A look at some of the recent ethnic mascot controversies in Canada

By The Canadian Press

EDMONTON – Canada’s national Inuit organization wants Edmonton’s Canadian Football League team to stop using the name Eskimos. There’s been vigorous debate over the use of ethnic mascots, particularly aboriginal-themed ones, for sports teams. Perhaps the biggest controversy swirls around the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. In the U.S., Adidas has announced it will help high schools who want to change their mascot by offering free design resources and financial support. Here’s a look at some of the Canadian teams that have made the switch:

January 2014: The Ottawa-area Nepean Redskins youth football, which had the same logo and colours as the Washington NFL team, changed its name to the Nepean Eagles after a human rights complaint.

June 2014: Western Canada High School in Calgary dropped its Redmen name and logo after consulting with school board elders and despite opposition to the change. It cost the board $200,000 to repaint the gym and order new uniforms. The new name is the Redhawks.

November 2014: The Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League stopped using a mascot that depicted an Arabian raider character holding a sword and a hockey stick. The team said the mascot was modelled after the logo it used when the team won the Memorial Cup in 1985, but there were complaints it stereotyped Middle Eastern people.

December 2014: Regina’s Balfour Collegiate changed its team name to the Bears form the Redmen in December 2014.

December 2014: Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon switched to Redhawks from the Redmen. Officials said while the origin of the Redmen name was innocuous, there had been feedback suggesting it was no longer appropriate.

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