At the Saskatoon Public School Board's March 4th meeting, the motion was put forward to retire the Bedford Road "Redmen" name and logo. The room was heavy with suspense, and I knew that what was happening would be either another stumbling block, or would stand out as the turning point for not only our community, but for others as well.  

After the motion passed, the crowd erupted in waves of applause, cameras flashed, and emotions broke to feelings of relief and elation. The anticipation that captivated us melted away into celebration.  This was a victory, but not just for one side.  It was a triumph for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, for our educators, and our children. It was acknowledgement by one institution that the time had come to move beyond symbols that embody systemic racism.     

We should not have to justify why the use of Indian mascots is inappropriate. According to provincial Occupational Health and Safety Legislation, harassment can exist regardless of the intention to harass or offend.  Yet the burden of proof in the case of cultural appropriation continues to be wrongly placed on Aboriginal peoples.  Further, we do not need to show that every Aboriginal student, parent, and Elder is offended.    In fact, Elders teachings tell us to avoid offending one another and to make retribution if we’ve done so. The fact that there are people who do not recognize the effects of stereotypical images does not detract from the many others who are singled out, taunted, and offended.  

The use of an essentially beheaded Indian "Chief" symbolizes our history into one dimension, a place where we are no more than a memory of a long dead war hero. It ignores the many facets of our experience, our rich history and diverse cultures. One cartoon face doesn't represent this diversity, nor does it represent an actual person. Ironically, the logo was chosen in the sixties, the time when Aboriginal peoples could not vote and were subjected to residential schools, the sixties scoop, and the reserve pass system.  

Some of our people have essentially given in to pressure, touting their acceptance of these negative stereotypes, because 'at least it isn't the usual drunken Indian misconception.'  Yet these stereotypes are no less inaccurate or detrimental to our self-image. We are essentially allowing ourselves to accept the minimum, instead of demanding equality in all things. I prefer to have higher expectations of each of us. 

Some people are saddened by the decision to retire the logo because they feel it affects their school spirit, but I suggest that this is a weak stance. This is not the first time for an organization to change its logo. Rebranding happens all the time! Saskatchewan Indian Federated College became First Nations University of Canada. The College of Commerce became the Edwards School of Business. These name changes do not minimize one's memories of attending these schools. The name change did not detract from my years in either place, nor did it alter my memories of the lasting friendships, the professors who enlivened the classrooms, or the experiences that I had. Bedford Road will still have the same walls, teachers, students, and sports teams.  

The backlash has begun as the detractors have, in their minds, lost. Yet this is not a win lose situation, and this is not a game. Saskatoon can now be at the forefront of positive discourse on progressive race relations. The removal of cultural appropriation in our institutions has caused a ripple effect with other cities, schools, and sports teams. While this may seem trivial to some, this gesture of goodwill is one step on the journey of reconciliation; it shows that our school system honors the feelings of all. The resistance to cultural appropriation does not imply that this is the largest issue we must combat. It is a stepping stone on the journey to move society’s perceptions of Aboriginal issues from one of disregard to understanding and empathy. By making this small change, we are better equipping ourselves to challenge racism on the bigger scale. We can work together towards correcting how our people are perceived and treated. More successes such as this are integral to the larger goals of driving Canada to recognize our rights and place in society.