Edmonton considering renaming schools over racist, problematic namesakes

EDMONTON (CityNews) – Flags across Canada have been at half mast, including at a school named after a man who lobbied the government to create the residential school system.

After the recent discovery of a mass grave of 215 children at a former residential school site in Kamloops, the tragedy is re-igniting calls to revisit the naming of schools named after people like Bishop Grandin.

A name, now linked to cultural genocide, with thousands of children torn from their families, their identities erased, Edmonton catholic confirms they are reviewing the name.

The Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society has been getting calls of people looking to help the Indigenous community. Christie Pace says taking time to educate yourself on history is a start, and is cautiously optimistic the conversation around school names are being pushed.

“Especially for the Indigenous population, school is difficult, the institution, and everything that is symbolized with that and then to go into a facility that bears that name, it’s terrible,” said Christie Pace with the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.

But what’s the process like for renaming a school?

Edmonton Catholic is just beginning to examine the school’s name. Edmonton Public voted in September to get rid of two school names over racist past.

Those schools being Dan Knott School, named after the former mayor, who was pictured at a klu klux klan meeting, and Oliver School, name after Frank Oliver.

“There is no escaping the horror of the discovery of 215 children in an unmarked grave at the residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. As a Catholic School Division, we are profoundly saddened by the damage and legacy of residential schools,” said Edmonton Catholic School District in a statement.

“Edmonton Catholic Schools is reviewing the name of Grandin Catholic Elementary School and determining the best path forward. The discovery has underscored the need for all parts of society, including school jurisdictions, to re-examine the use of namesakes that are tied to the legacy of residential schools.”

“They used racist policies against us, and they basically removed our people from here. And in particular what I’m talking about is Papaschase people. But Frank Oliver was responsible for other land surrenders as well,” said Chief Calvin Bruneau of the Papaschase First Nation.

Chief Bruneau has been working for years to get the name of the former journalist and politician responsible for land surrenders around Edmonton that removed First Nations from their ancestral land.

Edmonton Public says while they have been consulting with communities, and hope to have a new name for Dan Knott School by the end of the year, they are working with the Oliver community in renaming the neighbourhood and will start the process for the school after that.

“At this time, the Division is not seeking name suggestions for Oliver School. We are eager to work with the Oliver Community League as they engage the community about renaming the neighbourhood of Oliver. Once that process is complete, we will work towards renaming Oliver School, seeking community, staff, student and family feedback,” said Edmonton’s Public School Board in a statement.

For chief Bruneau, he hopes there is education on why Oliver’s name is being removed. As well as understanding of the systemic oppressions of First Nations Metis and Inuit people in Canada.

“Its out there in the media, its out there in the public eye. And I don’t think many people realize the extent of abuse that took place,” said Chief Bruneau.

“We’re not canceling history. We need to just look at who we are celebrating,” added Pace.

The bent arrow traditional healing society has compiled a list of resources on their social media for people reacting to the trauma of the residential school grave, as well as educational tools to learn more about this dark chapter of Canadian history that is still very active for some in our community.