The genetic principals of the We Wai Kai Nation on Vancouver Island have actually sent out a pungent letter to the mayor and council of Campbell River, B.C., concerning their comments on a proposition to bring back the Indigenous names of 3 geographical locations.
The remarks were made at a council conference last month, throughout which one councillor examined whether transforming the names would certainly be pressing settlement initiatives along as well swiftly.
Hereditary principal Gigamae Yakawidi, likewise referred to as Shawn Decaire, informed CBC News they sent their action letter to council onThursday He likewise posted a copy of it on his Facebook web page.
“We have to say that not only are we disappointed but also frustrated and appalled by the remarks made by council members in regard to restoring the place names to the titles they have held since the beginning of time,” the letter claims.
“To say that reconciliation is moving too fast and that you struggle to pronounce the names of the lands on which you ride is spitting on the Indigenous people, as well as any hopes of working towards reconciliation with the Indigenous people.”
Earlier this year, the Li ǧʷiłdaxʷ Nations — that include the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and Kwiakah First Nations — sent a proposition to the B.C. Geographical Names Office to bring back the Indigenous names of Discovery Passage, the Quinsam River and Tyee Spit.
The modifications would certainly consist of:
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Discovery Passage to Li ǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Passage (obvious lee-gwith-dow)
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Quinsam River to Kʷənsəm (obvious quin-sam)
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Tyee Spit to ʔuxstalis (obvious oox– sta-lease)
In the previous couple of years, various other First Nations throughout B.C. have actually effectively transformed the name of vital geographical places.
On southerly Vancouver Island, Saanich’s council sustained the modification ofMount Douglas to PKOLS On the Sunshine Coast, Wilson Creek is now called ts’uḵw’um and Saltery Bay is now sḵelhp
In the Lower Mainland, the park previously referred to as Belcarra Regional Park has actually been officially renamed to təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park, in acknowledgment of the genealogical home of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Pace of settlement ‘open to question’: Councillor
At a city board conference onOct 8, Campbell River councillors gone over a letter sent by the B.C. Geographical Names Office welcoming discuss the name modifications.
Coun Ben Lanyon stated he believed the modifications would certainly profit tourist however included that he located the Lik ʷala name for Discovery Passage hard to articulate.
He after that took place to state the name modifications might be “moving out of step with the state of public opinion.” He later on included that the rate of settlement is “debatable” and “may do more harm” if achieved as well swiftly.
“There is a rising level of opposition to these measures,” he stated. “This is just going ahead at a certain pace and I think this needs to be pulled back a bit.”
Tyee Spit in Campbell River is referred to as ʔuxstalis by the location’sFirst Nations (Google Maps)
The letter from the We Wai Kai genetic principals condemned those remarks.
“Do you think the impacts of residential schools moved too quickly? Do you feel that stripping our people from their traditional lands and rights was too quick? Do you feel that the raping, abducting, beating, and killing of the Indigenous people moved too quickly?” the letter reviews.
“The names of these places are our hereditary right and should be labelled as such and not be considered a move to promote tourism, but a motion to restore and building on a relationship with the Indigenous people.”
More assessment a ‘injustice’: Elected principals
At theOct 8 conference, some councillors did state they remained in assistance of the name modifications. But council really did not transfer to mention the city’s assistance in a letter to the names workplace and discussed asking the district to hold details sessions rather.
Councillors likewise reviewed issues regarding navigating graphes, and prices related to transforming indicators and files.
At a succeeding conference onOct 24, Wei Wai Kum Elected Chief Coun Chris Roberts looked like component of a delegation along withWe Wai Kai Elected Chief Coun Ronnie Chickite, and stated the remarks were “worrisome.”
Roberts asked for the city either send out a letter mentioning that the city sustains settlement and sustains the name modifications, or just respond with “no comment” — “because it would be a disservice to invite more consultative processes on this matter.”
Council elected to review their action at an upcoming in-camera conference.
CBC News has actually gotten in touch with Lanyon and Mayor Kermit Dahl for remark however neither has actually reacted.
‘Big aberrations’ on settlement
In their letter, the genetic principals sustain what Roberts stated at the conference, however include “this is our traditional territory and we do not require [the city’s] permission to call it by its rightful name.”
“Tell us again how inconvenient we are to you, or do the right thing and try to mend the ties which are seemingly more broken than ever before.”
Decaire stated he has actually asked for that their letter be contributed to the schedule at the following council conference.
Speaking with CBC News, Chief Roberts stated the Li ǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ usually have an excellent connection with city board.
He believes the conversation could have been affected by the current rural political election, which attracted “two pretty broad, big divergences on policy approach toward reconciliation.”
Despite his issues regarding the remarks and activities of the council, Roberts is confident the area will certainly progress with the name modifications and its commitments towards settlement as laid out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“The work that we do as elected officials … it’s always tempered by the public trust and the people have to be brought along with this,” he stated.
“Obviously, not everyone is going to agree. So often it comes down to having to make difficult decisions that aren’t always popular.”
Roberts indicated various other First Nations in B.C. that have actually effectively reestablished Indigenous names to their standard region, like many individuals referring currently to the Salish Sea instead of the Georgia Strait.
Other instances Roberts pointed out consist of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations
