chosen to continue the use the Mohawk name, and a team logo depicting an Indigenous person with ceremonial headdress.
This headdress is not even reflective of the Mohawks as it seems to depict a full eagle-feather warbonnet used by the Lakota Sioux.
I am further disgusted to see that this is not a new issue that has come to light. In 2019 there was a complaint from the Ontario Human Rights Commission regarding this issue, but no appropriate action has been taken, and the Township continues to support the Elora Mohawks and their ongoing use of the Jefferson Elora Community Centre.
Why does the Township of Elora continue to support this racist and disgusting behaviour?
Sean Hunter
