Premier Andrew Furey will hold his regular weekly call with the province’s Indigenous leaders today, and it’s a good bet the renaming of Red Indian Lake will be high on the agenda.
The government said last week there was consensus among the five leaders on the new name, which was proposed by Sagamaw Mi’sel Joe of the Miawpukek First Nation.
But there have been questions raised of putting a Mi’kmaq phrase on land where Beothuk remains were removed and will soon be returned, as well as no heads up for people who’ve long lived in the area near Millertown.
Furey says he’s ok with whatever the Indigenous leaders decide, adding their direction matters most.
He says they are the most important consideration in the renaming of Red Indian Lake, particularly given the sacred significance of the area. The premier also pointed out they were responsible for returning Beothuk remains to this province from Scotland.
It was Mi’sel Joe who led that effort, leading to his suggestion of a new name for the lake. He came up with Wantaqo’ti Qospem—a Mi’kmaq phrase meaning peaceful lake.
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