Committee retreats from Redmen name debate
The city’s cultural diversity and race relations committee declined to make a statement about the “complex” issue of aboriginal figures used as logos or mascots.
At a meeting on Thursday, committee members debated sending a statement to city council condemning the use of aboriginals in a degrading manner, specifically in reference to the Bedford Road Collegiate Redmen high school sports teams.
The message would have been purely symbolic, but some committee members pointed out their responsibility is to respond to issues that violate the city’s zero tolerance policy for racism.
In response to multiple complaints, the Saskatoon Public School board is deciding whether the Redmen name will stand.
“It is blatantly racist,” said committee member Christopher Sicotte. “Other schools have got rid of their aboriginal mascots in the last several years.”
Sicotte said making a statement or encouraging city council to make a statement on the matter would have been “a bold step.”
Committee members also discussed whether an educational campaign about the issue would be more appropriate than a statement.
“It’s a very complex issue and there are a variety of different opinions and feelings on the issue,” said Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, the city’s cultural diversity and race relations co-ordinator.
“It all ties into the same issue of whether it’s appropriate or inappropriate.”
Committee member Toffic Salah pointed out that not every aboriginal logo is degrading, using the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks as an example.
“It shows strength, and you want to show strength,” Salah said.
Few people would find a negative connotation in several other team names and logos derived from different ethnicities, such as the Minnesota Vikings or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, some committee members noted.
Nayyar Javed agreed that whether some logos are positive or negative depends on your perspective.
“Does it reinforce stereotypes, or does it reinforce the strength of First Nations people?” she asked.
Jennifer Hingley, the First Nations Inuit and Metis education co-ordinator for Saskatoon Public Schools, said only those who oppose the use of aboriginals in team names have been heard in the debate.
“We seem to hear less from the people who see things differently,” Hingley said.
Acting committee chair Michael San Miguel said he personally would like to see the Redmen name and logo discontinued, but he acknowledged that opinions vary.