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Coun. Bryan Anderson is asking Edmonton naming officials to consider “usability” when they pick long and complicated names to recognize the region’s Cree history.

But the comment in a council meeting Tuesday also sparked a serious debate on how struggling with an unfamiliar name might prompt residents to recognize no one group owns the story of Edmonton.

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Anderson said he supports using Cree names such as Keheewin and Kaskitayo, which are spelled the same way they’re pronounced. Edmonton also has easy to remember Anglicized examples honouring First Nations, he said, such Bearspaw, a neighbourhood named to honour Chief Masgwaahsid.

But a name such as Maskekosihk Trail — recently applied to an extension of 23 Avenue that connects to Enoch Cree Nation — is a daily struggle for south-side residents, he said. Thousands of people use it and struggle to write it or give other people directions.