Indian Road in Kingston, Ont., is set to be renamed Aki Road, which means land or earth in the Ojibway language.
The city council voted 8-5 for the new name on Tuesday night after discussing a change nearly a year ago.
This decision also leads to Indian Road Park being renamed Odamino Park, meaning play in Ojibway.
Some residents and their councillor have argued over the last year that the current name has sentimental meaning and that forcing a change feels paternalistic.
Other members of the community expressed support for Aki Road – roughly pronounced ah-KIH – during the meeting, emphasizing that it’s easy to say and spell.
“Changing a road name won’t change history, but I think it’s a clear signal to Indigenous folks that not only the city cares, but council does,” said Brandon Maracle, who is the executive director of the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest.
Maracle, who identifies as Kanyen’keha: ka from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, started his talk by sharing his Indian registration number.
He recalled memorizing it in high school to prove to bullies he wasn’t “too white to be Indian,” which still makes him feel embarrassed.
Maracle described using the term Indian as “damaging” and “antiquated.”
If they don’t remove it from street signs, it would suggest that “the harm attached to this word … is less important than the inconvenience of change,” Maracle told council.
Brandon Maracle is the executive director of Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest and referred to the previous name as “damaging” and “antiquated.” (Dan Taekema/CBC)
As he spoke, people wearing badges saying “Vote NO to Indian Road name change” were scattered throughout the packed council chamber.
Among those wearing one was Dennis Mahoney, whose mother has lived on Indian Road for 62 years while raising eight children there.
“It’s part of who we’ve been our whole lives. It’s a place we cherish,” he said when asked about what the name means to him. “It’s home and it seems like it’s being pushed aside.”
Mahoney mentioned that residents feel ignored and are particularly upset about how this process unfolded.
“They’re angry … and they’re only building resentment,” he stated. “I don’t think this is a step in the right direction.”
Mahoney also challenged claims suggesting that most people living on the street wanted a new name; he asserted that’s far from accurate.![]()
Dennis Mahoney spoke on behalf of Kingston residents who didn’t want Indian Road renamed, noting that his mother has lived on the street for 62 years. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
Daniel Shipp, another resident of Indian Road, told councillors he backs changing it, calling Aki a “strong name.”
He shared his excitement for visits from family coming from Six Nations of the Grand River.
“They will no longer be reminded of a colonial past and the harmful pain their ancestors endured as her people lost their land,” read Shipp’s speech. “On Aki Road we will honour their grandmother and their legacy.”
.Councillor says residents rejected new names
Last June, council approved by 7-3 vote a motion to rename this 800-metre road along with a park and two parkettes. This followed an initiative from King’s Town Coun. Greg Ridge-who doesn’t represent that district-that stated “Indian” was an outdated term violating Kingston’s bylaw against names deemed “discriminatory or offensive.” Diving into history back then was Meadowbrook-Strathcona Coun. Jeff Mc Laren-who represents this area-stating local residents chose this title decades ago as an acknowledgment of Indigenous contributions in Canada. The city staff reached out for consultations with Indigenous groups along with those impacted by these changes. This past Tuesday they presented two options to council: A news release issued late last week by Mc Laren highlighted results from door-to-door surveys conducted earlier this spring indicating most locals want no changes at all-with 85 percent rejecting every suggested alternative for renaming. The results align with findings from similar polls carried out in 2017 and 2021 according to Mc Laren’s statements..
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