‘Change your name’ Edmonton Eskimos hit with backlash after releasing statement on racism
Posted Jun 5, 2020 6:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON (660NEWS) — There are renewed calls to have Edmonton’s professional football team change their name after claiming to support Black Lives Matter while continuing to use a name offensive to Inuit people.
The Edmonton Eskimos posted a statement on their social media account this week to stand in solidarity with protests happening in both the United States and Canada.
The post read, “We seek to understand what it must feel like to live in fear going birding, jogging or even relaxing in the comfort of your home. To feel unvalued. To feel used. To feel persecuted.”
“We stand with those who are outraged, who are hurt and who hope for a better tomorrow.”
A black square was posted right after the statement with the hashtag “blackouttuesday.”
The social media post was met with over a thousand responses, nearly everyone saying they need to change their name.
Nunavut NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq also replied to the post advocating for the same thing.
“The injustice for individuals that are racialized is horrible. I stand with our black friends across the border. If you really ‘seek to understand’ start by changing your team name. Stop feeding into stereotypes and offensive names. We are NOT a mascot,” Qaqqaq wrote.
Concerns over the name were raised back in 2015 by Nathan Obed, head of Canada’s national Inuit organization, who said that Inuit people are not mascots.
Earlier this year, the club decided to keep its name despite concerns from some Inuit leaders.
The club said consultations in the North provided no agreement on whether the name should be changed.
A recent statement issued by the team said, “it will continue to engage on the matter going forward.”
“As a team with a long history of community building we stand opposed to violence and are saddened by the events occurring across the United States.”
