Algonquin family urges Petawawa to reconsider Indian Diamond Park's new name

The family of a well-known late Algonquin elder says the Town of Petawawa, Ont., "missed the mark" renaming Indian Diamond Park after a localfamilyinstead of the elder or a name honouring Algonquin people and is calling on council to reconsider its decision.

Indigenous groups in the areathat were consulted during the renaming processsupport this request and saythe town's decision is a disappointment, questioning the"sincerity of their consultation."

"I'm a veteran and I still considerPetawawa home and I'm very proud of this little town. But as of lately, it's embarrassing," said Melanie Ross, daughter of Elder Harold (Skip)William George Ross.

"Things need to change. It's time for diversity, inclusion."

In March, council in the Ottawa Valley town of more than 18,000 peoplevoted to rename Indian Diamond Park to Mohns Memorial Park. Henry Mohns donated the land to the municipality and his son Willard Mohns transformed it from a gravel pit into a baseball diamond.

The renaming journey began when aconcerned resident requested the townreconsider the field's name and the "Petawawa Indians" baseball teamnamelast summer.

A July 2021 meeting document explained that the name Indian Diamond Parkhas been in place for decadesand was named thatto honour Petawawa's Indigenous population. It statesthe term Indian is "no longer acceptable and perceived to be discriminatory."

In November, council decided to move forward with a renaming process as part of "reconciling relationships with Indigenous peoples."

There have been movements across the country in recent yearsto rename streets and landmarks coined "Indian," considered an outdated and insensitive term to call Indigenous people by some.

WATCH | Granddaughter of Elder Ross explains why she wants change:

New name for Petawawa park is a missed opportunity, Algonquin family says

2 years ago

Duration 2:12

Despite consulting with Indigenous groups who suggested honouring local elder Skip Ross in renaming Indian Diamond Park, the town of Petawawa chose a name unconnected to Indigenous heritage. Ross granddaughter Megan Pilon is now asking the town to reconsider.

But that desire for reconciliation has fallen empty, according to Megan Pilon.

"The town really missed the mark on bridging some gaps and healing and growing,"said Pilon, granddaughter of Skip Ross.

Elder Ross wasfromPikwkanagn, grew up in Petawawaand travelled to schools across Renfrew County teaching students aboutAlgonquin heritage. He was a mentor, a traditional drummer, and a community leader,Pilonsaid, but he was also a lover of baseball and played the sport across the region.

He died in 2018.

"He loved his town," Pilon said.

The townconsulted the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO)and Algonquins of PikwakanaganFirst NationChief Wendy Jocko and asked for their name suggestions for the park.

Jocko requested it be named after Elder Ross. AOO suggested Algonquin Diamond Park, with a plaque dedicated to Ross.

"The consultation on the surface looked great, it looked amazingBut the fact that they didn't follow through made it seem like a hollow, empty gesture," Pilon said.

She contacted the town to arrange a meeting with all councillors and in August, she's hoping to ask for reconsideration.

"No ill intentions toward the Mohns family," explained Pilon. "This was such a missed opportunity."

Name change, consultation a 'pretense,' says chief

Jockosaid she supports Pilonand is encouragingcouncillors to "listen carefully to what Megan has to say."

She went on to describe the deep love and respect the Algonquin community and Petawawa havefor Ross.

"He was an important elder, a teacher, and a true gentleman," wrote Jocko in a statement to CBC."And he was good ball player."

[The] new name for the park ... erases the Algonquin connection.- Algonquins of Ontario statement

Jocko had stronger words for the town when it came to the consultation.

"I can understand naming it Mohns Memorial Park considering the contributions of the Mohn[s]family," she said.

"But it is disappointing that the town decided to change the name under the pretense that the old name was offensive to Indigenous people, and then decided on a new name that doesn't speak to our Algonquin heritage at all.

"It does cause me to question the sincerity of their consultation and reconciliation efforts."

Algonquins of Ontarioechoed that sentiment.

"It is still incredibly disappointing that the town decided upon a new name for the park that erases the Algonquin connection to yet another piece of land within our unceded territory," reads a statement to CBC.

"At the heart of this disappointment is a consultation process that was not meaningful from our perspective."

Ross to be remembered in other places: councillor

According to the online public consultation results, only 44 participants, seven of them non-residents, weighed in.The town's survey summary document shows about half of the name suggestions related to the Mohns family. Several referred to Henry and William Mohns as their father, grandfather, and "great, great, grandfather."

Other suggestions includedPetawawa Patriots Park, Victoria Street Park, Giesebrecht Park (after another family), Petawawa River Diamond, Dream Catcher Park, and Parky McParkface.

Coun. Tom Mohns, who is part of the Mohns family, declined an interview.

He said in an email that all six councillors voted unanimously for that name.

• Watch councillors discuss Indian Diamond Park's name last summer

Coun. James Carmody said he raised the concern in March whether the town's consultation with Indigenous groups was a hollow effort.

"I wanted to remind council of the importance of consultation," recalled Carmody."It was pointed out [at the meeting] that Skip was more of an educator than a ball player."

Carmodyvoted in favour ofMohns Memorial Park, and saidit's a "fitting" name.

"It makes more sense to honour Skip in a way that's more appropriate to what Skip was all about," said Carmody, who knew Ross.

"Education and children, they were loves of his."

Carmody sits on the library boardand saidit's looking for ways to commemorate Ross for hisimpact on students. The town is also looking to mark Ross's contributions to the Petawawa Terrace Provincial Park, he added, and the baseball park will also have a sign acknowledging the land as traditional territory of the Algonquin people.

However,Carmody said "everything is possible," when asked if council could change the park's name again.

The town clerk said it's possible for council to reconsider the nameshould a member of the public request it and acouncillor puts forward a motion that passes by atwo-thirds majority. It would then be debated.

However, the motion to reconsider the same matter can only be considered once in a 12-month period, according to town bylaw.

CBC asked whether this prohibits council from reconsidering the name until after Nov. 8, 2022, a year after council voted to proceed with the renaming project,but didn't get a response.

Ross's daughter Melanie Ross saidthe town should go back to the drawing board.

"What would it mean to me if they renamed it after my father? I would be honoured," she said. But she's OK with any name that honours the Algonquin people.

Pilon gets emotional remembering her grandfather's legacy.

"I make sure to tell people that I'm Skip Ross's granddaughter, because I'm very proud," she said, through tears.

"If they knew him, their whole faces light up. And they always say, he was my elder, and I miss him very much."