The Indigenous student who led the fight to convince McGill University to drop an offensive name for its men's varsity sports teams used his … According to the university, the name stemmed from colors worn by the teams… McGill dumps Redmen team name after calls from Indigenous community. By Sidhartha Banerjee The Canadian Press. McGill Athletics Suzanne Fortier, McGill's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, issued a statement today that described her decision to change the name of the "Redmen" — the name of most of McGill's men's sports teams. He said the new name is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to address the legacy of the Redmen name. The Canadian Press McGill University's campus is seen on Nov. 14, 2017 in Montreal. Tomas Jirousek, a member of the Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta who graduated from McGill this past summer, led the campaign for the name change. An open call for suggestions yielded 230 different options. For the 2019-2020 year, the teams will simply be known as the McGill teams, Fortier said. McGill University alumni, students come together remove James McGill statue, fight inequality. The McGill Football Club represents McGill University athletics teams in U Sports and is based in Montreal, Quebec. McGill University has dropped the name Redmen from its varsity sports teams after receiving complaints that the name is a racial slur. McGill's sports teams have been known as the Redmen since the late 1920s. READ MORE: McGill drops controversial Redmen name. April 12, 2019 Dear members of the McGill community, In January, I committed to reaching a decision on the Redmen name before the end of the academic year. That association was made in the 1950s when men’s and women’s teams came to be nicknamed the “Indians” and “Squaws.”. "It seemed to be a pretty clear effort on the committee's part to distance themselves from the women's teams and make that distinction," she said. The name change follows a lengthy debate over the former Redmen name, which was not initially adopted as a reference to Indigenous peoples. In past years, students and members of the university community have expressed concern about potentially problematic origins of the name ‘Redmen’. If McGill maintains its team’s name, it … MONTREAL—McGill University is dropping the Redmen name for its men’s varsity sports teams, effective immediately, the university announced Friday. In past years, students and members of the university community have expressed concern about potentially problematic origins of the name ‘Redmen’. McGill University's varsity men's sports teams will now be known as the Redbirds. And it took until 2019 for the university to finally listen to us.". (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP) MONTREAL — McGill University's men's varsity sports teams will be known as the Redbirds going forward, the university announced Tuesday. The name was revealed Tuesday, more than a year … Women’s sports teams dropped Indigenous references in 1976 and took the name Martlet, from a mythical bird in the family crest of university founder James McGill. Montreal's McGill University has announced it will change the name of its men's varsity sports teams — the Redmen — after Indigenous students, faculty and staff said the name is … The Naming Committee has come together to outline the process by which the school will move away from the historic "Redmen" team name of years past. In April 2019, the university announced its teams would no longer be called the Redmen after Indigenous students, faculty and staff said the name was discriminatory. McGill men’s sports teams to be named Redbirds after lengthy process. The name Redbirds was previously used by McGill for their ski clubs, baseball teams, and for a sports shop. According to the committee, the idea of having the same name for men's and women's teams did not fly. McGill University’s men’s varsity sports teams will be known as the Redbirds going forward, the university announced Tuesday. Police expected to update investigation into stabbings at library in North Vancouver. “It’s not racist, the name doesn’t offend anybody and that’s something to celebrate,” said Jirousek, who is Indigenous. Canadian Ultimate Championships. 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The university will set up a committee to work on choosing a new name for its men’s varsity teams… MONTREAL — McGill University has dropped the Redmen name for its sports teams, effective immediately. Tomas Jirousek, a member of the Kainai First Nation who led the name change campaign, says he's pleased with the announcement but there is still work to be done to end the isolation of Indigenous students. Thirteen committee meetings were held by the Men's Varsity Teams Naming Committee. The name “Redbirds” dates back to the founding of McGill’s Red Birds Ski Club in 1928. The debate about the name comes to an end after a months-long conversation initiated by Indigenous students and staff. "This is decades of Indigenous students demanding this name change. read. The name was chosen due to its connection to the school's athletic tradition — the Red Birds Ski Club was founded in 1928, and since then several other McGill sports clubs, teams and events have used the Redbirds name. However, Indigenous symbols, connotations and unofficial nicknames were propagated by the press and fans. Over these past months, I have read and reflected on the McGill community’s varied perspectives on the issue. The change will abandon the former name, Redmen, that many students said was a racist reference towards Indigenous people in Canada. Indigenous students have been asking the university to change the name, which left them feeling ostracized and isolated, since the 1970s, he explained. Originally written as Red Men, the name dated back to the 1920s. McGill University