City takes Abinojii Mikanah on journey to reconciliation By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 11:38 AM CDT Friday, Jun. 21, 2024 Last Modified: 1:41 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 21, 2024 Updates

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The new name of a major boulevard is being celebrated as a critical step in reconciliation amid calls for many more to follow.

Indigenous leaders, elders and performers gathered with civic and provincial government officials to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day and the renaming of Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Abinojii Mikanah at Jules H. Mager Park in St. Vital Friday.

Sandy Bay First Nation Chief Trevor Prince told the crowd renaming important landmarks is a critical part of reconciliation, in part, because of attempts to rid students of their language and culture at residential schools.

“Our language is part of our identity…. There was a time when our people got punished for speaking the language and there’s people (who) raised kids not teaching them the language because of the fear of what (would) happen to them at residential school and the punishment that they (would) go through,” said Prince.

“Today, we’re renaming one of the biggest streets in Winnipeg and… I’m very, very proud that it’s being renamed as something in our language.”

The City of Winnipeg has received calls to replace the name Bishop Grandin Boulevard since at least 2018. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada identified Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin as leading the campaign for residential schools.

Grandin Street in St. Boniface is being renamed Taapweewin Way.

St. Vital is named after Grandin.

Abinojii Mikanah was chosen by an Indigenous Knowledge Naming Circle as part of the Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History process, which considers options to name and rename places and historical markers. The process is meant to help address names that negatively impact the Indigenous community.

Abinojii Mikanah, which has already begun to replace Bishop Grandin on road signs, means “The Children’s Way/Road” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe.

Elder Dennis White Bird said the name points to a hopeful future while also honouring the children who never made it home from residential schools.

White Bird recalled sneaking away to speak his language when he was a residential school student.

“In the playground, we went as far as we could from the main school building. So, we continued to speak our language over there and, for that reason, I’m able to speak (it),” he said.

Jennifer Wood, the intergovernmental and community relations liaison for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, said she hopes Abinojii Mikanah inspires more name changes that better acknowledge Indigenous peoples and their history.

“We’re at a pivotal time in our history. Everyone is looking at truth now…. It’s about naming the main arteries in our cities under a First Nations name, and I think it’s going to resonate across Canada,” said Wood.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the new name offers a meaningful step forward.

“(It is) acknowledging past injustices and honouring the resilience and the strength of Indigenous communities. It’s an affirmation of our commitment to the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures for future generations,” said Gillingham.

Friday’s event featured several cultural performances, including Powwow dancing by Walking Wolf and Métis fiddler Luc Wrigley.

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Statements and events on National Indigenous Peoples Day

“National Indigenous Peoples Day is a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength and enduring spirit of Indigenous communities.” — Gov. Gen. Mary Simon

A pipe ceremony was held at Red River College Polytech to celebrate a space at its Exchange District campus formerly known as the Agora being renamed Mitakuye Oyasin Okciyape. The name means “all my relations helping each other” in Dakota.

“It serves as a reminder to uplift our rich First Nations cultures, traditions, languages and ceremonies. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding issues First Nations face and the need to work in collaboration with all levels of government to address these gaps.” — Assembly of First Nations national Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who was raised on Pinaymootang First Nation

The Manitoba Métis Federation held its annual celebration in Selkirk, along with events in Brandon, Dauphin and The Pas.

“Despite past attempts by Canada to erase Indigenous cultures, traditions and languages, Indigenous peoples persevered. Today, we celebrate their achievements, their courage and their unwavering resilience.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The federal and Manitoba governments announced 26 projects totalling $1.52 million were funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership this year. “The program is aimed at increasing food security, training and resource development, and expanding Indigenous participation in Manitoba’s growing agriculture and agri-food sectors,” a joint news release said. Applications for next year’s funding are being accepted.

“As we celebrate this day, we reaffirm the government of Canada’s commitment to understand and acknowledge our past and its ongoing impacts, a critical step towards healing and advancing on reconciliation.” — Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge and Northern Affairs minister and Winnipeg MP Dan Vandal

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.