Dewdney Park renamed to Buffalo Meadows
But renaming street honouring colonial official may be more difficult task: clerk
About two weeks after the renaming of Dewdney Pool as Buffalo Meadows Pool, Dewdney Park also has a new name.
At a meeting this week, city council voted 9-2 in favour of renaming the park Buffalo Meadows.
The question of what will happen with a similar ask pertaining to Dewdney Avenue has yet to be decided.
Prior to the vote, two delegates — Lisa Odle and Joely Bigeagle-kequahtooway — presented their cases as to why the park should be renamed, each referring to harms done by Edgar Dewdney.
Dewdney was Indian commissioner of the North-west Territories from 1879-88 and, as such, carried out orders of prime minister John A. Macdonald, including use of starvation against Indigenous people.
He was appointed lieutenant-governor of the Northwest Territories in 1881 and ultimately selected Regina as the region's new capital.
While his role in the city's development was important, Bigeagle-kequahtooway and Odle argued it's crucial people understand both sides of the story.
Odle said it's important to understand the devastation policies like the ones enacted by Dewdney had on Indigenous people.
“We can choose not to honour these people,” she said.
“We can make a decision to remove their names from places of honour and prominence . ... It's through the lens of truth and equity that we must seek to address the issues if we wish to have a strong, diverse, inclusive society.”
Bigeagle-kequahtooway expressed her deep love for Regina and her pride in the community, but said she would like to see it continue to work toward being fully representative of all its citizens.
“We're asking people to reconsider these name changes because I want my city to be reflective of my Indigenous identity,” she said.
“This is my home. I made my home (here).
“I want my children to grow up feeling like they're honoured and they have representation within this community.”
Odle added she is pleased about changes the city has made — including through the recent removal of the Macdonald statue in Victoria Park.
“I think we are making progress, and I want to acknowledge that,” she said.
Questions were raised by Coun. Lori Bresciani (Ward 4) and Terina Shaw (Ward 7) — both of whom voted against the change — about the public consultation process involved.
They were told a petition of 600 names as well as consultation with the North Central Community Association helped to guide the Regina Planning Commission toward recommending the change by an eight-to-one margin.
We can choose not to honour these people. We can make a decision to remove their names from places of honour and prominence.
Questions were also asked about where the proposed renaming of Dewdney Avenue sits.
City clerk Jim Nicol said due to other issues — such as the statue and the renaming of Dewdney Pool and Park — the Dewdney Avenue issue won't likely be discussed until well into the summer or even the fall.
Nicol explained the street issue is much more complicated given it runs the entire length of the city and contains approximately 2,500 addresses.
“So that is part of the reason why there will be a much more extensive consultation, because it is on a far larger magnitude,” he said.
Nicol said renaming streets in Regina is exceedingly rare. To his knowledge, it was done just twice — in the early 1900s for College Avenue and in the 1970s for Saskatchewan Drive.