A divisive debate has been conducted within the intricate workings of the mayor’s administration, as a plan to rename a portion of Abinojii Mikanah, erstwhile Bishop Grandin Boulevard, was voted down in response to an impassioned protest from First Nation chiefs.
It was eight months ago that the city council first officially made the transition from Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Abinojii Mikanah, translating to ‘Children’s Road’ in the Ojibway and Cree languages. “The shift in name from Bishop Grandin after decades to Abinooji Mikinah is significant,” confessed Mayor Scott Gillingham.
Bishop Grandin, whose real name was Justin Grandin, was a Roman Catholic cleric, hugely instrumental in the formulation of the notorious residential school system.
The contention reached its febrile peak when two councillors proposed a new name for a section of the road extending east of Lagimodiere Boulevard. In hopes of commemorating Manitoba’s inaugural NDP Premier, Edward Schreyer, councillors Russ Wyatt and Ross Eadie moved to rename the road Edward Schreyer Parkway South, citing his significant contributions to the Indigenous community.
Their initiative ignited a furious backlash, as Chief Angela Levasseur of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation branded the proposed name change as detrimental and aggravating. The Chief elucidated in a meeting with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, that under Schreyer’s administration, Indigenous lands were desecrated by Hydro dams, destroying the traditional lifestyles of the First Nation communities.
This contentious proposition was further criticzed as a ‘slap in the face’ by the elder members of the Welcoming Winnipeg Committee, whose efforts were pivotal in the inception of the name Abinojii Mikanah.
In response to this volatility, the Executive Policy Committee, with unanimous agreement, rejected the proposed name change. A firm stance reiterated by Mayor Gillingham: “The welcoming of Abinooji Mikinah was a step towards reconciliation we staunchly stand by.”
Nevertheless, Chief Levasseur contended that the mere rejection of the motion was insufficient. Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the AMC acknowledged the Mayor’s decision to shut down the name change, noting that in doing so, they “continue to remain on the right side of history – our history.”
The echoes of this dispute continue to reverberate, serving as a potent reminder of the need for healthy cooperation between governmental bodies and First Nation leadership in making decisions that impact their community.
