Krispy Kernels, a snack maker originated from Quebec, is under fire. The company reintroduced their logo of a cartoon Aboriginal boy in a loin cloth and feathered headdress. The logo had been in use since 1959 but disappeared from shelves in 1990 after the Oka Crisis.
Vintage bags of Yum Yum.
The Oka Crisis was a conflict between the Aboriginals, the Quebec government and the Canadian military. A golf course had been built on top of a burial ground, and the government refused to return the land to the First-Nations people, which lead to a police officer being shot.
The company is experiencing mixed emotions from the public. Some people welcome the change for nostalgic reasons. Others were horrified and called the logo a racist stereotype.
The company maintains that it is a tribute to the original creator of the product, who was most likely an Indigenous person. They also said that it was, “a homecoming for Yum Yum. It is witness to our roots and our origins. A nostalgic look at our history, but also an opportunity to revive the memory of our customers.”
Whatever the case, the throwback came at a bad time. With the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathering steam and people being more conscious of history and stereotypes, the backlash can have a huge negative impact on the company.