Discrimination in Sport

Discrimination

Sport

in

Steps -

• Summarizing
• Explore: What steps were taken by the victim?
• Explore: What steps were taken by the accused/offender?
• Explain the results
• Explore: Does it have a larger societal issue connected?
• Explore: Will this kind of discrimination be reoccurring in sport?

By Sian M

A Case Study

Explore: How did the offenders react?

What was the result?

Explore: What steps were taken by the victim?

Explore: Is it connected to a bigger issue?

The case for racism against a black adopted Heiltsuk student started a conversation aboout identitiy, acceptance, and what really makes up your identity. Josiah Wilson fought for his right to claim his family's heritage even when others tried to invalidate him. His father defended his son by acknowledging him to be of his heritage. In the end, it shows that it's not always about where you were born, but where you are from.

Peter Huagan, who was the president of the committee, actually refused to comment at the time.

Summary of Events

Explore: Will this type of discrimination ever leave sports?

Wilson took the situation to this father, Dr. Don Wilson who then took the steps to protect his son. Dr. Wilson reminded the committee that the Heiltsuk have a long-standing adoption tradition and celebration. He made a point to say that these traditions must be acknowledged as Josiah is legally adopted, with status Indian card and a legal registration with the Heiltsuk First Nations. Josiah has played on All Native teams for several years without any issues, but he received a letter stating that his birthplace and adoptive status make him not qualified to play on an All Native team. Josiah and his father made sure to fully make it clear how offensive and racist this action and reasoning was.

I would say in this situation, it's a little different from most, as oftentimes adopted children are not invalidated by their school or teams. Personally, I don't understand why sports are broken up into racial teams, but it can be connected to a larger idea of xenophobia and discrimination against immigrants, which is a very present and current topic as well.

Josiah Wilson is a 20-year-old point guard for the Heiltsuk Wolf Pack basketball team. Wilson was supposed to be competing at a tournament in Prince Rupert, but he has been barred from play as he was deemed not native because he doesn't have First Nations ancestry or "bloodlines", as it was called.

Personally, I think that this type of discrimination is not very common in sport, as I couldn't find another case like this, so I hope that it doesn't occur anymore and will become a non-issue.

Wilson was adopted by a Heiltsuk First Nations family when he was an infant in Haiti; he is status Indian and was raised in Canada as a First Nations person. Wilson spoke out against the Native Committee and called them out for racism.