Nepean Redskins to change controversial name, logo

The Nepean Redskins youth football team will change its name and logo, the team announced Thursday.

"While the Redskins name was chosen in alliance with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League, the club understands that the current name is offensive to some, and thus divisive to our community, said team president Steve Dean in a media release.

We want to enable the players, volunteers and parents to keep focused on what we do best: provide excellent cheer and football programs; from tackle to touch to flag. This is what draws us together.

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The team had been under community pressure to make the change, which mounted earlier this month after Ojibway musician Ian Campeau filed a human rights complaint against the team.

Team: Change will take years, more than $100,000

Campeau, a member of electronic group A Tribe Called Red and father of two, said he'd been trying to get the team to change its identity for more than two years.

He said he'd heard from plenty of people who said he was taking political correctness too far, or the name is supposed to honour First Nations.

"The backlash that this whole campaign has received to me tells me this is more than just football," he said.

"It's about the entitlement of being able to label an oppressed people, to call somebody they have no ties to...that word."

The team estimates that the transition could take several years and cost more than $100,000 to complete.Campeau has offered to help fundraise.

It said a new name, logo and colours will be chosen in consultation with players, parents and volunteers once the season ends in November.

The team has been known by its current name since 1981.

Deans told CBC News a press conference will be held Friday at 4 p.m. at the South Nepean Park off Longfields Drive.