Mayor Donna Reardon at the swearing-in ceremony to become Saint John's 79th Mayor. (Photo: Ben Burnett)
Saint John’s new mayor says she’s open to changing the name of Indiantown, a neighbourhood in the old north end.
Donna Reardon says she understands why Indigenous communities would want to change the name of Indiantown, the historic north end neighbourhood that was a popular trading post as far back as the 1770s.
“My job is listening to the citizens, but I feel it’s old language, and language (the Indigenous community) wouldn’t use to describe themselves,” Reardon said.
“If it’s going to describe a place where our Indigenous community either portaged or had settlements or whatever, then it should be reflective of how they see themselves and what name they would call themselves.”
On Sunday, Eastern Circle member Mykayla Spinney said they would be reaching out to the incoming council to canvas for a change to the neighbourhood’s name.
Reardon says council hasn’t yet heard from Eastern Circle or other Indigenous groups, and she wouldn’t want the name changed before hearing from them.
“Do I think (Indigenous groups) think it needs to be changed? Absolutely. But they are a stakeholder and their input needs to be involved,” Reardon said.
Reardon says the name change “won’t happen overnight” as city staff would need time to research and consult with community groups. She would also like the Indigenous community to be involved in picking the next name for the neighbourhood.
“You want to make sure if you’re going to make any changes that you do it right, and you involve the people that it’s going to impact the most,” Reardon said.
“I just want to be inclusive, I guess, as we go forward.”
