2020 Brown skin white ice South Asian specific ice hock [retrieved_2025-01-12]

Brown Skin, White Ice: South Asian Specific Ice Hockey Programming in Canada

Introduction

• Ice hockey is traditionally viewed as a ‘white man’s sport,’ overshadowing significant contributions from Black and Indigenous communities.

• The changing demographics in Canada have led to more racialized citizens challenging participation norms in hockey.

• This study involves data from interviews, media analysis, and personal reflections to explore Apna Hockey's role in disrupting the whiteness of hockey culture.

• Apna Hockey enhances South Asian participation and combats stereotypes through networking and social media. Though it cannot eliminate racism, it creates vital spaces for racialized individuals.

Growth of South Asian Participation in Hockey

• Participation has soared among South Asians in the last decade, though only three South Asian players have participated in the NHL.

• Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi has opened avenues for grassroots hockey involvement since its inception in 2008.

• The emergence of South Asian specific programs like Apna Hockey responds to instances of racism faced in mainstream hockey.

Conceptual Framework

• This research examines how Apna Hockey navigates the pervasive white culture in hockey.

• Bains shares her narrative as a South Asian girl facing hockey’s cultural standards, evolving into her identity as a race scholar.

• The work explores the concept of double-consciousness experienced by BIPOC athletes within a white-dominated sport.

• The duality of one’s identity as both a participant in the sport and a subject of societal misrepresentations fosters a struggle for authenticity.

Positionality and Methodology

• Both authors identify as racialized settlers from unceded territories in British Columbia, bringing their own personal and cultural lenses to the study.

• Interviews with Apna founders and participants were conducted to understand the significance of ethnically segregated spaces like Apna in promoting inclusivity without enforcing exclusion.

The Birth of Apna Hockey

• Founded by Lali Toor, Apna Hockey emerged from his personal experiences of racial isolation and racism in Canadian hockey.

• The name 'Apna', meaning 'one of our own' in Punjabi, signifies a community-focused initiative to provide resources for South Asian hockey players.

• Apna Hockey integrates elements of Sikh culture while being inclusive of all South Asians, reflecting socio-cultural identities.

Experiences of South Asians in Hockey

• Stories highlight the challenges that South Asian youth face in a predominantly white sport and the need for representation.

• The concept of 'brown out' sports spaces provides South Asians with respite from mainstream discrimination, allowing them to assert their identity.

• Historical stereotypes and the assumptions about South Asian athleticism hinder representation in sports.

The Role of Apna Hockey

• Apna Hockey offers networking opportunities and mentorship for South Asian youth, aiming to build community and challenge narratives that marginalize.

• Individual experiences reflect a complex relationship with identity, where hockey serves as both a space of empowerment and discomfort due to racialized experiences.

Engaging with Whiteness

• Adopting respectability politics, Apna Hockey aims to alter perceptions of South Asian athletes, effectively reshaping narratives within the sport.

• Mentorship and parental involvement are critical, enhancing community bonding while recognizing the historical oppression experienced by South Asian families in hockey.

Social Media as a Tool for Empowerment

• Apna utilizes social media to amplify the stories of South Asian athletes, democratizing representation and building a sense of community.

• Their social media presence challenges dominant stereotypes while celebrating successes within South Asian hockey culture.

• Engaging with the broader community through platforms allows Apna to assert their presence and narratives.

Conclusion

• The emergence of Apna Hockey demonstrates the complexities of negotiating identity within a white-centric sporting culture.

• Apna promotes racial conversations in hockey, exemplifying how marginalized groups can carve out spaces for dialogue and identity formation.

• While Apna does not claim to eliminate systemic racism in hockey, it highlights the critical intersection of race, culture, and sport in contemporary Canada.