City renaming committee needs to return its focus to Indigenous place names, Winnipeg councillor says

A committee created to increase the use of Indigenous place names needs to get back to its original purpose, according to one Winnipeg councillor.

Last month, Mayor Scott Gillingham called for a review of the Welcoming Winnipeg policy.

But Coun. Sherri Rollins says the mayor's original plan didn't address a key concern — the saddling of the Welcoming Winnipeg committee with non-Indigenous renaming requests.

"When you make equal, Indigenous and non indigenous perspectives and you say you're going to amend the Welcoming Winnipeg policy ... that is an erosion of the purpose," Rollins said in an interview.

"Welcoming Winnipeg is very much about resolving the absence of Indigenous perspectives, experiences and contributions. That is the purpose of Welcoming Winnipeg."

On Thursday, city council approved a motion to overhaul the Welcoming Winnipeg policy, after a report commissioned by the mayor's office found committee members and city staff were frustrated and confused about whether the work of the committee aligned with its core purpose.

Rollins brought forward a motion to amend the motion calling for the review, to have city staff look look for ways of speeding up the renaming process "either inside or outside the Welcoming Winnipeg process." 

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Gillingham told reporters he wants a clearer policy for the Welcoming Winnipeg committee.

He says the group has been overwhelmed with requests, many of which are non-Indigenous.

"I believe there's a way to remove the competition and allow for the both with the recognition that some groups, when it comes to naming, are … overrepresented at this point," he said.

"We've got to find a way to acknowledge that, but find a path for both."

Mary LeMaitre, a committee member who spoke as a delegation to council on Thursday, said she thinks the mayor wants to be inclusive.

"He wants to make Indigenous history, culture, and language visible and part of our community, which it should be," she said.

Erin Millions, another committee member who appeared alongside LeMaitre, said some of the committee's recommendations were not included in the report Gillingham commissioned. The new motion approved by council on Thursday calls for a response document from the Welcoming Winnipeg committee to be included with the policy review.

City staff will prepare a report looking at ways of speeding up the work, by finding a separate process for non-Indigenous renaming applications.

They will also look at what funding the Welcoming Winnipeg committee needs.