Portage la Prairie's Hub Table has undergone a renaming. A traditional ceremony took place Friday, including an aboriginal pipe ceremony, prayer and drumming with a song to honour the event.

Portage Community Revitalization Corporation executive director Victoria Espey explains the significance.

(L-R) Victoria Espey and Mari Lawrence"We're just really honoured to have Mr. (Darryl) Taylor out to pass on his name from his late father," says Espey. "It means a lot to us. And it's a very strong name for a strong group. The meaning behind the name embodies exactly what we do. The Ones That Help."

She says they're thrilled to move forward and see the program officially begin November 27th.

The new name is Wawokiya.

"We modeled ourselves after the Thunderwing Project in Winnipeg," says Wawokiya Coordinator Mari Lawrence. "We looked at their process and the demographics that they served. They did a traditional naming ceremony to receive their name for their project. When we looked at a community mobilization model to model after, we chose the Thunderwing Project."

She notes Thunderwing serves similar demographics and similar community issues as we do in Portage. Lawrence says they engaged in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation to have the naming ceremony.

Elder Darryl TaylorElder Darryl Taylor performed the ceremony and says he is finishing off what his father was doing, to carry on his work.

"This was a little emotional to do this for me, but at the same time it needed to be done," says Taylor. "And the name was given before his crossing. I wanted to carry it through that way, because I know these service providers are essential in our community."

Taylor notes it was something special to give him and his father the opportunity to provide the name. He adds his forefathers prophesied that these ceremonies would come and would have to be adapted to the times. He explains he wanted to do this in good faith and a good manner in the most humble way that he could. Taylor says he thanks everyone and bids them good luck in the future with the name, and says it's been an honour on behalf of his father, Happy Eagle John Taylor.