The renaming of streets in the McIntyre subdivision has been approved by city council.

At its meeting last Tuesday, council unanimously adopted the motion put forward by Coun. Michelle Friesen.

It also calls for renaming the subdivision itself.

As required, Friesen had put council on notice a week earlier that she would be bringing forward the motion.

The motion notes the city has committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and strengthening relationships with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwach’an Council.

The motion notes the subdivision and all the streets within are named after Yukon politicians.

The two First Nations and their citizens contribute significantly to the social, cultural, spiritual fabric of the city, as well as to its economic prosperity, it says.

“This initiative will be led by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, and the City of Whitehorse will support with financial and administrative needs as necessary, such as providing policy and bylaw information pertaining to street naming and securing and installing signage,” says the adopted motion.

It says the initiative should be proposed as an agenda item for discussion at the next intergovernmental meeting with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.

The motion was adopted unanimously.

Members of council expressed support for renaming the street, but concerns were raised about the process.

Coun. Dan Boyd suggested the motion instructs Kwanlin Dün to rename the subdivision and streets, without even having the discussion on the matter with the First Nation.

Boyd suggested, without success, that the motion be put off until after a scheduled meeting with Kwanlin Dün in about a week.

Mayor Laura Cabott she would be very supportive of the First Nation if it chooses to rename the streets.

But like Boyd, she suggested the way the motion read is as though the city is telling the First Nation what to do, just as governments of the past would direct First Nations on what to do.

The mayor suggested she would like to have the benefit of an analysis on the proposal before voting on the motion.

There is nothing outlining what the process of renaming the streets would involve, nor how much it would cost.