Reconciliation: Red Indian Lake in central Newfoundland to be renamed Beothuk Lake
The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced Wednesday it plans to change the name of Red Indian Lake to Beothuk Lake following a series of public consultations aimed at supporting reconciliation.
Premier Andrew Furey had announced in April that the lake's name would be changed to Wantaqo'ti Qospem, which means peaceful lake in the Mi'kmaq language.
But after local residents complained about a lack of consultation, the government dropped that idea and turned to the public for guidance.
One scholar noted that giving the lake a Mi'kmaq name would be "an insult" to the Beothuk people, who were among the island's original inhabitants and hunted on the lake's shores.
The new name was chosen after Indigenous leaders reviewed a list of suggested names.
On Wednesday, the Liberal government introduced legislation to make the change official, saying the new name would strengthen Indigenous histories, languages and cultures.
"The goal of the consultation process was to ensure that everyone who had a viewpoint on the name of Red Indian Lake had an opportunity to share their thoughts," Indigenous Affairs Minister Lisa Dempster said in a statement.
Dempster said the province's Indigenous leaders had made it clear the original name for the lake in central Newfoundland was unacceptable.
A series of public consultations was held in three small towns nearest to the lake, and the province set up an online portal for the public to submit suggestions.
The last Beothuk is believed to have died in 1829.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.