Owen Sound council has received a request to dedicate the new 10th Street Bridge with a name to honour the area’s Indigenous history.
Susan Staves of the Chippewas of Nawash at Neyaashiinigmiing spoke to Owen Sound councillors at Monday’s meeting and asked for the new bridge to be dedicated as Gitche Namewikwedong — which translates as Great Sturgeon Bay — the name of Owen Sound in the Anishinaabemowin language before contact between settlers and Indigenous ancestors.
In addition to the name, Staves asked council to consider a placing a commemorative plaque on the new bridge.
“The word reconciliation means to renew or restore a friendship,” Staves told councillors. “The past cannot be changed. We may not feel responsible for it, but we have a responsibility for the present. And, with knowledge, we can bring about changes for the future together.”
Staves also shared some words from Chipewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chief Greg Nadjiwon.
“It’s so important to acknowledge (traditional) territory with its original place name,” Staves told councillors, reading a statement from Nadjiwon. “By doing so, it strengthens our friendship with the city.”
Coun. Carol Merton moved a motion that was approved to have city staff prepare a report on the 10th Street Bridge naming request to bring back to council.
The $9.3-million bridge replacement project is quickly nearing its expected substantial completion date of December 2020. The bridge closed nearly one year ago to allow work to commence.
Owen Sound’s Director of Public Works and Engineering Dennis Kefalas recently gave an update about the project, noting it is on track to have the bridge re-open to traffic by Christmas 2020.