Edmonton Eskimos name change is driven by activists patronizing Inuit Canadians

The recent announcement of the name change of the Edmonton Eskimo comes as a disappointment amidst this recent spate of brands bowing to woke culture when they have done nothing wrong. 

It was announced on July 21 that the name would be changed, citing the name being considered offensive. The team now wants to be called “EE football team” until the name can be replaced.

Other than the fact that the name change seems completely unnecessary, what is most bothersome about the Edmonton Eskimos surrendering to the pressure of activists is how patronizing it is to Inuit Canadians.

Pretending that the name of the Edmonton Eskimos was a major issue in the minds of the Inuit is essentially allowing social activists to speak on behalf of the community and tell them what they should and should not be concerned with.

In the Edmonton Eskimos’ own study of Inuit Canadians’ opinions on whether the name should be changed or not, the majority still said they were not bothered by the name.

Some may argue that there was still a significant portion of the community that said the name should be changed, but if you consider the context that despite all the media’s hyper focus on anything that can be portrayed as racist and the constant insinuations that the Edmonton Eskimos’ name was offensive, the Inuit community largely remained ok with the name.

Of course some Inuit Canadians will default to the name needing to go if they have been constantly told by the woke culture that the name needs to go. It is human nature to assume a popular opinion must be right, even if it is just the same small group of activists pushing that belief.

If the name was actually racist it would be perplexing that anyone in the Inuit community was ok with it, let alone a majority, but of course that’s because it is obviously not a name attempting any negative connotation. 

It would have come across far more respect toward the Inuit Canadian community if the Edmonton Eskimos, rather than tripping all over themselves trying to satisfy the vocal minority of activists, instead came out and honestly explained how the activists were incorrect and that the name was in no way an insult.

It enables those who falsely attack people and brands as racist when no pushback is ever given. 

If the Edmonton Eskimos firmly stated the calls for the name to be changed were blatant opportunism at a time when everything from the police to syrup brands are being called racist in order to push particular political narratives, it is very likely Inuit Canadians along with other average Canadians would rally on the side of the football team.

The Edmonton Eskimos, by accepting the false premise that they were somehow participating in some form of racism, left themselves with no option but to change the name, a move that was incredibly patronizing to Inuit Canadians who found no issue with the name to begin with. 

Inuit Canadians do not need to be talked down to, and the Edmonton Eskimos name change will be remembered by many as a patronizing and useless decision made in the midst of the crazy, woke world of 2020. What a shame.