Government seeks input on renaming Red Indian Lake
Government, Indigenous leaders say they heard the voices of concerned people
After the floodgates opened with anger and concern from people in the province about a move to rename Red Indian Lake — once home of the Beothuk — the provincial government and Indigenous leaders decided more consultations are needed to find a suitable name.
A joint news release was issued Thursday to that effect by the government and five of the province’s Indigenous groups — Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation, Nunatukavut Community Council, Miawpukek First Nation and Qalipu First Nation.
“The proposal to rename Red Indian Lake has generated considerable comment,” the release stated. “We believe that conversations about history, places, discrimination and injustices will contribute to a greater understanding and awareness for everyone of the need for reconciliation.”
The provincial government introduced a motion last week in the House of Assembly to bring forth a bill to rename the lake, with the Mi’kmaq name Wantaqo’ti Qospem, meaning “Peaceful Lake.” This occurred after discussions with Indigenous governments and organizations in the province, facilitated by Premier Andrew Furey and Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Lisa Dempster.
“Renaming Red Indian Lake is but one of several topics in our discussions on the journey we have embarked upon towards reconciliation,” the release stated. “The provincial government, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, is engaged in establishing a relationship that is founded upon respect, listening and mutual understanding.”
Towns in the vicinity, area residents and others, through letters, emails and social media, disagreed with the suggested name, saying a new name should reflect the Beothuk language. Many people were also upset about not being consulted on a new name.
Addressing members of the media Thursday, Dempster said the voices of people who live near the lake have been heard. She said she felt the emotion in many of the emails she received.
“(The renaming) generated considerable discussion over the last number of days. We talked about people’s attachment to place, about discrimination and justice and reconciliation,” she said. “There’s consensus that, given the interest, and we want to let people know their voices were heard, that we would take some time now to pause and reflect, and I will go forth and do consultations.”
The name Red Indian Lake is seen as derogatory to the Beothuk people, who lived on the shores of the lake before they were wiped out by disease and starvation — by having their traditional hunting and food-gathering routes cut off — and attacks by European settlers.
The Beothuk would spend winters near the lake and head to coastal areas in the spring and summer to hunt seals, fish and gather other food from the sea and coastline. After the British settled along more and more of their coastal sites, the Beothuk retreated to the lake.
Thus, the lake is seen as a meaningful area of the Beothuk.
The renaming of the lake came up as part of the repatriation process for the remains of two Beothuk — Nonosabasut and Demasduit — which were taken from their burial hut at Red Indian Lake in the 1820s. It was felt a more appropriate name should be in place before the remains are returned to the lake.
Chief Mi’sel Joe of Miawpukek First Nation, who was instrumental in having the remains of Nonosabasut and Demasduit returned to Canada from a Scotland museum, had suggested the name Wantaqo’ti Qospem.
Saltwire Network was unable to speak with Joe Thursday prior to deadline.
Letter writer Gerard Gregory suggested a name containing the Beothuk words “Odemiut,” meaning ochre, or “Woodum,” meaning a pond or lake. Others have suggested simply “Beothuk Lake.”
Dempster said there have been all kinds of names put forth in the past few days.
“We want to let (municipalities and individuals) know their voices were heard and (with) the feedback we received from them, and the feedback we will receive through consultations, there will be a number of names that will be considered,” Dempster said.