[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I wish we lived in a world where people could borrow from each others cultures, and hey if it isn't exactly accurate or you mixed Kwaguilth and Salish culture, it's no big deal because the overall artwork is stylish and respectful.

Without knowing what some of the critics might have found disrespectful or objectionable in this particular case I don't feel qualified to make that determination one way or the other.

I don't think the guy who made the Stanley Park totem with the Thunderbird has a monopoly on the image of a thunderbird. If Daveart was inspired by it, he should acknowledge that, but that is the extent of it.

But the artist and his family have been veery explicit for a long time that they would prefer the clearly inspired images of the Stanley Park Totem are not made without—at minimum—some consultation.

Having said all that, I think it would have been fantastic if Holtby was able to source a First Nations artist who is capable of producing a goalie mask that is NHL-level quality. But I certainly don't fault him at all for using a vendor he is comfortable with.

I think it would have been totally fine even had Holtby consulted with an indigenous artist, explained his design, had the artist either make it for him or approve it. I suspect it would have been totally fine to have Dave Gunnarsson paint the design so long as it was vetted beforehand.