The Sports Director for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is apologizing to a youth hockey team for twice incorrectly stating their team name.
Corey O’Soup was presenting a trophy and banner to the U9 Beardy’s Blackhawks, but referenced them as the Beardy’s “Beerhawks.”
This angered the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, which lodged a formal complaint to the FSIN.
“The comments were disrespectful and upsetting to all who overheard what was said, and demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism, poor judgment and improper sportsmanship on the part of the organizer,” Chief and Council said in a letter posted to its Facebook page.
The incident occurred at the FSIN youth hockey championships between the Beardy’s Blackhawks and the Cote Selects last weekend.
“I’m here to apologize for the hurtful introduction that I made while presenting a trophy to your under nine team this weekend at the FSIN Youth Hockey Championships. I’m sincerely sorry for saying your team name wrong not once, but twice. This was not intentional, nor a joke,” O’Soup said in a video posted to Facebook by the FSIN. “I understand with all the issues facing us today around mental health and addictions that our communities suffer through that this has caused hurt and pain for you and your young people. And for this, I am truly sorry.”
O’Soup apologized to the youth athletes, the First Nation and the FSIN.
FSIN Vice-Chief Aly Bear also apologized and said the organization does not condone this type of attitude or behavior.
(Screenshot of Corey O’Soup.)