On Friday members of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) legislature voted unanimously to ask the Liberals to rename the Confederation Bridge to a Mi’kmaq word..Epekwitk Crossing is the proposed name, and translates to “something lying on the water.” Mi’kmaq people have used this phase to describe the island and is the traditional name..The Mi’kmaq people and their ancestors have described the island using this phase and Premier Dennis King said it is an important step towards reconciliation..King said changing the name would involve a negotiation with the federal government, which holds the naming rights for the bridge. The 12.9-kilometre bridge linking PEI with New Brunswick was completed by the feds in 1997 after four years of construction..“It’s a very important step for us in the process we’ve embarked on towards reconciliation, towards forgiveness and understanding,” King said..Peter Bevan-Baker, leader of the opposition Green party, was quick to second the premier’s motion to vote to ask the feds to rename the iconic crossing..“I appreciate deeply the place that Confederation holds in our province’s rich history. But I also know the profound harms inflicted by colonialism on the indigenous peoples on this land,” Bevan-Baker said..The Legislative Assembly of PEI is urging the Government of Canada to take this opportunity for reconciliation and rename the Confederation Bridge to Epekwitk Crossing..The motion reads, “it is of the utmost importance Indigenous languages are respected and recognized,” and “the renaming of Confederation Bridge to Epektwik Crossing is one way for Prince Edward Island and Canada to show a commitment to upholding the rights of Indigenous People, which are protected under the Constitution.”.Elected officials say the new name would also reflect the province’s commitment to reconciliation as they voted unanimously for the change..The motion was also developed with the support of P.E.I.’s two currently sitting Senators, Brian Francis and Percy Downe..In the early 1990’s, a committee was tasked with providing the Government of Canada three names to consider naming the bridge being built by Straight Crossing Limited connecting Prince Edward Island to mainland Canada..However, following consideration of public submissions Abegweit Crossing was chosen unanimously by committee members as the top choice and was submitted to the federal government along with the alternate choices Confederation Bridge and Northumberland Straight Bridge..Abegweit is a colonial term and Epekwitk is the original name given, for the land now known as PEI, by the Mi’kmaq..On September 27, 1996, the federal government went against the recommendation of the.committee and announced Confederation Bridge was the winning name..A former chief of the Abegweit First Nation, in a media statement said the birthplace of Canadian Confederation has a long-recognized historic role in PEI..This history he said “came at a great cost to indigenous people.”.The Mi’kmaq people have been living on the Island for 12,000 years..Arthur Green is a Western Standard contributor.agreen@westernstandard.news.,.Follow on Twitter @artcgreen
On Friday members of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) legislature voted unanimously to ask the Liberals to rename the Confederation Bridge to a Mi’kmaq word..Epekwitk Crossing is the proposed name, and translates to “something lying on the water.” Mi’kmaq people have used this phase to describe the island and is the traditional name..The Mi’kmaq people and their ancestors have described the island using this phase and Premier Dennis King said it is an important step towards reconciliation..King said changing the name would involve a negotiation with the federal government, which holds the naming rights for the bridge. The 12.9-kilometre bridge linking PEI with New Brunswick was completed by the feds in 1997 after four years of construction..“It’s a very important step for us in the process we’ve embarked on towards reconciliation, towards forgiveness and understanding,” King said..Peter Bevan-Baker, leader of the opposition Green party, was quick to second the premier’s motion to vote to ask the feds to rename the iconic crossing..“I appreciate deeply the place that Confederation holds in our province’s rich history. But I also know the profound harms inflicted by colonialism on the indigenous peoples on this land,” Bevan-Baker said..The Legislative Assembly of PEI is urging the Government of Canada to take this opportunity for reconciliation and rename the Confederation Bridge to Epekwitk Crossing..The motion reads, “it is of the utmost importance Indigenous languages are respected and recognized,” and “the renaming of Confederation Bridge to Epektwik Crossing is one way for Prince Edward Island and Canada to show a commitment to upholding the rights of Indigenous People, which are protected under the Constitution.”.Elected officials say the new name would also reflect the province’s commitment to reconciliation as they voted unanimously for the change..The motion was also developed with the support of P.E.I.’s two currently sitting Senators, Brian Francis and Percy Downe..In the early 1990’s, a committee was tasked with providing the Government of Canada three names to consider naming the bridge being built by Straight Crossing Limited connecting Prince Edward Island to mainland Canada..However, following consideration of public submissions Abegweit Crossing was chosen unanimously by committee members as the top choice and was submitted to the federal government along with the alternate choices Confederation Bridge and Northumberland Straight Bridge..Abegweit is a colonial term and Epekwitk is the original name given, for the land now known as PEI, by the Mi’kmaq..On September 27, 1996, the federal government went against the recommendation of the.committee and announced Confederation Bridge was the winning name..A former chief of the Abegweit First Nation, in a media statement said the birthplace of Canadian Confederation has a long-recognized historic role in PEI..This history he said “came at a great cost to indigenous people.”.The Mi’kmaq people have been living on the Island for 12,000 years..Arthur Green is a Western Standard contributor.agreen@westernstandard.news.,.Follow on Twitter @artcgreen
