The chief of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation is calling a recent ruling on lacrosse officiating a “landmark win” for Indigenous athletes.
The case arose out of the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League Championship in a match last year featuring the Standing Buffalo Fighting Sioux.
Chief Roger Redman, an observer of the game, would raise concerns over the treatment of Indigenous athletes by officials.
Over the next several months the league official and Redman against each other with the matter eventually being placed into the hands of a third-party mediator.
After an investigation, the mediator ruled this week that the official acted in an unprofessional manner and is barred from reffing Standing Buffalo games for 12 months.
In a statement, Chief Roger Redmen called the ruling a “landmark win” as he says Indigenous athletes have long endured systemic barriers and discrimination in organized sports.