Hockey team called ‘Redskins’ with ‘Blackhawks’ logo refuses to change nickname

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A Morden senior hockey team in Manitoba, Canada, named the Redskins and wearing a logo similar to the Blackhawks, refuses to change its nickname despite pressure from a local city council member and social media.

The Morden team has been a member of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League since the mid-80s and has won 12 championships, more than any other league franchise.

As with the NFL’s Washington Redskins, the Morden team has stirred controversy. Earlier this month, Morden council member Heather Francis demanded the team drop its native-inspired nickname. Her motion was defeated 5-2 by the council.

From CTV News in Winnipeg:

To continue using a name that is a derogatory term for a group of people, I think, is unacceptable, Francis said. Francis adds that she’s not the first to raise the issue of the team’s name, as a local resident brought it before council last year. At the time, council decided it wasn’t really our role, she said, adding: I really kind of regret brushing it off.

Morden GM Brent Meleck doesn’t understand the outcry.

Meleck told CTV Winnipeg:

Nothing’s broken here, so why fix it? I don’t see any reason, other than one person’s opinion, and is that going to change anything?

Meleck went on to say that his team makes First Nations people of Canada proud:

It’s just a name, he said. We put the jersey on, we wear it with pride. We respect the jersey, we respect everything that has to do with Redskins.

Several sports teams have changed their nicknames, mascots and logos because they were offensive or demeaning. The Washington Redskins have been under pressure for years to change their name and logo, but have not budged.

“Blackhawks” finds its origin in an army unit named after a Sauk leader, Chief Black Hawk, around the time of World War I.

The SEMHL was founded in 1951. The original Morden team was nicknamed the Bombers.

Reaction to the Morden nickname has run mixed in social media.

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Change this racist name!!! This is so sad you think this is just a name!!! Hitler is just a name. Why not call the team the fuhrer! Change the teams name. Posted by Eric Eric on Thursday, October 29, 2015

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