Embracing Change: The Significance of Wîhkwêntôwin on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Last week as a part of Student’s Corner, we asked our community to share their favourite neighbourhoods in Edmonton, and the top pick is Wîhkwêntôwin, followed closely by Garneau and Highlands. As we observe today in respect of indigenous peoples and their histories, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it felt right to discuss the importance of Wîhkwêntôwin more in depth than our normal Student’s Corner.

Wîhkwêntôwin, formerly known as Oliver, is the first community in Edmonton to be renamed, a significant step toward reconciliation. Its Cree name means "Circle of Friends," reflecting the community's values of inclusion and diversity. The name was decided upon after a nearly three-year process, gifted by Elder Jerry Saddleback, with contributions from the Renaming Circle and Wîhkwêntôwin community. The neighbourhood's original name, Oliver, was named after the Minister of the Interior and later the superintendent general of Indian affairs at the federal level. His policies facilitated the exploitation of protected national parks and forest reserves, implemented stricter, racist, immigration policies, and targeted Indigenous land rights, forcing them off their land.

The symbolism of renaming the neighbourhood reflects the ongoing need to reconcile the inherent colonial history of Edmonton spaces. Gurleen Aujla’s article, “Renaming and reconciliation” discusses the importance of these demonstrations, but emphasises that “a name change without further concrete action is not enough to decolonize or reconcile an inherently colonial space.” So, what initiatives and community actions are being taken in Wîhkwêntôwin, and Edmonton, to demonstrate a genuine commitment to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?

-Written by Rylee Thomson

(Photo Credits from Frequency News)