Province reveals replacements for 2 N.B. place names containing racial slur

Two northern New Brunswickplaces whose names included a racial slur will have new names starting in January, the province announced Thursday.

At least seven communities or geographical features across the province bear names that includea racist and misogynistic term used against Indigenous women.

But now,two of those names will be changedfollowing consultation with Mi'kmawand Wolastoqey leaders and residents of the northern New Brunswick community, said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace.

The name of the community, about 27 kilometres west of Campbellton, willbe Evergreen, and an adjacent mountain, will be namedMeto'mqwijuig Mountain. A surrounding protected natural area will also beMeto'mqwijuig.

Wallace said Meto'mqwijuigpronounced Meh-tum-ka-jig was the original Mi'kmaw name for the mountain, and according to her means "to hear something that is flowing" or "a mountain stream nearby."

"First Nations communities were all consulted," Scott-Wallace saidin an interview. "We asked for their participation and their suggestions. So, absolutely, everyone had an opportunity to weigh in.

"We had a web survey as well that allowed people to make recommendations and get their thoughts, so we're really happy with what we've come to. There's been a lot of work that's gone into it for sure."

The changes are the first steps the province has taken to change racist place names,somethingWolastoqey and Mi'kmaw leaders have been asking the government to do for years.

WATCH | New name for mountain, community:

A slur against Indigenous women is no longer part of this mountain

11 months ago

Duration 0:36

After years of calls for change, New Brunswick has started getting rid of derogatory place names.

A push to do so also came from Manju Varma, who made it one of 86recommendations in a report written last year when she was serving as commissioner on systemicracism.

Changes should go beyond racist names: Mi'kmaw group

The name changes announced Thursday are "an extremely important part of reconciliation," said Raven Boyer, spokesperson for Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc., which represents the province's Mi'kmawcommunities.

But MTI has emphasized to the province that changing a few racist place names is not enough, Boyer said.

"The Province must initiate a process to restore Indigenous place names across our territory," she said in an email.

"MTI remains prepared to undertake the Indigenous knowledge research necessary to support such an effort."

Scott-Wallace said it's "possible" her government will go beyond changing racist place names.

"But Ireally can't answer," she said, adding her focus right now is on changing the place names that contain racial slurs or derogatory terms.

Wolastoqey leaders havelong calledon the province to honour the traditional name of the St. John River, by renaming it Wolastoq.

On Thursday, the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswickrepeated that call.

"We hope the province's work to restore original Indigenous place names will soon extend to Wolastoq the namesake of our people, the Wolastoqiyik, and the proper and original name of the river that runs through our nation,"executive director Darrah Beaver said in an email.

"This has long been a request of our nation and many non-Indigenous allies. It would be a sincerely welcomed gesture that is consistent with the sentiments expressed by the minister and her department today."