Eskimos to stay, maker says

MARK DWYER/ Taranaki Daily News

CULTURAL CRINGE: Canadian tourist Seeka Lee Veevee Parsons, 21, is upset New Zealanders eat confectionary called Eskimos.

Relevant offers

Pascalls have no plans to rename or stop selling Eskimo lollies, despite the offence they have caused some Inuit people.

"We have no intention to rename, reshape or remove the product, and trust that consumers will continue to enjoy Pascall Eskimos," Cadbury spokesman Daniel Ellis said.

Controversy over the iconic sweets erupted after a Canadian tourist visiting New Zealand raised concerns. Seeka Lee Veevee Parsons, 21, an Inuit of the Nunavut Territory in Canada, said they were an insult and planned to send packets of the confectionary to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and her grandfather, a tribal elder.

A Christchurch academic has also called the sweets offensive saying Inuit friends in Canada likened the popular sweet to "eating white people".

In a statement today Pascall/Cadbury said Eskimos were "an iconic New Zealand lolly".

The company produced almost 19 million individual Eskimos last year, which made it "one of our most sought after".

The company said it was disappointed to learn the sweet had caused concern, but this was only the second time in the product's 54 year history that it had received such a complaint.

"This shows that the overwhelming majority of consumers do not find Eskimos to be offensive."

But Canterbury University's Dr Nicole Gombay, who studies Inuit politics and culture, says she was shocked to see the Cadbury/Pascall lolly for sale when she arrived in New Zealand three years ago.

"I find it odd that the sweets are for sale… obviously it doesn't mean as much to people here."

After sending packets of the sweets to two Inuit friends, they responded, saying: "imagine us eating white people."

Dr Gombay said while the sweet’s image – a small snowsuited figure - was "a normal representation" of Inuit culture, it was no longer relevant.

"It would be like putting an African in mud hut with a grass skirt and a bone in his head."

"They have microwaves, cable TVs, dishwashers… and go for holidays in New Zealand."

She believed it was also offensive because food shortages had been an issue for Inuit people in the past. "The notion of cannibalism is a real thing."

She did not believe changing the sweet's name would have changed the situation. "It doesn’t change what it is."

Newest First

Oldest First

Marianne   #505   02:08 pm Nov 26 2009

My partner is an inuit and he does not find these lollies at all insulting...Its a lolly get over it.....

Demelza   #504   01:36 pm Nov 26 2009

Guess they'd better stop making jelly babies too, cos they're ALL colours, bound to offend just about everyone! Sheesh, what a storm in a teacup, and thank goodness the manufacturer isn't bowing to PC bulldust pressure.

Canadian 12   #503   08:36 am Jul 01 2009

As a canadian I am offened that an "Eskimo" is offended by a candy. But then again we are a country of people who give in to all minorities, no matter how silly the complaint they have.

Bob   #502   10:06 am Jun 03 2009

Me and my mates love da eskimos!!! its a lolly!! get over it no one has raised concern over the lollies and as for the pies!!! they ORIGINATED from CANADA in 1920!! GO THE ESKIMOS!!! :)

canadian8   #501   08:17 pm May 08 2009

Paula #493 - please get your facts straight before stereotyping an entire population. As well as being completely untrue, what you said is ridiculous, rude and totally uncalled for. Would that statement be acceptable if someone said it about all Maori???

tim   #500   01:01 pm May 08 2009

People like her should be shot, They have black jelly babies so would that mean that we're eating black babies? Go have a bloody whinge somewhere else

Katy   #499   03:07 pm May 05 2009

I ate a snake lolly today, so far no complaints from animal activists... Come on they are lollies, not symbols of our desire to act upon cannibalism towards Eskimos!

Catherine   #498   05:18 pm Apr 25 2009

Well... CNN can still get away with using the word "Eskimo" it seems - as recently as 25 April 2009 - here's the headline CNN wrote: 'Climate change' forces out Eskimos Climate change is blamed for flooding that forced an Alaskan community from its homes. The village, home to indigenous Yupik Eskimos, is the first of possibly scores of threatened Alaskan settlements that could be abandoned..... http://edition.cnn.com/

Aaron   #497   11:02 pm Apr 24 2009

Maybe she should get "Canadian Bacon" a new name as well...after all we don't want the world thinking canadians are pigs :) get a life girly!

Baggy   #496   10:26 pm Apr 24 2009

Name calling etc. aside, it does surprise me that when you Google the words Eskimo and Canada, a remarkable number of Canadian sites refer to Eskimo as a standard name (including sites for "National American Eskimo Dog Association of Canada (NAEDAC)" and http://www.gallerycanada.com/ which refers to Eskimo Art) and don't even get me started on Facebook groups!

Ad Feedback