Ethan Bear – Courageous Role Model Against Racism
By
Conrad Guelke
Posted: 2021-05-28T21:46:00Z
Ethan Bear is a hockey defenceman from the Ochapowace First Nation who plays for the Edmonton Oilers. In a first-round playoff game against the Winnipeg Jets last Monday, an errant pass by Bear lead to a tying goal by the Jets who went on to win the game and the series. This error by Bear was followed by a barrage of hateful and racist online comments by anonymous trolls.
In a video released by the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday Bear responded:
“I’ve been subjected to racist behaviour on social media.
“I know this doesn’t represent all Oilers fans or hockey fans, and I greatly appreciate your support and your love during this time.
“I’m here to stand up to this behaviour, to these comments. I’m proud of where I’m from. I’m proud to be from Ochapowace First Nation.
“And I’m not just doing this for myself. I’m doing this for all people of colour. I’m doing this for the next generation, to help make change… to love one another… to support one another… to be kind to each other.
“There’s no place for racism in our communities, in sports, or in our workplace. So I call on all of us to help make change, and to end racism”
Sports columnist Rob Vanstone in today’s Vancouver Sun wrote:
“In addition to being a National Hockey League defenceman, Bear is an all-world human being – someone who sets a glowing example, not only for Indigenous youth, but also for young people of all backgrounds.”