APTN National News
OTTAWA–An Ottawa football club will be changing its controversial name at the end of the season, the Nepean Redskin’s president confirmed to APTN National News Thursday.
The football club has been facing a relentless campaign from A Tribe Called Red member Ian Campeau, aka Deejay Ndn, who has used social media like Twitter to build momentum for a name change.
“I’m extremely happy that the Nepean youth football team plans to change the name,” said Campeau, who used the Twitter hash tag #changethename as part of his campaign. “I hope this can now set a standard to all team names that continue to exploit First Nations iconography for sports teams and nicknames.”
Nepean Redskins’ club president Steve Dean confirmed to APTN National News that the name would be changed. Dean said the team would be issuing a press statement later Thursday.
The news of the impending name change broke on the Facebook page of Ottawa radio station Chez 106.
“The Nepean Redskins will be no more. Organization is retiring the name Redskins and the logo. Association president says the controversy over the name has taken away from the outstanding work done by players, coaches and volunteers,” said a post on the radio station’s Facebook page.
The football club has faced continual pressure over the past three years to change its name and logo, which is widely viewed as racist by Indigenous people.
Campeau filed a complaint three weeks ago against the National Capital Amateur Football Association with the Ontario Human Rights Commission over the name.
Migwetch KisheManitou. Mino gijigun ogajigak. Minose. Kawin misko-zhegay, nidanishinabewinun. Niminwenindan anishinabe’an. Migwetch KisheManitou…
Mino gijigun ogajigak. Minose. Kawin misko-zhegay, nidanishinabewinun. Niminwenindan anishinabe’an. Migwetch, KisheManitou…