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Indigenous Day fun set for Lheidli T’enneh Park HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
After a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation will be officially hosting National Indigenous People’s Day (NIPD) celebrations on June 21. The event will be an all-day event that will carry on into the early eveniung at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. “We are going to make sure it’s going to be one of the best ones yet and something to remember so the stage lineup is pretty packed and stellar,” said 2022 NIPD event manager Jen Rubadeau. “Typically, NIPD ends around four or five o’clock but to get that after-work dinner traffic for those people who have to be at work during the day we are staying open until 7 p.m.,” said Rubadeau. School District No. 57 (SD57) is also participating in the events. “I think it’s around 8,000 students that are coming so it’s pretty incredible. We are really looking forward to having the park filled with youth during the day and having the adults and families come in the afternoon and into the evening,” added Rubadeau. She said there will also be learning opportunities
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Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan and Indigenous Day event manager Jen Rubadeau. during the day for Elders to share their stories and teach language. “Our Nation is thrilled to be able to host a NIPD celebration this year and bring people together again to celebrate history, traditions, and importance of Indigenous nations and communities to Canada.” She said National Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity for everyone in the community to gather, and celebrate Indigenous culture and traditions but mostly it’s a day to have fun. “This year SD57 is going to be bringing the kids so
we plan on having fun and what is more fun than food, dancing, music and kids,” said Logan. “There’s going to be a ton of vendors, so people selling their crafts and wares, but also delicious food so there’s going to be the aroma of all the yummy things you want to eat and lots of bannock so that is always a huge hit,” Rubadeau said. “On the stage, you are going to hear music, you are going to smell smudging ceremonies, and hear the jingle of dancing and that will be through the entire park,” she added. Rubadeau said they are also organizing a lahal – which is a traditional game also known as the bone game – where the objective is to win sticks by guessing where the unmarked bones are in the opposing team’s hands. “So, it is really trying to invigorate and put as much cultural fun into the event as we can and infuse it with language and learning,” added Rubadeau. She said the organizers are still looking for sponsorships, vendors, and volunteers so anyone who is interested can find more information on the National Indigenous Peoples Day Facebook Page. The whole thing will take place on June 21 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park and everyone is welcome.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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O’Grady Road to be renamed Dakelh Ti ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
City council approved renaming O’Grady Road in College Heights to Dakelh Ti on Monday night. The name means First Nation Road in the Carrier language, city director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik wrote in a report to council. The name was selected by the Lheidli T’enneh after consultation between the city and the First Nation.
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The move comes after city council passed a resolution on July 12, 2021 to rename the road, following a request by Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan. “The fact that Bishop (John Fergus) O’Grady who O’Grady Road is named for, played a key role in the administration of residential schools in B.C. while deaths and abuse of children occurred, is reason enough to change the name,” Logan wrote in her letter to city council in July 2021. “His name is synonymous with crimes against indigenous children. Our members and other indigenous citizens of Prince George are forced to relive residential school trauma every time we shop at the stores in the College Heights area where O’Grady road is located,” she explained. On Monday, council directed city administration to develop a communications plan to engage with residents and businesses located on O’Grady Road before the change is implemented. Coun. Terri McConnachie said she understands completely the concerns of the Lheidli T’enneh. “Those voices matter,” she said. “(But) I am also mindful that this is a marathon, and not a sprint.” But the city should take the time to communicate to the owners of the 41 homes, five businesses and roughly 100 mobile homes in the College Heights Mobile Home
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The College Heights Residential Park will be one of the businesses and residences that will have to change their address. Park before implementing the change, she said. See SOMETHING on page 19
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‘Something a bit more meaningful’ naming the road after Bishop O’Grady on April 10, 1989. McConnachie put forward a motion, “Renaming a road has impacts on the approved unanimously by council, to residents and businesses that are located request that city staff come back to city along the road, namely with respect to council with a communication plan prior updating address information on perto implementing the sonal, and business change. related, documents. His name is Coun. Kyle SampThe extent of the synonymous son said that the city costs associated with could have looked updating address with crimes at other processes information are against Indigenous to rename O’Grady not fully known at Road, but, in consulthis time; however, children” tation with the Lheidli administration can T’enneh, “we’ve come confirm City of Prince up with something a George records would bit more meaningful.” be updated at no cost to the owner/ However, he said, taking an inclusive occupant/business, and private utiliapproach means reaching out to the resities (i.e. Telus, Shaw, Fortis BC, and BC dents and business owners as well. Hydro) will update their records with the Coun. Frank Everitt said he supports updated information following receipt of a changing the name, but more communiconfirmation letter from the City of Prince cation will only make things better. George advising of a road name change,” The former name of O’Grady Road Wasnik wrote in a August 2021 report to was College Road. City council approved city council. Continued from page 18
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Bishop Fergus O’Grady in 1986, when he received an honourary degree from the University of B.C.
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