Bedford Road Redmen Athletic Mascot Change: Colonization, Naming, and Power
Date
2020-06-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0000-0002-0151-3890
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to gain understanding of the complex controversy that arose over the campaign to change the athletic moniker of the Bedford Road Collegiate mascot from Redmen to Redhawks between 2010-2014 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In addition to documenting and analyzing the perspectives of various individuals involved in the controversy, the research also sought to explore ways in which the controversy touched on issues of power and race and to gain insight into how efforts to decolonize language and symbols contributed to reconciliation in our community and wider society.
Qualitative case study was deemed the most appropriate approach to understand the controversy and the case was bounded by time, participants, setting and activity. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with six individuals selected through purposeful sampling procedures. As a conceptual framework for this research Critical Race and anti-oppressive theoretical lenses framed mascot controversies as conflicts between different truths: the truth of the colonizer, that Indigenous mascots signify strength and honour, being challenged by the truth of the colonized, that the mascots promote negative and inaccurate stereotypes of Indigenous people. Themes of Change, Motives, Power, Reconciliation, and Opportunities Missed were identified through data analysis; and implications for cross-cultural dynamics within schools and broader provincial society were delineated.
Description
Keywords
Aboriginal, Naming, Power, Colonialism, Cultural Awareness, First Nation, Disproportionate Representation, American Indian
Citation
Degree
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Department
Educational Administration
Program
Educational Administration