campus is seen Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Montreal. MONTREAL -- Just over a year ago, in April 2019, McGill University announced it would change the name of all its men’s varsity sports teams, doing away with the “Redmen” slur. “Once you understand this is a name that we could no longer use, then you move on to the next chapter and try to find a name that works,” Lacroix said. The university made the announcement today, more than a year after doing away with the old Redmen name. McGill University's campus is seen Tuesday, November 14, 2017 in Montreal. The school has said it was a tribute to the team’s red uniforms and possibly a nod to university founder James McGill’s Celtic origins. The women's teams are now known as the Martlets. The women's teams didn't want to drop the Martlet name. Dimitrios Sinodinos, a fourth-year McGill engineering student and football team member, said he is excited to be a Redbirds player next season, and he said teammates have moved on from the Redmen name. MONTREAL — McGill University's men's varsity sports teams will be known as the Redbirds going forward, the university announced Tuesday. Could a post-pandemic Canada lead to another Roaring ’20s? “It strikes that balance between being a new name, being part of our tradition and being the kind of name everyone will be able to rally around,” Labeau said in an interview. "This is a name we think will unite everybody, is not considered offensive by anybody and it's really a name we think has the right ties with our history while still being the right name for today," said Fabrice Labeau, the university's deputy provost of student life and learning. Ultimately, Fortier agreed, saying it was not a name the university would choose today and that it would not be carried forward. “We saw for decades Indigenous students feeling ostracized, isolated on campus. Many students have been pushing the university to change the name of their varsity sports team, which was the Redmen because it is seen as discriminatory to the First Nations community. MONTREAL - McGill University's men's varsity sports teams will be known as the Redbirds going forward, the university announced Tuesday. Consideration was given to going with a single name — the Martlets, the name of the school’s women’s teams — but ultimately the idea was dismissed. (twitter) McGill University pressured to change sports team name The McGill Redbirds and McGill Martlets are the varsity athletic teams that represent McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Sports League. Whatever the name’s meaning in 1929, today, Redmen is a racist term referring to Indigeneity. The official 2020 Men's Basketball Roster for the McGill University Redbird and Martlets "A couple of decades ago, the Indian Act wouldn't have allowed an Indigenous student to go to McGill without losing their status," he said. They will retain it. Amateur Sports Team. At McGill, the university’s sports teams are known as Redmen and Martlets (men’s teams are the Redmen, while women’s are the Martlets). He said there are other steps toward reconciliation, including investment in Indigenous support services and outreach to Indigenous communities. SB. Want to discuss? The Montreal school settled on the new moniker more than a year after doing away with the old Redmen name that the university said caused pain and alienation for Indigenous students. It also corresponds to Currie Gym’s Redbirds Sports Shop, and the red-coloured birds on McGill’s coat of arms. The move by the Montreal university comes after a … Several men's varsity teams expressed that they were against using the Martlet name, "citing a respect for and admiration of the Martlets' history, and a desire not to encroach on that legacy.". McGill University urged to change team name – Nov 13, 2018. McGill University will no longer use the name Redmen for its sports teams, university president Suzanne Fortier announced Friday. Some who opposed a change argued that the name referred not to a racial slur for Indigenous people but to the colours used in the school’s athletic uniforms. Their former name, 'Redmen', was criticized by Indigenous students and alumni as a racial slur. Originally the McGill Redmen, the name was temporarily changed in May 2019 after nearly 80% of students voted to change the name in a 2018 referendum held by McGill's student union. McGill began using the Redmen name and mascot for its male sports teams in the 1920s. It will take time for our community to decide upon a new team name that honours our long history of athletic achievement, but we will get there. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Galbraith, who is from the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and grew up in Fort Wayne, Ind., said Indigenous students and student athletes felt especially alienated during and after the name change campaign. falls on deaf ears, ‘SNL’ spoofs ‘Oops, You Did it Again’ talk show with Lil Nas X, Matt Gaetz. Read more: 3 talking about this. The men’s varsity sports teams at McGill University have a new name: the McGill Redbirds. McGill University’s men’s varsity sports teams will be known as the Redbirds going forward, the university announced Tuesday. MONTREAL (AP) — McGill University has dropped the name Redmen from its varsity sports teams after receiving complaints that the name is … Please read our Commenting Policy first. The Montreal school settled on the new moniker more than a year after doing away with the old Redmen name that the university said caused pain and alienation for Indigenous students. The Official Site of McGill Athletics & Recreation Search Go . McGill University's varsity men's sports teams will now be known as the Redbirds. McGill University has dropped the name Redmen from its varsity sports teams after receiving complaints that the name is a racial slur, Principal