Waterloo summer camp changes name following Indigenous group request

Camp Kummoniwannago, was the former name of a Waterloo summer camp. However, a request was made by local Indigenous members of Land Back Camp K-W to change the name which they deemed a mockery of Native wording and culture. 

“It's quite obvious to us as Indigenous people a play on Indigenous wording and language like the term Winnebago, there's a lot of Indigenous sounding camp names across turtle island (North America) and it's kind of offensive it's not honouring us when they take those names and play on them,” said Amy Smoke co-founder of Land Back camp K-W. 

In response to potential critics of the decision Smoke said, “It's like with the mascot conversation they don't understand that, that's offensive it's racist and harmful and it is a big deal to us. When we say it's offensive and racist that means it is. I know people think this isn't a serious thing, we should have other things to work on but, this is a start, a very small start in respecting Indigenous people's perspectives, world views and validity.” 

The name change came out of discussions between Indigenous members of Land Back camp K-W and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, who operate the summer camp and wholeheartedly agreed with the request, “Thank you to the Land Back leaders for helping us to see, and also recognizing that we as settlers, we can't always depend on Indigenous leaders to help us to see. We have to do our own work as well, so we've been doing that, and part of reconciliation is not always depending on them to show us the way, part of reconciliation is doing our own homework so that we can understand our blind-spots a little bit and better ourselves.” said lead minister at St. Andrew's, Marty Molengraaf. 

That positivity was felt by both sides, “It was extremely positive, they listened to the concerns, they went back, they taught the others about why that's offensive and then they changed the name. We didn't have to traught out our trauma in order for this to be a valid conversation in order for them to do the right thing…,” said Smoke.

“It's just a great example of the ways in which particular churches and white settler Canadians can engage with Indigenous communities with respect, and then honour the wishes of that community. I think it's just a wonderful example of a first step in reconciliation.” 

The camp name will simply be changed to camp K.