Grade 10 students want Kitchener to rename Indian Road, location of Grand River Collegiate

Grade 10 history students at Grand River Collegiate Institute are calling for the City of Kitchener to rename Indian Road where the Ontario high school is located.

In an open letter, GRCI history students say Indian Road is insensitive and offensive to Indigenous Peoples and should be changed.

"Our school teaches about inclusiveness and we've come a super long way, and this is our next step. The street contradicts our messaging at the school," said student Molly Buitenhuis.

"It's important for us to show, as young students, that we do care and we can work toward something for change."

Harmanpreet Singh echoes her classmate's call for change.

"We feel like the community needs to know that we're together, we're all on the same page and that we support them."

Part of a larger movement

Other Canadian communities — including Fort Frances, Dryden, Kenora and Toronto in Ontario, and municipalities in Manitoba — have also undertaken efforts to get roads renamed as part of addressing cultural concerns.

In the case of Kitchener, the movement to change Indian Road's name started with an online class discussion around cultural appropriation in the community.

"This is part of a larger movement within North America, and I think when baseball teams, football teams and larger organizations start to make the move, it impacts youth and they notice that," Steve Gingrich, a history teacher and department head at GRCI. 

The open letter noted the school's leadership and work in the past to remove inappropriate use if Indigenous references on school jerseys, the school's mascot and art work.

In 2016, GRCI acknowledged past inappropriate use of Indigenous imagery on its logos and crest during a 50th- anniversary reunion, where the school's new crest and image was revealed.

"However, we remain fully aware of the remaining street name alongside our learning environment," the letter said.

"These public buildings and spaces exist on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral Peoples, and we believe that our community must make a commitment toward addressing names that are offensive to Indigenous people on whose traditional lands we learn."

Local politicians respond

The open letter was posted to the school's Instagram and Twitter pages, and tagged City of Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo and Liberal MP Raj Saini.

Vrbanovic replied to the Twitter post, noting the city has hired the director for the city's new Director of Equity, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Initiatives.

He also asked for student and teacher contacts to keep them informed. Gingrich said Lindo has also been in touch with the class.

Gingrich said he and the students want to have a broader community discussion over what the new name should be.

The City of Kitchener said in an email statement to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo they appreciate the work of students and city staff will reach out to them.

"Reviewing the name of Indian Road will be part of a larger initiative the City is undertaking that looks at the naming of public spaces (e.g. roads, parks, facilities, etc.) This will be done through the Reconciliation Action Plan work," the statement said.  

"The process for changing street names takes time and involves community input. In the case of Indian Road, it will require meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and leaders."