Naming streets and buildings with Indigenous languages an act of reconciliation: activists – CBC News

Nov 27, 2023

Changes acknowledge ancestors’ contributions to communities: Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway

You may have noticed more Indigenous languages appearing in the names of public buildings on streets in Saskatchewan.

Just last week, the Mitakuyé Owâs’ā Centre, a new recreation centre, opened in Regina’s Heritage neighborhood. The name is a Dakota phrase that translates roughly to “all my relations.”

It’s part of a growing trend that community activist and artist Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway says reflects the history of cities like Regina and Saskatoon as gathering areas for Indigenous people.

“By naming buildings, by acknowledging that history, that true history, that’s really just highlighting the contributions our ancestors made to the well-being of our community,” she said.

BigEagle-Kequahtooway was approached by the City of Regina in 2016 to discuss how the city could work on reconciliation.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/naming-streets-buildings-indigenous-languages-1.7038952