It doesn't appear that a petition, signed by 2,617 people opposed to renaming Chippewa Secondary, will have any influence on the decision by the selection committee.
Near North Board Chair Erika Lougheed, in an email to BayToday, says the Board is not surprised by the petition or the reaction in the community.
"We expected there would be strong opinions for and against the name change," says Lougheed.
"We are mindful that people who have signed the petition may not have a full understanding of the issue, nor the harm that the appropriation of the Chippewa people has brought to past and current students, faculty, and community members."
The renaming process for Chippewa Secondary is the next step in a process that began in 2017 when plans were made to consolidate North Bay secondary schools. On April 12 the committee will shortlist five names and will put them out for feedback in another survey, which will be open from April 13-20.
But it appears the Board's mind is already made up to make a change after a December meeting where a motion was passed unanimously to rename Chippewa based on a staff report. The existing Chippewa name isn't in the mix.
"The Committee has already begun taking submissions for names from the community, and will continue to consult with the community, before bringing three potential new names to the Board of Trustees, along with their preferred recommendation," explains Lougheed.
"Our goal is to create a name and identity that respectfully includes all stakeholders, rights holders, students, and staff. This includes the former and current Widdifield and Fricker staff and students. It also provides an opportunity for us to address the harm caused by the current name and its associated mascots, chants, and symbols, which have caused hurt to both past and present staff and students."
Stephen Brown of North Bay started the petition
See the petition here.
And: Petition started to stop school board renaming Chippewa
"Please review this petition. In a short time, less than a week we have over 2,550 supporters to keep the current name, that means people have voted for Chippewa high school, its current name," Brown wrote in an email to Lougheed, and shared with BayToday.
"As we all know this name change is not acceptable, and many supporters of all cultures are upset over this. Please keep the current name, so we can all avoid further action."
Brown says by "further action" he means legal means.
"I'm trying to get some help from the legal community to get something like an injunction to stop the process until it's done fairly."
And he disagrees with Lougheed that people don't understand the issue. "She's incorrect. It's simply that people want to keep the name Chippewa. They see no offence. It borders Chippewa Creek, Chippewa St and Chippewa Barracks. It's been in our community for generations. There's no racism whatsoever with that name. What's next?
"People want to express themselves and not change the name...it's part of North Bay...a huge part."
The issue has been a controversial and emotional issue for the community, with over 86 per cent of 2,851 votes cast in a BayToday poll opposed to the name change.
See: Should Chippewa Secondary School be renamed?
Lougheed says appropriation is when we take aspects of another culture’s identity for our own use, without permission.
"In this case, Indigenous cultural appropriation has promoted discriminatory, prejudicial, and biased words and actions. Those who have signed the petition may not be aware of this appropriation, or the harm it has caused over the years," explains Lougheed. "The Board is committed to promoting a greater understanding of this issue; we will continue to explain how appropriation has caused harm, and how our work strives to meet the Calls to Action as determined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada."
However local Indigenous leaders have expressed support for keeping the Chippewa name, and it appears they were never consulted on the name change.
See: Keep the Chippewa school name says one Indigenous local leader
George Couchie is a member of the Red-tailed Hawk Clan and has served this community and those in the surrounding areas for over 30 years as a police officer, and in retirement, he’s continued his passion for helping people by creating a company called Redtail Hawk Training and Consulting, with the focus of teaching a cultural awareness about Indigenous people.
Couchie believes the Near North Board is falling behind the other local School Boards.
"Scollard has been doing all this work, working with indigenous people. Their programs are all so solid but when it comes to the public board now they are thinking they have to do something and they have jumped to the conclusion before they even went to Nipissing First Nation whose traditional territory was North Bay many years ago.
"And really, have they asked them? Have they engaged in anything? But they haven't as far as I know," says Couchie. Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod also has not voiced any opposition to the Chippewa name for the school.
Lougheed says the Board remains committed, "to providing the students and staff with a name and identity that unites all people, acknowledges our consolidation, and upholds the motion of the Board. NNDSB created a process that allows people to have their say and participate in the renaming process via an online form, which continues to be open until March 30. (Today)
"We look forward to bringing a recommendation to the Board of Trustees that is welcoming and inclusive of all people," adds Lougheed.
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