Connecting cultures, one name at a time

Following multi-million dollar renovations, what was once Parc Lalonde, the park in Ste. Anne de Bellevue that overlooks the St. Lawrence River, now has a Kanien’kéha name: Kawenothiion, meaning “the tip of the island.”

The park was inaugurated on June 11, with Mohawk Council of Kahnawake chief Stephen McComber in attendance for the ceremony.

McComber has been working with the city for a few years on different cultural projects, in particular city councilor Ryan Young, one of the officials who helped spearhead the project along with now ex-mayor Paola Hawa.

“It helps strengthen our ties, and they are the kind of people that are wanting to show reconciliation. They really make efforts and movements to make this happen,” said McComber.

Young and Hawa approached the MCK with the idea of renaming the park last year, and asked for suggestions for its new name.

It was Wahiaké:ron George Gilbert that came up with the idea for the name.

The park features not only the new name on a sign, but also a placard with a QR code that plays an audio clip voiced by Gilbert that gives the proper pronunciation and an explanation of the name.

“I thought that that was really important,” said Young.

“My fear was always that too many people would not pronounce it correctly, and that they’ll just not use the name because they have trouble with the pronunciation.”

He teaches at nearby John Abbot College, where he is also the Indigenous Studies Certificate coordinator. Describing himself as the town’s historian, he said that Indigenous history has always been important to him.

As such, it was vital to him to have a prestigious place in the community that showcases Kanien’kehá:ka culture and history, with the river being a key method of travel and trade for many Indigenous people.

Michel Boudreault, the mayor that succeeded Hawa in Ste Anne de Bellevue, said that efforts to bring people together were a big part of his goals as mayor.

“I want people to get along and people to understand the differences of the different cultures, and to not see that as a threat, but as an opportunity to learn from other cultures,” said Boudreault.

“We live in a world where a lot of people are trying to divide the society, so I’m trying to fight to reunite people together. That park and that inauguration was, for me, a perfect example of what we want to achieve as a city.”

As part of the inauguration, officials from other surrounding communities as well as some former members of parliament from the area attended, and a white pine tree was planted in the park.

McComber said the tree was chosen by Young because it is a symbol of peace and unity, a very good choice given the circumstances.

“We all put our bit of tobacco in the hole before they planted the tree, and everybody put their sentiments in the tobacco before they put it in,” said Young.

“Everyone I spoke to was just so enthused by the sentiments that day, and they just thought it was beautiful.”

For Boudreault, it was McComber himself who made the ceremony special.

“It was unbelievable. He did a great speech. He took the lead of this inauguration with great pleasure. He was having fun, and it showed,” said Boudreault.

“I left the park with a smile on my face.”

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