New school name reflects Thames Valley board’s Indigenous pledge

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An Indigenous-inspired name is one of three picked for London-area elementary schools slated to open next year through polls conducted of area families and First Nation communities.

A Thames Valley District school board staff report reflects a new focus adopted earlier this year that allows for suggestions from the communities, rather than picking names reflective of significant individuals, and prioritizes names of significance to local Indigenous communities.

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“New name choices for the community to vote on will include at least one name connected to local Indigenous Peoples, history and traditions,” said trustee Beth Mai, the school board’s chair.

The new names of elementary schools opening in 2025 are:

• In northwest London:  Northwest public school
• In southwest London:  White Pine public school
• In north Woodstock: Turtle Island public school

Turtle Island is recognized by some Indigenous communities as the continent of North America.

A community poll was conducted in May and June to collect potential names for the new schools, according to the staff report’s author, human resources superintendent Lynne Griffith-Jones.

Final polls were conducted during the summer months, she said.

The name for Northwest public school was chosen over Waagosh Gitigaan elementary school – which means fox field in Anishinaabemowin, an Indigenous language – and White Trillium public school.

The name White Pine public school in southwest London was chosen over Southwest public school.

In Woodstock, Turtle Island public school was chosen over Heritage public school and North Woodstock public school.

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Groups invited to participate in the naming process polls included the families of students living in the attendance area established for the schools as well as Thames Valley Indigenous students and those students living in First Nations communities.

All families of the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, Munsee-Delaware Nation, and Oneida Nation of the Thames had an opportunity to participate, trustees were told at a meeting Tuesday night.

In December 2022, trustees approved a plan to gather community input on renaming 12 schools amid a sweeping review of public institutions associated with residential schools and what critics call broader racial injustice. In March, a new policy was released outlining name changes for schools whose current name “represents a documented legacy of harm, discrimination or inequity,” Mai said at the time.

The board already has given new names to several London elementary schools.

Ryerson elementary school on Waterloo Street was renamed Old North in June 2022.

Trustees voted to change the name of F.D. Roosevelt elementary school on Second Street to Forest City elementary school in March 2023.

In the spring, London’s Lord Roberts French Immersion school, named for a long dead British general, became Woodfield French Immersion, a nod to its neighbourhood’s name.

hrivers@postmedia.com

@HeatheratLFP

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