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It's is truly unfortunate that some Councillors continue to advocate against the great work of the iyiniw iskwewak wihtiwin work on the Indigenous Ward Naming. The statement that they do not have a geographical relationship is misguided by @JonDziadyk so I will elaborate
His statement read that 10 of 12 did not have a geographic relationship, and this is false. I will provide additional information that could not make it into the shortened Council report, but was provided to all involved,
Nakota Isga was selected due to it being the only Ward that includes Stoney Plain Rd in its entirety, and would have been a traditional place where the Nakota from Alexis and Paul would have camped.
Anirniq was selected as it contains the Camsell Hospital in the Inglewood neighbourhood. A place where Inuit were held during the tuberculosis epidemic, with some never returning home.
tastawiyiniwak was selected because, as shared by Circle Keeper Terri Suntjens, is the direction in which the grandmother who looks after the in-between people is located.
Dene was selected as it represents the direction in which Dene from northern communities would travel into the City as well as containing a connection to the North Saskatchewan River that connects our communities.
Oday'min was selected as it is in the Heart of the City, as well as, in the North Saskatchewan River watershed, Edmonton falls within the Strawberry watershed.
Metis was selected due to the historical Riverlot system that existed before City expansion, and maintains a connection to the River for our apihtaw brothers and sisters.
sipiwiyiniwak pays homage to the Enoch Cree Nation, as much of this ward falls within their traditional reserve boundaries prior to surrenders.
papastew pays homage to the Chief of Papaschase reserve as it contains the Two Hills in which his people settled and also served as an important settlement.
pihesiwin was selected as the Terwilliger area contains former Sundance grounds, and contains the shape of a Thunderbird when examined on a map.
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi was selected by the Black foot as it would have contained traditional buffalo hunting grounds and would serve as a camping spot for them during those hunts.
Karhiio was selected to pay respect to the Michel Band and their descendants who would have had interactions with Papaschase people as well as that area being well forested.
Lastly, Sspomitapi was selected to pay homage to the Manitou Stone, and when travelling to Iron Creek where the stone was stolen from, Blackfoot would have travelled through this area, and possible stopped when gathering with Papaschase and Enoch families.
There is much more information available that will be coming out as the work continues, but sometimes it takes alot to break through barriers of ignorance. @lisamacgregor
