Cleveland Indians name, "Chief Wahoo" logo target of lawsuits

The Cleveland Indians team name and the "Chief Wahoo" logo were being targeted in a Canadian lawsuit ahead of Monday night's Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Indigenous activist Douglas Cardinal asked an Ontario court to block the Indians from using their team name and logo on uniforms for the game. The injunction request was being heard by the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on Monday afternoon.

Cardinal, a Canadian architect who designed the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, is a member of the Blackfoot tribe. He argues that the team name and mascot logo of Chief Wahoo are offensive and discriminatory.

The Indians will play the Blue Jays beginning at 8:08 p.m. ET in the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Indians lead the series 2-0.

"The Indians are focused on competing in the postseason," the team said in a short statement. "We will not comment any further on matters that distract from our pursuit on the field."

Major League Baseball said it appreciates the concerns of those who find the name and logo offensive, but supports the Indians.

"We would welcome a thoughtful and inclusive dialogue to address these concerns outside the context of litigation," the league said in a statement. "Given the demands for completing the League Championship Series in a timely manner, MLB will defend Cleveland's right to use their name that has been in existence for more than 100 years."