Esks Brand Research Survey

[turftoe27]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

Without starting a new thread, I wanted to find a place to post this - figured a discussion on the Eskimo brand would be as good as any.
The Edmonton Journal has a very interesting story on the history of the Eskimo name. The article starts with the comparison to the Washington Redskins moniker asking if the team name "Eskimos" is an offensive one. It's a long, but very cool read covering some history of our team that probably many of us weren't aware of.

Is it time to bench the Eskimos name? - The Edmonton Journal

Times are certainly changing so in time I guess anything is possible regarding a name change. I can't think of any pro sport team that has changed it's name to be socially correct but I could be wrong. Biggest one I can recall was when Stanford U. changed to the Cardinals. In baseball there are still the Indians and the Braves. One of my wife's best friends is Inuit and she hates being called an Eskimo. Very proud of her Inuit heritage and just bristles if someone asks if she is Eskimo.

[Nextyear]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

Without starting a new thread, I wanted to find a place to post this - figured a discussion on the Eskimo brand would be as good as any.
The Edmonton Journal has a very interesting story on the history of the Eskimo name. The article starts with the comparison to the Washington Redskins moniker asking if the team name "Eskimos" is an offensive one. It's a long, but very cool read covering some history of our team that probably many of us weren't aware of.

Is it time to bench the Eskimos name? - The Edmonton Journal

Very Interesting. I can't see why the name "Eskimos" should be offensive to the Inuit population. If anyone is going to complain about it it should be them.

[Opus]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

From wiki:
Eskimo (or Esquimaux in French) is a term for the indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the northern circumpolar region from eastern Siberia (Russia), across Alaska (United States), Canada, and Greenland.[1][2][3] The term is considered by many to be pejorative,[4][5] although it is not, in its linguistic origins, a fundamentally offensive word.[6] Alternate terms, such as Inuit–Yupik, have been proposed,[7] but none have come into widespread acceptance. Two main groups have historically been referred to as Eskimos by outsiders: the Yupik and Inuit, especially the Iņupiat of Alaska. A third group, the Aleut, is related. The term Alaska Natives refers to all indigenous peoples of Alaska, including Northwest Coast and Athabaskan tribes.


Far be it for me to determine what some determine to be offensive to themselves, but the term Eskimos seems to encompass more than strictly the Inuit people in this region.

Like I said, it's not up to me to determine what is or isn't offensive to those who may deem it so...but should the name "Cowboys" be representative of horse riding rednecks?

I dunno...I've always thought in most cases the fact you'd name a team to cheer and root for should be seen almost flattering in a way.

[Macavity]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

Nextyear, can you clarify? You CAN'T see why Eskimos would bother the Inuit? Meaning you don't see how it could be offensive?

Or are you saying, they are the ones who might be offended, so they should be the ones letting the rest know if it's offensive?

[turftoe27]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

From wiki:
Eskimo (or Esquimaux in French) is a term for the indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the northern circumpolar region from eastern Siberia (Russia), across Alaska (United States), Canada, and Greenland.[1][2][3] The term is considered by many to be pejorative,[4][5] although it is not, in its linguistic origins, a fundamentally offensive word.[6] Alternate terms, such as Inuit–Yupik, have been proposed,[7] but none have come into widespread acceptance. Two main groups have historically been referred to as Eskimos by outsiders: the Yupik and Inuit, especially the Iņupiat of Alaska. A third group, the Aleut, is related. The term Alaska Natives refers to all indigenous peoples of Alaska, including Northwest Coast and Athabaskan tribes.


Far be it for me to determine what some determine to be offensive to themselves, but the term Eskimos seems to encompass more than strictly the Inuit people in this region.

Like I said, it's not up to me to determine what is or isn't offensive to those who may deem it so...but should the name "Cowboys" be representative of horse riding rednecks?

I dunno...I've always thought in most cases the fact you'd name a team to cheer and root for should be seen almost flattering in a way.

Yup, makes sense. Maybe we are becoming too sensitive to some issues.

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

I don't think the determination of whether the name is offensive or not is for me or my ilk, so I'm not going to advocate or argue one way or the other... if people of Inuit/Dene descent find it offensive, they should definitely be heard and actively involved in the determination one way or the other.

[glenvb]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

I had the word "Eskimo" in a math problem, and last December for the first time a student was offended by it. But she was not of Inuit descent. I really don't know how the term is perceived when we say it. As IM says, we need to listen to what the culture itself thinks.

[Steve Vale]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

I had the word "Eskimo" in a math problem, and last December for the first time a student was offended by it.

She was from Regina?

[glenvb]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

You'd think so, but no...she was from an Oriental country.

[Nextyear]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

Nextyear, can you clarify? You CAN'T see why Eskimos would bother the Inuit? Meaning you don't see how it could be offensive?

Or are you saying, they are the ones who might be offended, so they should be the ones letting the rest know if it's offensive?

I just mean that it is not being used in a derogatory way. Of course I can see how someone could be offended by the term, some people are offended by everything. I probably should have said I don't see why Inuit people would be offended.

Opinions will always vary with regard to this subject. I don't think beyond the fact that the name is outdated there is anything wrong with it. As far as I know it wasn't a racial slur or anything like that. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I was also saying that if it offensive it should be the Inuit people that decide that. I think most if not all of the complaints for the Eskimos name have been reporters.

[Macavity]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

Thank you for clarifying.

I think the offense in Eskimo is that it it is an assigned name, as opposed to one the people give themselves. Inuit means 'people' plural of Inuk, as far as I know. Much as few, if any would use "indian" to decribe an aboriginal North American MEANING to be rude, but it is inaccurate and was assigned by others.

We seem to all agree that no one wants to offend, and that people should claim offense on other's behalfs, so I will happily cheer for the Bombers against you no matter what you call yourselves.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

Or are you saying, they are the ones who might be offended, so they should be the ones letting the rest know if it's offensive?

I would take this stance. If the Inuit people are offended by it, then let's hear from them.

I was also saying that if it offensive it should be the Inuit people that decide that. I think most if not all of the complaints for the Eskimos name have been reporters.

And this is the problem I have with the issue. Let's hear from the affected people themselves rather than some guy trying to fill a slow news day. Granted, O'Leary did a good job on the story, I thought, but I haven't heard of any Inuit groups asking for meetings with the Eskimos and prompting talks about the name. Shouldn't be trying to create an issue when it's not there organically.

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

As a bit of an aside, it should be noted there are many peoples beyond the Inuit that the term could apply to including Dene, various Metis, etc , each of which are composed of dozens of groups within them... just to be careful before we start lumping everyone together (and a mistake I made in my original post on the subject)

[Diesel]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

I'm offended by people who are easily offended, therefore my rights supersede theirs.


Anyone can play that game...

[moontoscott]

Re: Esks Brand Research Survey

I had the word "Eskimo" in a math problem, and last December for the first time a student was offended by it. But she was not of Inuit descent. I really don't know how the term is perceived when we say it. As IM says, we need to listen to what the culture itself thinks.

Political correctness has all but taken over our educational institutions and the problem is that when students get their way at college they think that the same applies when you get to industry. And that creates a problem for them because industry isn't interested in that stuff. So what was the stated reason for the this person's bitching about the word Eskimo?