Saskatoon’s John A. Macdonald Road is one step closer to having its name changed to the chosen replacement, miyo wahkohtowin Road, meaning ‘good relationships’ in Cree.

The name change was on the agenda at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, and the second last step to finalize the decision was approved unanimously. Now, all that has to happen is the approval of a new bylaw by City Council at next month’s meeting.

The original proposal was made over two years ago, after Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand made a public call to have the street renamed. The name reminded many First Nations citizens of trauma, as it seemed to honour a man that played a large role in implementing residential schools.

During the meeting, five speakers from Saskatoon voiced their opinion on the topic, some in full acceptance, and others with nothing good to say. The main concerns among the public include the difficult spelling and pronunciation of the name, as well as the suggestion that it is an attempt to erase history.

City Councilor David Kirton replied by stating Canadian history has already been erased, as many historians and authors put effort into making sure Canadian’s knew very little about the residential school system. Several city councilors speaking alongside Kirton stated that changes such as these are difficult, and it is normal to feel uncomfortable with them. However, they said the path to reconciliation is an important one that must be taken.

A secondary motion was also passed to ensure any small businesses located on that road will be financially compensated if they need to change their advertisements to include their new address.