Holtby working with Indigenous artist on new mask for Canucks

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyДобро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лигиTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueBraden Holtby and Sweden-based artist Dave Gunnarsson have begun to work with an Indigenous artist on a new mask for the Vancouver Canucks goalie after their original design sparked calls of cultural appropriation."I have great respect for Indigenous artists, and Braden and I have started to collaborate with an Indigenous artist to make a new painting," Gunnarsson said on his Instagram account. "When we see the mask, although looking brilliant, one of the first questions you ask is 'who made it?'"Holtby, who is entering his first season with the Canucks after signing a two-year, $8.6 million contract Oct. 9, said he will not use the original mask this season."The goal was and still is to include Indigenous artist and try and pick their brain to see how they would design a mask to best represent the history and culture around this area especially because it's so vast," he said.Jay Soule, an Indigenous artist, told CTV News that Gunnarsson's removal of the social media post "was a step in the right direction," and said Holtby working with an Indigenous artist on the new design would be even more impactful."He clearly likes Indigenous art, that's why he has chosen that style of work.