Name Change Fuels History Lesson

The blue Métis flag flying in the yard of Little Bluestem School tells a story. For Brian Rogowsky and Teresa Byrne, it is a symbol of the Winnipeg school’s journey toward deeper learning and reconciliation shaped by staff, students and the wider community.

The one-storey brick building previously known as Wolseley School, officially unveiled its new name this school year, complete with a new outdoor sign, mascot and logo. The process of choosing a new name involved staff, students, families and community members learning about Red River Métis history, the Wolseley Expedition and whose voices have been represented or silenced over the years.

The school began exploring a new name in November 2023 after its parent council questioned whether the name still reflected the community’s values and beliefs. Built in 1921, the school was named after Col. Garnet Wolseley of the British Army, who led the Wolseley Expedition in 1870 during the Red River Resistance.

The expedition has been described as a “reign of terror” by some historians and is associated with violence and abuse against the Métis.

“At the time we would have been naming after colonial people, and we now know that’s maybe something we shouldn’t have done, and that we need to look into our past, understand our history, and understand what effects that has had on different populations,” said Principal Brian Rogowsky.

Teresa Byrne, a Winnipeg School Division Indigenous Way of Life teacher and Red River Métis educator, said the expedition and the violence that followed had a lasting impact on the Métis community, and she was honoured to help with the school’s renaming.

“Because this is an educational institution, there’s room for reconciliation. To me, it’s walking together, and allowing the students, the community, the staff to have their voices of understanding our history and how far we’ve come to walk together.”

The community was surveyed on whether the school should have a new name, and the response was a resounding “yes.”

In March 2024, a renaming committee was formed, consisting of Byrne, Rogowsky, division representatives, community members and two student leaders. The process was initially expected to take about a year, but the timeline was extended as the renaming became a learning opportunity for the school.

“It was important that we made it meaningful for our students in our community,” said Rogowsky. “And that was the whole intent of the name-changing inquiry, was to learn from our history.”

The journey included lessons and presentations on the Métis way of life including jigging and Michif music.

The school also invited guest speakers, including Louise Gordey, author of the children’s book What Could You Do in Your Canoe, and Rob Riel, the Winnipeg School Division’s assistant superintendent of Indigenous Education, who is a direct descendant of Louis Riel’s brother.

“The biggest thing that we did is we finger weaved a sash for this school, and every student, every staff member, everybody had a hand in making this,” said Byrne. “It became all their voices.”

Students also created a project called Crossing Paths with learning support teacher Kim Lawrence Kellner. The project explored the intersecting histories of Wolseley and Louis Riel and was presented at the Winnipeg School Division’s Historical Thinking Symposium.

After receiving more than 1,000 name submissions, the renaming committee narrowed its choice to four. Little Bluestem was ultimately selected.

The name refers to a natural prairie grass that grows near Omand’s Creek and along the riverbed in the Wolseley area. Rogowsky said the grass was also a fitting symbol because of its connection to the land.

“It really shows resilience and it also helps replenish the soil,” he said. “It’s deeply rooted, and the bison sustained life by eating it.”

Fittingly, when students got involved in choosing the school’s new mascot, they chose the bison. The teal colour of the bison and school logo is the colour of Little Bluestem, as well as a meaningful symbol for Byrne, who was told by an Elder that the colour represents fresh beginnings.

The school unveiled its new name at a ribbon-cutting and celebration on Sept. 17, along with a community barbecue. Rogowsky said the process of renaming the school has shown students they have a role in shaping the future.

“They had a part in changing the name and they’re part of history now,” he added.