Brad Gallant

Brad Gallant is a Mi'kmaq activist, filmmaker, and keynote speaker recognized for his advocacy against the use of Indigenous mascots in sports in Canada. Gallant asserts that removing Indigenous and Native mascots is essential to addressing a culture of Indigenous racism. As a member of the Elmastogoeog Mi'kmaq band, which merged into the Qalipu Band, Gallant draws on his mixed Indigenous heritage to highlight how casual racism is normalized in mainstream society. He has identified parallels between stereotypes encountered in professional settings and the broader discrimination faced by Indigenous people.

Gallant's activism began after a personal experience involving the representation of Indigenous culture by five local sports teams, including a hockey team he declined to let his daughter join. He brought his concerns to the City of Mississauga and the Ontario Human Rights Commission, alleging discrimination under Ontario's Human Rights Code due to the use of Indigenous-themed mascots, logos, and imagery by youth hockey clubs. The Human Rights Tribunal ruled in Gallant's favor, establishing a province-wide precedent that challenged the use of stereotypical Indigenous imagery in sports and questioned settler society's authority over First Peoples' names and symbols.

Gallant's efforts have contributed to significant changes in Ontario, where the number of teams using Indigenous mascots has declined substantially. With support from Amnesty International and the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Mississauga removed Indigenous mascot logos from arenas, and the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board banned native mascot wear in its schools. The Ontario Human Rights Commission's work on Gallant's case also influenced the Douglas Cardinal vs. MLB case, leading to the removal of Chief Wahoo, and contributed to the elimination of the Blackhawks logo from the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Gallant founded Beyond Green, a 100 percent Indigenous-owned company in Mississauga, Ontario. Through this platform, he produced the documentary "Systemic Injustice," which examines the role of Indigenous mascots in perpetuating systemic racism in Canada and explores their impact on the normalization of racism and the marginalization of Indigenous people. The documentary was featured at five film festivals and received two awards: Best Native American Film at the Latino and Native American Film Festival and a Special Prize at the Paladino d'Oro Film Festival. Gallant has also authored academic papers, including "Scientific Racism within Indigenous Mascots" and "The Elimination Factor," contributing to the discourse on sports culture, human rights, and racial justice.

As a keynote speaker and industry expert, Gallant addresses topics such as Indigenous mascots, human rights, racism, social justice, education, and diversity. He challenges audiences to examine their acceptance of redface racism and consider how tolerance of Indigenous racism affects society. Gallant holds an MBA from Notre Dame and has a record of landmark legal victories, establishing his authority in the fields of Indigenous rights, sports culture, and systemic change.