City councillor apologizes after remarks about Indigenous street names

An Edmontoncouncillor apologized Wednesday for remarks he made asking the city's naming committee to consider "usability" before giving city streets Indigenous names.

After a city council meeting Tuesday, Bryan Anderson questioned the city's decision to rename23rdAvenue between215thStreet and AnthonyHendayDrive toMaskekosihkTrail.

"I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my suggestion, that was not my intent," Anderson said in anemail to CBC News.

Anderson's email came afteran Edmonton Cree elderdemandeda public apology for his remarks.

"He has no right to be telling people, to be telling anybody, to change the way we say things," Taz Bouchier said.

"Our language was forced out of many peopleand we're doing everything we can to keep the Cree language alive. It's not something to be taken lightly, and it can't be replaced with a simpler word."

• Councillor faces criticism for suggesting city choose easier Indigenous street names

Anderson had said people struggle to say and spell certain Indigenous words.

"That's why I'm saying, consider these things when selecting names, and that's all," he said Tuesday. "Things that are in place are in place. If we can have a more usable name and still acknowledge an Aboriginal place or name or person, let's do so."

Accommodating English since contact

Bouchier said Anderson's remarks are a subtle form of discrimination.

"He doesn't even realize that his statement was discriminatory in nature in expecting the First Nations people, the Cree people to adjust according to what he perceives as acceptable names," she said.

"He's not even taking into consideration that we've had to accommodate, since contact, the English language and how that was forced upon many people with the residential schools, foster care systems, and judicial systems."

• 'Matter of respect': Treaty 6 grand chief cold to suggestion to keep Cree street names simple

In an interview with CBC on Wednesday, Anderson said he was concerned about "unintended consequences" when city streets are given Aboriginal names that are difficult to pronounce.

"Please think about how these names are going to be used when giving somebody an address so they can mail you something important, calling 911 and relating your husband's heart attack at this particular address," he said.

"Will you experience some difficulty in getting your address across?" he asked.

Bouchierdidn't buy that argument.

"When you call 911 they are pretty alert to different names in the city," she said.

"He doesn't give them enough credit."

At thetruth and reconciliation hearings inMarch 2014, Mayor DonIvesonproclaimed an entire year of reconciliation in Edmonton.

Bouchiersaid respecting Indigenous languages is key to that reconciliation.

"When I think about reconciliation, I don't think about meeting your standards anymore," she said.

"I think about a partnership.I don't tell you how to be, I don't tell you how to speak, and I don't expect you to accommodate me in everything," she said.

"I expect the relationship to be mutual and understanding that there are differences. In those differences, we can celebrate. We can come together and understand each other."

Public apology wanted

Bouchier said she wants Anderson to apologize at city hall.

"I truly believe he needs to make an apology in the same format, in the same form a public apology to the Cree people and to all Indigenous people of Edmonton because these things are not to be taken lightly," she said.

"They're what leads to further discrimination. He's in a place of leadership and his voice will be heard by many."

Bouchieris Cree, Sioux, Navajo and Scottish.

Her grandfather was Scottish and didn't speak the same language as her grandmother.

"They managed to make it past their language barrier," she said.

"I think that city council can do that years later. I mean, this is 2016."

"If you don't know how to say the word, Googleit. There's no excuse for his statement, there really isn't in this day and age."

nola.keeler@cbc.ca

@nolakeelerCBC