Hi Everyone!
It's been a little while since we've sent an update on our ongoing conversations with the SA. Unfortunately, the discussion as a whole has been very one-sided. Outside a press release (which we previously debunked), both the SA and the College Board of Directors have remained relatively quiet, ignoring calls from CBC & TSN to participate and defend their decision.
Since that time, John MacInnis (retired Algonquin Thunder Women's basketball coach) has reached out to the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin Nation, to determine the validity behind the college's repeated statement that this change is for "Truth & Reconciliation".
Doug Odijick got back to him, indicating the Algonquin Elders were not consulted about the change-- a hard turn from Ron Port's reaching out to the Band 30 years ago when the college changed from "CAATS" to "Thunder." The deceit in the Algonquin College's statements, their flat out lies and coopting of the Truth & Reconciliation movement to forward their agenda, adds a layer of disgust to this matter.
It is clear to many of us that the college is speaking for Indigenous peoples, forwarding these notions of what it means to be a wolf.
Wolves look out for one another, learn from one another, and support each other. It's a load of croc when the governing bodies of the college ignore the calls from the community, from athletes, from the Athletics staff and even from the Algonquin Nation to have a debate about this decision.
All of this said. We finally received a reply from Emily Ferguson last week, after many follow up emails, asking to discuss this matter. In the spirit of transparency, it is copied, in its entirety, below. While about 10 of us had initially signed on to the letter that John wrote on our behalf, Emily Ferguson only responded to John.
"Mr. John MacInnis,
We have reviewed your emails, media appearances, as well as the "Keep Thunder" petition. We have considered your inquiry, along with the other alumni that have sent similar requests. However, we have decided to continue to move forward wholeheartedly with the Algonquin Wolves in 2021.
Our predecessors made this decision carefully. We have reviewed their process, and we agree with the reasons a rebranding was considered – including a recommitment to Truth and Reconciliation on our campuses, and to create a new and unifying identity for all students.
While we understand that current and previous varsity athletes feel a secure connection to the Thunder, we know that that connection is not shared throughout the Ottawa campus by all students, and certainly not present in Perth and Pembroke.
It is easy for varsity athletes to take up this identity because they have a team to tie the name to. For this reason, our intention for the Algonquin Wolves is to unite all students around a strong brand launched with the opening of the new Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), which is itself a physical representation of the Students' Association's (SA) renewed commitment to varsity sports for Algonquin College students.
While the ARC is primarily a space for our varsity teams, the building will have something for all students. The same goes for the Algonquin Wolves. While varsity athletes can rely on their teammates and their experiences as their Wolves identity, other students can find something in the story of the Wolves that they can identify with.
In Indigenous cultures, the wolf is regarded as being highly intelligent. They are a pack animal, and they care for their young, as well as their elders. They teach one another and support one another. When you look at the wolf within this narrative, it is easy to see that a wolf pack is resembling the students of Algonquin College. We look out for one another, learn from one another, and support each other.
First, let me say that the SA will be sure to honour the history and many successes the Thunder has seen throughout the years. The Athletics and Recreation Centre will have space dedicated to these successes and the Thunder era. Secondly, it is essential to note that the SA represents and answers to more than 18,500 full-time students in Ottawa, Pembroke, and Perth.
While we have heard some disapproving comments from a handful of current students, we have received a comparable amount of support and positive feedback from current students. We know the Algonquin Thunder was the right choice to replace the Algonquin CAATs when the time was right, and we know the Algonquin Wolves is the right choice for the future students of Algonquin College.
We, the SA Board of Directors, understand and empathize with the feelings of Thunder alumni, former coaches, family members, and the current student athletes who have reached out. We appreciate the showing of support the Thunder has seen over the years, and since this announcement was made. However, once again, we will be moving forward with the Algonquin Wolves in 2021, and our design team, in collaboration with Athletics staff and Indigenous Peoples, have already begun exciting work on the new brand.
The Algonquin CAATs and the Algonquin Thunder will remain a proud part of the SA's history, and the Algonquin Wolves will help define a new era for Algonquin College students on all three campuses.
We thank you for reaching out to us to show your support for the Algonquin Thunder.
Regards,
Emily Ferguson,
President, Algonquin Students' Association"
As you can all imagine, the circular arguments and justifications used in this address from the President of SA have been exhausting to fight against for these past few months. They have arm twisted and threatened the internal staff to support or not discuss this issue, despite the fact that staff overwhelming voted to #KeepThunder in the initial petition numbers. I want to applaud John for giving all that he has to this cause, arguing for decency and confirming the falsities behind the "reasons" from the SA. The idea that this change is anything but a slap in the face to Algonquin Thunder Alumni, our proud history, and the history of the Algonquin Nation who helped us select our name is ridiculous. As John wrote in his response to Emily, and all internal supporters last night:
"It is very clear to us now that none of you had any intention of moving forward with this decision in a collaborative or transparent manner. It is clear to us that the decision to change the name was made a while ago, and you have spent all your time over the past three months desperately trying to justify a bad decision. It is clear to us that you don't care…it is as simple as that. You don't care about other's views; you don't care about the voices that oppose the decision; you don't care to consult. You don't care to engage with us in a meaningful way, as you prefer to hide cowardly behind your keyboards, because that is easy."
At this stage, with the Fall OCAA season cancelled due to COVID-19, we are dialling our fight against this change from a boil to a simmer. As we move towards reopening with the possibility of athletics, I will be reaching out to this email thread for anyone who remains a student at Algonquin about picking up the torch with current students-- with continued support from all of us Alumni who care so deeply.
This fight is far from over.
#KeepThunder