Eskimo lollies slammed as racist by Canadian tourist

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Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00a.m.

Seeka Parsons is outraged by the kiwi favourites

Seeka Parsons is outraged by the kiwi favourites

Some of New Zealand's most popular and iconic treats have been labelled racist by a Canadian tourist.

Seeka Parsons is in on holiday in New Zealand and was shocked by her discovery.

She says the names of Eskimo lollies and Eskimo Pie are insulting, and she is taking her complaint to the Canadian government and Inuit elders.

After discovering the two kiwi favourites, Ms Parsons is now trying to put pressure on the manufacturers of both products, Cadbury, Pascalls and Tip Top.

"I just think we deserve respect," she says. "Stand up and make a change."

Ms Parsons has sent some of the Eskimo lollies to the Canadian Prime Minister and her grandfather who is an Inuit elder.

Cadbury says this is the second time there has been a complaint about the Eskimo lollies in their 54-year history.

In a statement the company said, "we have no intention to rename, reshape or remove the product and trust that consumers will continue to enjoy Pascall Eskimos".

Tip Top say a change is unlikely in the short term for their Eskimo Pies.

They say Eskimo Pies have been available in New Zealand since the 1940s and say it is one of their top ten sellers.

They say they will track the feedback and if it becomes a big issue they might then consider a name change.

But that is of little consolation to Ms Parsons, who feels the name is insulting and has no merit.

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Comments

04 Apr 2012 06:15a.m.

Cindy wrote:

I'm an American with NZ family ties and Eskimo Pies have been around in the US since I can remember as well. So does she want to take both of us on? Maybe she should have checked with her Intuit elders before speaking out on their behalf. If they had an issue, they surely would have said something before now! On the flip side, there's no Frito Bandito anymore in America, either, because of PC whining. Aren't there bigger issues that need addressing, folks?

17 May 2010 08:35a.m.

flangey wrote:

Pies rule!!

19 Nov 2009 12:47p.m.

Marie wrote:

According to a Canadian history scholar the term "Eskimo" was derived from an Algonquin description of a northern enemy who were eaters of raw meat (Magocsi, 2002). The Edmonton Eskimo’s team name, the brand names of the lollie and pie are hardly appropriate in this day and age as far as I am concerned. Yet some people do not seem to understand the insult and disrespect to the Inuit people who find being called Eskimo unacceptable. Playing a little devils advocate, I don’t think that most Caucasian Canadians would accept the Alberta football team’s name to be the Edmonton Honkies or the Edmonton Crackers. Respect, authentic representation and translation of a culture matters in order to celebrate and share in each others cultures positively. I say change the racist names!

23 Apr 2009 12:12p.m.

cherie wrote:

And I still love BLACK BALLS!!

23 Apr 2009 11:47a.m.

Maree wrote:

i think that she has taken this way out of proportion, the lollies have been around longer than she has...she is wasting her time trying to get famous, if i was her i would be taking a pack home to enjoy with her family and be proud to say that nz has chosen this name and it is such a favoured sweet here.

23 Apr 2009 11:34a.m.

Karen wrote:

What was it? Slow news day or something? Get a life!

23 Apr 2009 09:55a.m.

Jeff wrote:

This is exactly the type of Dudley-Do-Right, maple syrup slurping, snow mobile driving igloo dweller, that gives Canada the reputation as a bunch of whining hippies. No wonder the US think so lowly of them.

Whatever will be next, the Taliban declaring war on NZ because we eat Afghans’? Or howls of displeasure from the SPCA over the term ‘hot dog’. I grew up with the philosophy of ‘sticks and stones’, are we now so bloody precious.

23 Apr 2009 09:13a.m.

lester wrote:

Yes this 'girl' is just being a little precious, i spent time in north america and met many inuit people who introduced themselves as being inuit and elaborated this by telling me that they were Eskimo! Lets move on from this NOTHING story and let this 19 yr old "inuit" get on with her holiday and enjoy our beautiful country just as many "Kiwis", sorry New Zealanders have enjoyed her country! P.S. Maybe shes just annoyed a little by her resemblance of the caricature on the Eskimo Pies

23 Apr 2009 01:28a.m.

Louisa wrote:

I just have to say...wow. I'm an Inuk from northern Canada and I don't get offensive when I see Eskimo Pie or any other tasty treats with the word Eskimo in it. I remember eating Eskimo Pies when I was a kid, it's just part of a brand name. My apologies New Zealand, we're not all like this I swear :)

Also, was it really necessary to bring in the whole seal hunt debate?! This story has nothing to do with the seal hunt :)

23 Apr 2009 12:30a.m.

john matrix wrote:

wow, this canuk really showed what an idiot she is. I'll put it down to her youth, but to get high strung over lollies? Quite the drama queen. She should have dome some homework herself and found out the brand eskimo is an iconic brand of taste for kiwis, not out of racist undertones as she imagines, and that it's been around for as long as she has been on the earth. PM Harper is probably goin',"How embarrasing". But when he tastes those lollies, he'll want to beef up trade with NZ.