Anti-racism forum talks about team names

A group of student teachers at the University of Saskatchewan hosted a forum to examine the issue of racism and the role played by team names, such as The Redmen, associated with a local high school.

About 100 people attended the panel discussion Tuesday, which was hosted by the Student Teachers Anti-Racism Society.

Some of the panelists have called for the Redmen name to be changed.

The anti-racism group says the way aboriginals are portrayed in a school can be critical to a young person's development and self-esteem.

"Race and racial issues have been silenced in our society  for so long, to the point where people feel very uncomfortable even discussing them," Cody Dill, a member of the anti-racism society, told CBC News. "So, if that's all that comes out of this it will still represent a win, so to speak. But obviously change is what we're looking for."

Saskatoon's Bedford Road Collegiate is the home of The Redmen.

In the past, students at the school have voted to keep the name of their sports team.

Since the issue arose again, the school has said it is open to talking about the name.