End of the “Western Redmen”

A while ago I wrote a (looking back, slightly confusing) post on the Western Canada Redmen and the controversy associated with ethnic slang.

And, as it turns out, some change is indeed occurring. It has been confirmed that there will be a change in Western’s mascot, and as a result, Western Canada High School is teeming with opinions.

This was previously considered back in 2004, when Western “engaged with First Nations groups, students and parents about the name but at the time determined it wasn’t offensive and simply made a slight alteration to the feather in the team logo.” (Global News).

From what I hear, some of the motivation behind this shift in mindset started with the recent decision to change Bedford Road College’s team, also the Redmen. There was an interesting change in meaning as originally Bedford’s “Redmen” were fairly innocuous, as the “name originally referred to the red uniforms the team wore, though it took on a new meaning when the team adopted the logo, based on that of the Chicago Blackhawks, in the 1960s, when the school was trying to update its identity.” (Calgary Herald).

I’ve read a number of dissenting opinions on the matter. One of the most intriguing was an editorial letter:

“Please tell me the CBE has asked the Tsuu T’ina Nation what their views are concerning the Western Canada High School Redmen name.

I think they were asked several years ago and they had no concerns. What is their perspective on this issue now? I don’t see it as being derogatory.

We honour our history with names such as Deerfoot, Blackfoot, Peigan and Crowchild trails, Calf Robe Bridge, and others. We don’t have to follow what Washington, Atlanta, Cleveland or Chicago do. We’re not American.

We need to hear what our First Nations people think.”

– Cathy Wasylyshyn (Calgary Herald)

I reckon the difference lies in the name itself: “Redmen” is something of a slang term, whereas Blackfoot and Peigan refer to specific, local First Nations groups. Otherwise, Deerfoot, Crowchild and Calf Robe are no different than honouring Sir Winston Churchill or Henry Wisewood.

This all being, said, I too hope that the First Nations have been and will continue to be consulted on this issue.

Other criticism of the decision did not merely declare “Redmen” inoffensive, but an honour. Peter Glenn wrote that despite this common perception, it, quite frankly, is far from it. “Intentions and school tradition aside, creating a caricature of a native and using it as a logo and reducing an ethnic group to a nickname for a team, reinforces stereotypes and inhibits progress in addressing real  issues that have made the relationship between natives and non-natives in Canada a painful one.” (Calgary Herald)

So yes, this is the end of an era.  However, while the it will look a bit different with this mascot gone, the school that these athletes are playing for won’t have changed a bit. The same school spirit and competitive streak remains; this doesn’t change no matter what name you’re playing under.

As for our new mascot?  Personally, I support something a bit cuter, like the Western Geese or the Western Mallards.