The CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos say they will not be changing their moniker despite some complaints from Inuit people..After the complaints, the team decided to look into the name’s effect on the Inuit community in Canada’s North..“There were a range of views regarding the club’s name but no consensus emerged to support a name change. The club has therefore decided to retain its name,” the team said in a statement Friday..“The Edmonton Eskimo Football Club will be increasing its engagement in Canada’s north following an extensive year-long formal research and engagement program with Inuit leaders and community members across Canada..The team said it had met with Inuit and community leaders in Iqaluit, Inuvik, Yellowknife and Ottawa, did in-depth interviews with Inuit across the north and in Edmonton, and completed a telephone survey amongst Inuit across Canada..“A key learning for us was the desire of northern communities to increase the club’s engagement with them. As a result, we have invested the time and resources to create a Northern Community Engagement Program and will continue to engage with Inuit leaders and community members to strengthen the ties between the club and the Inuit community,” said Janice Agrios, Chair of the Board of Directors for the team.. Nunavut’s former NHL star Tootoo says Eskimo name is OK with himJanice Agrios Courtesy Edmonton Eskimos .The team is scheduled to have players and other representatives in Norman Wells in early March 2020 for a one-day school visit and two-day youth gathering and will work with other northern communities to develop similar programs..In 2015, in the week leading up to the Grey Cup in Edmonron, Natan Obed — president of Canada’s national Inuit organization, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami — said teams shouldn’t been named after ethnic groups..Edmonton sports teams have been called the Eskimos since the 1900s..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: Nobby7694
