A problem that a certain thought had been resolved was reopened in Edmonton, where the city’s football team revives an abandoned name which has been the subject of many debates and disagreements – something that continues to date.
In 2020, the CFL The club’s board of directors made the decision to Stop using the word “Eskimau” and launch a brand change. The following year after consultations and a public survey, the team renowned Edmonton Elks.
Before that, the LCF team has faced criticism for its name over the years, some people arguing that it was racist, offensive and has shown a lack of respect for the community of Inuit in the regions of northern Canada and the United States, but not all felt in this way – some in the Inuit community felt proud of the names of the Eskimos.
The tilting point came when Sponsors have threatened to support.
Now, the leadership of the team brings the names of the Eskimos – finally, in a way.
“We are going to be proud of the Esquimaude era of this franchise,” said Chris Morris, 56, who was appointed President and CEO last year. Morris also worn green and gold for 14 seasons, as seconds from 1992 to 2005.
“For one reason or another, in recent years, the term” Eskimos “internally in this organization has been struck by the way we are talking about ourselves,” said Morris.
The leader made the comments on Monday during an event welcoming the longtime equipment manager Mandrusiak Dwayne Back to the club, after being dismissed a few years ago.
“Over the years, we have forgotten elements of our history. And with Dwayne who will come back here, it will come back,” said Morris.
“We have finished hiding in the shadow of something that is really not something to fear: 14 Gray Cup championships, the support of the most incredible fans, and I apologize to our fans, during the years, in a way, it is mean for having been called the Eskimo fans base.”
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Morris pointed out that the team will not abandon the names of the Elks on the grill, but will rather stop claiming that the names of the Eskimos has never existed.
“Internally, we will use the term” esquimals “because we are proud of this story as a organization that has done a lot of great things,” he said, explaining that he wants the names of the Eskimos to be associated with the excellence obtained under it.
“We honor the past of this organization. We… honor what was great. ”
Some of the changes include the delivery of a sign on the entrance to the team’s locker room saying: “Once an Eskimo, always an Eskimo.”
“It was a brotherhood, it was a way of doing things, it was a sign that you were part of something bigger than you, which made a difference not only in the field, but in the community,” said Morris.
The team of vintage firefighters of the team which made tricks on the ground after a touch will also have the names of the Eskimos.
“We are proud of this story, and we will adopt it in the future.”
The reaction to the announcement was mixed.
The football fan for life, Kimberly Tologanak, wants the team to abandon the name “Elks” and returns to its roots.
“The Inuit hunting polar bears and warriors are the strong people,” said Tologanak. “Edmonton Eskimos is a solid team and I think it goes with whom we are as a esquimals.
“The team is strong and resilient like the Inuit.”
The Inuk woman moved to Edmonton 25 years ago said that the old name had made her proud.
“For me, I grew up with being known as an” esquimau “, that’s what I knew,” said the passionate fan, adding that the people she knew in the North were also proud of the name. “It doesn’t offer me.”
But all the people of his inheritance do not feel that.
Tupaarnaq Kopeck is Inuit and grew up in Greenland before moving to Denmark, where she first learned of the negative connotation attached to the word “Eskimau”.
“It was used against me as an insult, as a word dehumanizing against me and my people,” said Kopeck.
She now lives in Spruce Grove and said that her heart had started to race when she heard that the team would again use “Edmonton Esquimos” to a certain extent.
She said that many in the Inuit community consider the racist word.
“Words have power,” said Kopeck, adding that she was happy when the team changed his name in 2020, even if we recognize among the members of his community, there is no consensus on what to feel about the old name.
“I think they should invite a group of Inuit and hear their thoughts and talk to them, have conversations. This is important. “
She said that she understood that there was a great nostalgia attached to the old name for some fans, but argued that it was a step back for reconciliation with the indigenous community.
“There are people in the impulses that have these beliefs – I don’t think I want to support this, if that’s what they really believe. It makes me really sad and upset.”
“Reconciliation must be continuous.”
Monday, Morris apologized to fans of having been mean. The longtime fan, Troy Lutz, said that this comment had resonated.
“Whenever you use the word” eskimos “on Facebook, there are people who attack you-people who didn’t care about the game,” he said.
Tologanak said that she would love to see the team more leaning over the old name by celebrating Inuit culture or hiring more inits. But what she wants most: a winning team that gets more people in the seats of the Commonwealth Stadium.
“Our team has not been doing very well since the name change. The fans base has dropped, I think.”
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