Edmonton CFL team to pull controversial name: report – Nunatsiaq News

Official announcement expected next week

17 July 2020

The Canadian Football League’s Edmonton franchise has decided to change its team name, TSN reported on July 16.

Following a year-long engagement with Inuit communities, the football club announced this past February that it intended to keep the name Eskimos. The franchise said it found no consensus on the use of the team name, even though some Inuit consider it a slur.

But renewed calls emerged this spring for a number of sports teams to remove team names depicting Indigenous peoples as emblems or mascots. The National Football League’s Washington Redskins announced it would retire its name and logo earlier this week.

Faced with increased pressure, the Edmonton franchise opted to relaunch consultations with Inuit communities and stakeholders earlier this month.

Read More: https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/edmonton-cfl-team-to-pull-controversial-name-report/