Words by

Sam O'Donnell

Photo by

Wellhart Ltd / One Little Independent Records

British record label One Little Indian, which has released music by Björk, Sigur Rós, Emiliana Torrini, and Ásgeir Trausti, has changed its name, RÚV reports. Label founder Derek Birkett said he made the decision after a fan explained why the name was offensive.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Derek said, “I have immediately started making arrangements to stop using the One Little Indian Records name and logo…From today the label will be called One Little Independent Records.” He went on to say that as a teenager living in London in the late 1970s, he was deeply inspired by the philosophies of the Indigenous People of the Americas, which was a “huge influence in our anarchist punk movement. I was naive enough at the time of founding my label to think that the name and logo was reflective of my respect and appreciation of the culture.”

He concluded that he is aware that his white privilege sheltered him and fostered ignorance on how harmful the record label name is. He apologised, and said that the label should have changed its name a long time ago.

Read the entire statement below:

View this post on Instagram

ONE LITTLE INDIAN RECORDS NAME CHANGE OF IMMEDIATE EFFECT TO ONE LITTLE INDEPENDENT RECORDS I have immediately started making arrangements to stop using the One Little Indian Records name and logo, with our digital properties in the process of this change right now. From today the label will be called One Little Independent Records. The last few weeks have been a monumental learning curve. Following the receipt of an eye-opening letter from a Crass fan that detailed precisely why the logo and label name are offensive, as well as the violent history of the terminology, I felt equally appalled and grateful to them for making me understand what must be changed. As a teenager living in London in the late 1970s, my friends and I were deeply inspired when we learned about some of the philosophies of the Indigenous People of the Americas, of peace and love for each other and for nature and the planet, and in turn they were of huge influence in our anarchist punk movement. I was naive enough at the time of founding my label to think that the name and logo was reflective of my respect and appreciation of the culture. I’m aware that my white privilege has sheltered me and fostered my ignorance on these issues. I realise now that the label name and logo instead perpetuated a harmful stereotyping and exploitation of Indigenous Peoples’ culture. This is the exact opposite of what was intended. However, I know that it is not the intentions but the impact that is important. I want to apologise unreservedly to anyone that has been offended by the name and the logo. I recognise now that both contribute to racism and should have been addressed a long, long time ago. It is my responsibility to take ownership of my mistakes and I still have so much more work and learning to do. I have begun by immediately implementing the label’s change of name and logo. Furthermore, I have on behalf of One Little Independent, made, and will continue to make, donations to a number of organisations including the Honouring Indigenous Peoples Charitable Corporation and The Association on American Indian Affairs. Sincerely, Derek

A post shared by One Little Independent Records (@onelittleindierecords) on Jun 10, 2020 at 11:06am PDT

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