AFNÂ’s national chief supports appeal for youth football team to drop Â‘RedskinsÂ’ nickname -‎ Yahoo! Sports

This story was filed on September 9, 2012

AFNÂ’s national chief supports appeal for youth football team to drop Â‘RedskinsÂ’ nickname

By Neate Sager

The last thing a modest, mom-and-pop community football organization wants is to be a political football. Nepean Minor Football, whose teams are called the Redskins, have long declined to consider losing the controversial moniker. But the driver behind the push, Ottawa musician Ian Campeau, has been passionate about enlisting support in hope the team will see the reason behind changing his name.

Now Campeau has backing from Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo. That suggests what had been a local news story in Canada’s capital region over the past few years could suddenly become more national.

Campeau’s appeal has not been well-received. For instance, Ottawa city councillor Jan Harder, who told Campeau last month that he is “looking for trouble where none exists.”

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)

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