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Canadian tourist offended by New Zealand candy
by Scott Gilbreath ~ April 23rd, 2009
A Canadian tourist in New Zealand says she’s offended by Eskimo marshmallow candies. How crass is it to visit a foreign country and criticise the food?
A young Canadian tourist travelling in New Zealand, Seeka Parsons, says she was appalled by the sale of Eskimo sweets, an iconic marshmallow treat sold widely in corner stores across New Zealand.
The native Canadian said the word ‘Eskimo’ itself was an insult in her country, carrying with it negative racial connotations, and has long since been replaced with ‘Inuit’.
Ms Parsons seems to be unaware that “Inuit” and “Eskimo” are not synonymous. Alaska aboriginals from the Yupik people are not Inuit and generally refer to themselves as “Eskimo”. The Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska at Fairbanks, points out that the belief that “Eskimo” is insulting arises from a mistaken etymology:
Although the name “Eskimo” is commonly used in Alaska to refer to all Inuit and Yupik people of the world, this name is considered derogatory in many other places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was said to mean “eater of raw meat.” Linguists now believe that “Eskimo” is derived from an Ojibwa word meaning “to net snowshoes.” However, the people of Canada and Greenland prefer other names.
Now a New Zealander of Inuit descent tells her to butt out.
Clint Magnus wants his children to honour their heritage. His mother was a full-blooded Inuit and his grandfather was a renowned carver and an Inuit elder. He says he is proud to call himself an Eskimo, even though he has to share the name with popular New Zealand treats.
“It’s definitely not offensive in any way that I can see,” says Mr Magnus. “I think for someone to come over here and complain about the name of a lolly and an ice block is just being petty.”
Fortunately, Cadbury/Pascall, the company that manufactures the candy, has no intention of changing its name or shape.
h/t: Tongue Tied 3
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April 25th, 2009 at 06:43 PM
[...] ..BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE THE PETTY TYRANNY OUT OF THE GIRL– Canadian tourist offended by New Zealand candy …. [...]