Suzanne Fortier said in a statement Friday, April 12, 2019. Throughout McGill’s history, campus media and yearbooks have used phrases like “Indians on warpath” and “Redman scalped” when referring to sports games. The McGill Redbirds football team represents McGill University athletics teams in U Sports and is based in Montreal, Quebec.The program is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1874.The team won its first collegiate championship in 1902 and also won in 1912, 1913, 1919, 1928, 1938 and 1960 prior to the inauguration of the Vanier Cup in 1965. Lacroix said a robust process took place to ensure community members were involved in the discussions. McGill University’s men’s varsity sports teams will be known as the Redbirds going forward, the university announced Tuesday. The University will announce a new name … After a lengthy lobbying and evaluation process, McGill University has finally decided to drop the name "Redmen" from its male sports teams.This decision comes after intense scrutiny and protests surrounding the name by Indigenous staff and students saying that the name … Catie Galbraith, a third-year student at McGill, was among those fighting to have the name changed. Jirousek, a member of the rowing crew, was at the forefront of a student campaign to get McGill to drop the name “Redmen” for its sports teams, which Indigenous students described as … "I definitely faced some animosity from some other students who were ... opposed to changing the name," she said, adding she would like to see an effort to improve conditions for Indigenous students attending the school. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. McGill University’s men’s sports teams to be named Redbirds, McGill University to rename men’s varsity teams ‘Redbirds’, WATCH: After years of heated debate, Montreal's McGill University has landed on a new name for their men's varsity teams. McGill University has chosen Redbirds as the new name for its men's varsity sports teams. The name was chosen following over 1,238 submissions which were comprised of 230 options. restaurant breaking COVID-19 health order, Easter weekend travel warning in B.C. MONTREAL -- Just over a year ago, in April 2019, McGill University announced it would change the name of all its men’s varsity sports teams, doing away with the “Redmen” slur. Images of Indigenous people were also found on McGill jerseys and helmets for the football and men's hockey teams between 1981 and 1991. Jirousek, a member of the rowing crew, was at the forefront of a student campaign to get McGill to drop the name "Redmen" for its sports teams, which Indigenous students described as offensive and alienating. McGill Athletics logo: Although the various teams are known as the Martlets, the oft used nickname has been the Redmen. A steering committee set up to determine the new name heard from students, staff, varsity athletes, and alumni, the school says. https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/13/americas/mcgill-university-redmen-name First Nations student honoured as McGill valedictorian after leading fight against 'Redmen' team name | CBC News Tomas Jirousek, a First Nations student who led the campaign to get McGill University to change the name of its men's sports teams, graduated last week as one of the Montreal university's few Indigenous valedictorians. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. For the 2019-2020 athletic season, the men’s varsity teams will be known as the McGill teams. MONTREAL -- McGill University has announced the new name for its men's varsity athletic teams: The McGill Redbirds. “I don’t think it represents the end of this discussion at all.”. Men's sports teams at McGill had been known as the Redmen since 1920. MONTREAL — McGill University is dropping the Redmen name for its men’s varsity sports teams, effective immediately, the university announced Friday. The men’s sports teams will be referred to as ‘the McGill teams’ during the 2019-20 season and a committee will choose a new name by Sept. 2020. A … Many students have been pushing the university to change the name of their varsity sports team, which was the Redmen because it is seen as discriminatory to the First Nations community. “That name in particular, initially when I started I wasn’t aware of the cultural insensitivity,” Sinodinos said. “Now that I am, I realized it’s now time for a change.”. Today, I write to share my decision with you. McGill University and its students have been in what seemed like a never-ending battle over the name of their men's varsity sports leagues. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. “Redbirds works because it connects with the Martlets name,” Lacroix said. (CNN) — McGill University will no longer use the name Redmen for its men’s varsity sports teams after students argued the term was a racial slur. McGill University and its students have been in what seemed like a never-ending battle over the name of their men's varsity sports leagues. The Redbirds name was used by ski teams in the 1920s and 1930s and more recently by the school’s baseball team, as well as for a fall basketball tournament dubbed the Redbird Classic. She was also disappointed the university decided against using the Martlet name. Using the name "Indians" to refer to men's teams began as early as 1938, and, in the mid-1960s, women's teams began being referred to as "Squaws" or "Super Squaws." Tomas Jirousek was named valedictorian after working to have McGill University's 'Redmen' team name changed. Restrictions ramp up as Canada’s latest COVID-19 wave worsens, McGill University alumni, students come together remove James McGill statue, fight inequality. At McGill, the university’s sports teams are known as Redmen and Martlets (men’s teams are the Redmen, while women’s are the Martlets). 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