Welcome to Bawating? First Nations leader calls for Sault to be renamed
The area where the City of Sault Ste. Marie now sits was once known as Bawating, and a local Indigenous leader would like to see the city to go back to its original name.
Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers said such an action would go a long way toward undoing the area's colonial history.
Sayers said the name Bawating refers to the rapids in the St. Marys River. With regard to changing the name of Sault Ste. Marie to Bawating, he said Kitchener, Ont., used to be called Berlin, but was renamed in 1916 because of anti-German sentiment during the First World War.
"The people of that day didn't want to be associated any longer with some of the things that were happening over in Europe," he said. "I don't think there's much difference here. I don't think (anyone) wants to be embracing the colonial history in the area. So, let's turn the page and start fresh."
Sayers said there have been formal discussions on the matter, and he is open to speaking with Sault Ste. Marie city council.
"Just like decisions in my villages, we have to have the leadership onside -- a majority of them onside," he said. "So if any of those councillors, any of the senior people at the city, even the mayor, wants to have discussions, by all means, give me a call."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.