Nothing cute about it: Misnamed plush polar bear irks Inuit

When using an Inuit wordto sell a product, at least translate it well.

Or just don't use itall.

That's how Joey Amos of Inuvik, N.W.T. feels about theplush bear Ty Inc. callsNanook Nanuq.

On the tag, the stuffed animal's name is translated as"cute polar bear," when in fact, there's nothing cute about it. Thetwo words are just different ways ofwriting "polar bear."

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"It's not right, so I've tried making contact with the folks with Ty through their Facebook," says Amos.

Amos said the Illinois-based company responded that they did not meanto disrespect any Indigenous group, and they would get back to him.That was on June21,Aboriginal Day.

More than two months later, Amos is still waiting for ananswer. He warned them he would speakhis mind on social mediaand finally did soon Sept.5.

"They're taking our language and suiting it to their own interpretation. It bugs me," said Amos."They should be actually talking with the Inuit that havetraditional knowledge and knowhow to translate."

The Nanook Nanuqpolar bear was introduced in May, to coincide with Canada's 150thanniversary. It'spresented as a "proud Canadian" and "the cutest and most lovable polar bear cub around."

Ty Inc. also sells other polar bears called Igloo, Aurora, Alpineand Iceberg,as well as ahusky called Yukon.

And another husky called Nanook.

No one from Ty Inc. wasavailable for comment.