National Indigenous Peoples Day: Winnipeg renames Bishop Vital Grandin to Abinojii Mikanah

While many gathered at the Forks for National Indigenous Peoples Day to recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples, another ceremony was held to mark the official renaming of Bishop Vital Grandin to Abinojii Mikanah.

“It’s about naming the main arteries in our cities in the First Nations name, and I think It’s gonna resonate across Canada,” said Jennifer Wood, speaking on behalf of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Starting with a grand entry involving Elders, City Staff and the surrounding community, Mayor Scott Gillingham announced the tremendous milestone, which honours the experiences of Indigenous Residential and day school survivors, and the children who didn’t make it home.

“It’s an affirmation of our commitment to the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures for future generations,” said Scott Gillingham, Mayor of Winnipeg.

Many residential school survivors were in attendance to see history being made, including Elder Betty Ross who attended the St. Joseph residential school — also known as Cross Lake residential school — for six years starting in 1951.

“They told me you hush up, your language is filthy, you don’t matter you just go sit in that corner and hush up,” said Elder Betty Ross, a Residential School Survivor.

Elder Ross recounts her years spent in residential schools, saying she wouldn’t have survived the trauma and abuse if it wasn’t for her father’s teachings and warnings about the dark times ahead.

“What he said was, those systems will try to crucify you for who you are and I didn’t understand because I was only five-years-old, but I went through those for systems and it was true,” said Ross.

Sandy Bay First Nation Chief Trevor Prince says much was lost because of residential schools including their languages, due to fears of what would happen to them if they were caught speaking it or teaching it, saying to this day it is still under threat.

“Today we’re renaming one of the biggest streets in Winnipeg and to me I’m very proud it’s being renamed to something in our language,” said Chief Trevor Prince, of Sandy Bay First Nation.

And while the many in attendance will continue to take part in all the festivities and cultural events taking place here at the Forks for National Indigenous Peoples Day.