Native American woman who worked for Chicago Blackhawks SUES the team for sexual harassment, fraud and breach of contract after bitter exit

A former Chicago Blackhawks contractor brought on to build relationships with the Native American community is suing the team for sexual harassment, fraud and breach of oral contract.

Nina Sanders was hired by the hockey franchise in 2020, and believed the team would change its 'racist' logo (her words) after conversations with CEO Danny Wirtz.

However, that did not happen, and Sanders told CBS Chicago that she felt 'used'  after the team formed a partnership with a local tribe using her expertise.

Additionally, Sanders said she was sexually harassed by a man working for the organization.

She said in a lawsuit that he touched her 'without consent' and also sent her unwanted 'sexually explicit videos of him.'

The Blackhawks have come under pressure to change their logo in recent years

The Blackhawks said there was 'insufficient evidence' to substantiate Sanders' claims and also said the person accused of sexual harassment against her had never been a team contractor or employee.

Sanders said she also reported two other incidents of sexual harassment against other women at Blackhawks events by men working with the organization. The team's lawyers told Sanders' representation in 2023 that any allegations of sexual harassment were not disclosed until after she was not given a renewed contract.

However, the Blackhawks more recently told CBS Chicago that Sanders was in fact offered a new contract, but did not accept it.

The Blackhawks, named after a real-life war leader in Black Hawk, entered a formal partnership with his tribe, the Sac and Fox Nation in 2021 - but Sanders is unhappy with how she was treated.

The Blackhawks said there was 'insufficient evidence' to substantiate Sanders' claims of sexual harassment

'I built relationships with my own trusted native colleagues,' Sanders told CBS Chicago, 'and once they figured out how to do it, they pushed me out.' 

The team said it's had 'working relationships' with members of the tribe for more than a decade.

Sac and Fox Nation had previously opposed the team's logo but drafted a resolution in 2021 reversing that stance.

 The issue of Native American representation in sports has come to the forefront in recent years, with the Commanders and Guardians changing their previous logos.