An issue with the use of the Morden Redskins team name has been brought forward recently by a Morden resident. The Morden Redskins have been around since 1983. They are part of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League.

"I've done a lot of research and looking into the origin to the term 'Redskins'," said concerned citizen Heather Francis. "A lot of people will say it wasn't chosen meaning to be derogatory and that I fully agree with. I don't believe the team chose it to have offence to anybody. In the beginning as far as I can tell, from my research historically. It wasn't used as a negative term. It was just kind of a way of referring to Aboriginal people as having 'red-er skin', than say the other Europeans with white-er skin. It did evolve into something used as a derogatory term. You look at historical records that show bounties for bringing in Redskins. That's kind of where the term evolved into. Even though it didn't start out as a derogatory term, it evolved into derogatory term. Many indigenous people today still really strongly feel it is a derogatory term and are offended by it."

This issue was brought forward to the City of Morden council, by a different citizen, roughly a year ago. Council went on to say they felt it wasn't their role and asked the citizen to approach the team on her own. Approximately a year later Francis had thought about and felt it was her role to get the name changed. At which time she, (Francis, who is a City of Morden Councillor as well) brought it to council for a vote, which was defeated. City officials then asked her to approach the team on her own, which she is doing.

"I don't think there's really anything wrong with it. Other than people's opinion, which is the only thing that has come up with this whole thing," said Redskins President Brent Meleck. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with what the name is and what we do with the name. I'm really not to sure if people understand what the Morden Redskins are all about. I think that may be one of the biggest problems we have right now. We are who we are. We are local hockey team in Morden. It's a bunch of guys who have played Junior, WHL, or pro guys, that come out and provide some entertainment and some good hockey to the neighbourhood."

Francis noted she isn't wanting the team to change their name immediately, but would like to see it happen in the near future. She stated that she believes the team didn't chose the name with the intent to be offensive.

"I'm not choosing this issue just to pick a fight. To me it's not just a matter of political correctness gone to far, that's an argument I've seen a lot of. I strongly believe that the way we act, comes from the way we think. The words and terms we use have a huge impact on the way we think, and therefore on the way we behave. I believe, while some people think is a really unimportant issue, it's really a basic social issue that we should all be concerned about."

Meanwhile, Meleck noted they will be having a meeting next week, and they are going to hear the concerns of Francis.

"We are going to see where and why, and what's going on. Lets hear everyone's opinion," explained Meleck. "We are totally free and open to that. Everybody's got their entitlements. We are the Morden Redskins. We wear the jersey with pride. There's nothing but respect for the name, respect for the jersey. It's almost to bad that people think the other way. As I said before everyone is entitled their own opinion."

The Morden Redskins have been around since 1983. They are part of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League.