Vancouver/Fraser Valley (Angus Reid) – Honouring cultural traditions or disrespect through caricature? This is the fundamental debate over use of Indigenous names and imagery in sports in recent years.
For decades North American sports teams have utilized Indigenous and other ethnocultural imagery and nomenclature. In some cases, this has been rather overt – the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Edmonton Eskimos – while in others the references to these groups have been more indirect, such as the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs or Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish.
Locally, the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. For the record, when the old Quesnel Millionaires were moved to Chilliwack and retained the old Chiefs name, there were discussion with Sto:lo on the return of the name. At the time (2012) there were no objections.
A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians divided on whether or not the practice of using such terminology and logos should continue in the face of protests and team name changes across the country.
Slightly more than half (56%), driven by men over the age of 35 and women over the age of 55, say that these teams should not make changes to the names that fans have grown accustomed to over the years.
However, more than four-in-ten (44%), led by majorities of young women and those with university educations, say that these names should, in fact, be changed to ensure that no offence is given to communities that may feel ostracized by their usage.
The
CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos are a source of concern for a number of
Canadians. The team name is seen to be offensive by three-in-ten (29%).
The generational aspect of this debate is again highlighted with respect
to the term Eskimos. More than two-in-five (44%) 18-to-34-year old’s
find the name offensive, compared to just 18 per cent over the age of
55. In recent months, the team has been researching the impact of its
name and consulting with Inuit communities, and says that no plans to change the name are imminent.
More Key Findings:
- For many, this is a discussion with degrees of intensity.
For example, more than four-in-ten (43%) express concern about either
the name or logo of the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians. Many,
but far fewer, say that the same problems exist with the Atlanta Braves
and Kansas City Chiefs (24% in each case).
- A majority of Canadians (56%) say that McGill University
made the correct decision in recently deciding to discontinue its use of
the name ‘Redmen’ for the campus’ male sports teams. Though it was
initially meant to reference the team’s primary red uniform colour, the
school incorporated Indigenous imagery over the decades.
- This is also not a discussion that is limited entirely to Indigenous symbols and names. Just as many Canadians say they have an issue with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish name and logo as they do with the aforementioned Braves or Chiefs.
Read the rest of the story here: http://angusreid.org/sports-team-names/
