Request to Investigate the Feasibility of Renaming Woodsy Park located at 80 McMahon Drive and the Renaming of the Adjacent Woodsy Lane, to Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ [et-hen-nonn-ha-wah-stih-nen’] - by Councillor Shelley Carroll, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

The traditional keepers of the land, the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe have a relationship of 15,000+ years in the making. Yet, when we walk down our City streets, through our parks, and in our institutions, we are hard-pressed to see that history, culture and relationship reflected. Thoughtfully considering Indigenous naming is a part of the City of Toronto's broader efforts in Indigenous place-making. The Place-Making initiative emerges from ongoing work led by City staff, partner agencies and Indigenous leaders and activists to better reflect the City's commitment to truth and reconciliation in parks and the public realm, and catalyzed in a request from the Parks and Environment Committee to develop an "Indigenous Place-Making Framework". Indigenous place-making has begun to focus on four priorities: 1. expanding and ensuring presentation and commemoration of Indigenous histories and cultures; 2. creating space - physically, and in process and policy - for ceremony, teaching and community; 3. strengthening Indigenous connections with lands and waters, both traditionally and contemporarily used; and 4. building capacity for land-based Indigenous engagement, and for greater cultural competency in staff leadership. These principles distill to four focus areas: places and naming, public art, policy and capacity and consultation. In consultation with the local community, this newly built community represents a unique for the residents of Don Valley North to honour the Wendat Nation and to make a sizeable and spiritual contribution to indigenous place-making in the City of Toronto. Through initial conversations with the Wendat community they have suggested the park and adjacent street be renamed to Ethennonnhawahstihnen' [et-hen-nonn-ha-wah-stih-nen'], which means 'where they had a good, beautiful life'. Wendat place names typically reflect the geological features of the landscape or document events that occurred there. A significant Wendat archaeological site, the Moatfield Site, is only 500-800 metres from this park and adjacent street. One of the striking things about this site was the presence of many people who lived over the age of 50, which was not the case at many other sites. The inhabitants lived in good health, there was less violence and warfare compared to other sites. Indigenous place-making looks different depending on the context of its surroundings and community. Each project is shaped uniquely by the communities interacting with it. As such, the following recommendation is not only an essential component of truth and reconciliation; it is also a necessary one. This Motion is urgent in order to permit work on the feasibility of the renaming to begin prior to the opening of the park.

2. City Council waive Section 3.3.5 of the Property Policy which says City properties that have been named or renamed in the previous ten years will not be renamed. 3. City Council direct the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, in consultation the Manager, Indigenous Affairs Office, to investigate the feasibility of renaming Woodsy Park Lane to Ethennonnhawahstihnen Lane and report back to the North York Community Council with a recommendation based on the criteria and process outlined in the Street Naming Policy. 4. City Council express its support for the renaming of "Woodsy Park Lane", extending between Sheppard Avenue East and McMahon Drive, to "Ethennonnhawahstihnen Lane".