Part of Victoria Park in Saskatoon will be renamed to Reconciliation Circle.

When Shirley Isbister heard that Saskatoon city council passed this motion her first thought was, “Yes!”

The president of the Central Urban Metis Federation Incorporated said to her, this was the start of the people in the wider community understanding and moving towards reconciliation.

The process started back in the spring of 2017 when Isbister submitted a letter to city council asking for part of the park name changed.

“I thought we need to recognize that we have a home,” she said.

Letters of support from organizations and individauls followed. She was invited to speak about the change to council.

Isbister said she would have liked to see the whole park renamed, but realized that would be a much longer process and wanted to see something change quickly.

Reconciliation Circle will be where National Aboriginal Day events will occur and is the spot where the annual Rock Your Roots, Walk For Reconciliation begins each year.

“This is going to be a tool to teach culture, it’s for everyone,” Isbister said.

“It’s a community coming together, it doesn’t matter what culture we are from … we are all here for reconciliation.”