Editor's note:
After this column went to press, the Edmonton Eskimos' board of directors announced it would discontinue the use of the word "Eskimo" in its team name. The team will be known as the Edmonton Football Team or EE Football Team until a new name is chosen.
In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, important conversations about race and racism have rippled through the United States, Canada and around the world.
Locally, the CFL is yet again facing criticism for the name of Edmonton's team, the Edmonton Eskimos.
The debate has come and gone several times in the past few decades, but the organization has never made the final push to change its name.
Rumors of an official name change swirled earlier this month, but the team refused to confirm two published reports that it would change its name. On July 16, TSN reported an internal decision had been made to change the name, but as of July 18, a spokeswoman for the Edmonton club said the team had no update.
While Canada seems to hold itself on a moral high ground, even our southern neighbours have taken the plunge and made changes to both the Washington D.C.’s football team and Cleveland baseball teams.
The term Eskimo has been used to insult Indigenous people; exacerbated by the continued effects of colonialism, including poverty, chronic illness and higher rates of suicide.
Many members of the Inuit community who have spoken out about the name have faced a barrage of racist comments on social media.
By refusing to change the name, the organization is creating an environment that is hostile to Inuit critics.
This time around, the backlash has been vocal, costing the team sponsorships with Boston Pizza, Belair Direct and other companies. The subsequent action suggests the organization is more invested in maintaining their sponsors than quelling racism.
The NHL's first Inuk hockey player, Jordin Tootoo, said: “I understand there are names of sports teams that bring back feelings of oppression for people and I can see why those names should be changed.”
“Does the term Eskimo for the Edmonton franchise bring back feelings of oppression for the Inuk people? For me, it does not,” he continued.
Tootoo explained the term Eskimo is generational and that he, and other young people, refer to themselves as Inuk.
Others in the Inuit community have condemned the name, including singer Tanya Tagaq and Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.
The football organization has been “reviewing” the name for three years. While defenders of the name often cite rebranding expenses as a concern, the cost would have been considerably less the first time the concern was brought to the attention of the organization.
The team released a statement, saying in part: “We announced the findings from that program several months ago which included the fact that there was no consensus among the Inuit people ...”
While there may never be a consensus, the resistance seems completely illogical. Why would you hold on to a name that has any potential to be problematic? Despite the intent of those who named the team in 1949, the term is no longer perceived in a positive light.
The idea that only some people find the name racist is not justification to keep it.
Ultimately, a rebranding would be a step in the right direction for the organization, showing a willingness to listen and adapt to a world that is condemning the racism of our past. It is only unfortunate it has taken the organization so long to embrace the opportunity for change.
