National [insert new name here] Peoples Day

What Canadians call the indigenous people of this land has been constantly evolving over the decades. Savage, Indian, Native, Eskimo, Aboriginal, First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and Indigenous. I’m certain there are plenty of others. In the past, people like me, from an exotic mixed heritage, have been not-so affectionately known as “halfbreeds.” When I use the word today, it causes some folks to recoil.

Thankfully the names have become less derogatory and more pleasant. In many respects, it reflects the overall movement toward reconciliation. June 21st used to be known as National Aboriginal Day, now it is National Indigenous Peoples Day. What’s in a name? Does changing the name really matter?

Navigating relationships

My feelings have been evolving on this issue. There was a time not too long ago that I felt there was little significance in name changes. I believed that acknowledging ancient place names was the least the government could do. However, over the last couple of years my mind has been opened to a broader understanding.

The W̱SÁNEĆ people put a high level of importance on a name. Personally, our names carry a tremendous amount of information, establishing social and economic status and well-being. Place names are critically important because they offer knowledge for resource development opportunities and navigation advice for travellers.

Over the past year, I’ve been working toward reclaiming the ancient name ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ for the place we commonly know as Mt. Newton and John Dean Provincial Park on the Saanich Peninsula. The inspiration for this work came from a class of grade three students at the W̱SÁNEĆ school. 

It’s not lost on me the controversy that identifying or re-identifying place names, statues and points of interest may cause for some going forward. Frankly, a few of the email responses reminded me of the challenge we still face. One of the few reviews of my constituency office on Google maps is a sharp warning to my constituents that I’m putting too much focus on indigenous issues.

Growing our understanding

This is why I believe we need to keep this an additive process. Renaming John Dean to ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ would have created a lot of problems. Rather than producing an opportunity to bring people of diverse cultures together, it would have caused anger, frustration and division. Re-attaching ancient place names is a wonderful way to encourage a much deeper understanding of the history of our home. 

As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, it’s important to celebrate the reconciliatory steps forward in recent years. However, it is also a time to sharpen the message.

Both the Government is Canada and the Government of British Columbia have made substantial promises to indigenous people. Indeed, they are effectively commitments to all Canadians and British Columbians.

In some respects, our governments have taken positive steps forward. The ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱/John Dean renaming is one local example. Other examples are the provincial changes to the Environmental Assessment Act and, federally, the splitting of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada into two agencies – Indigenous-Crown Relations and Northern Affairs and Indigenous Services.

Still work to do

Unfortunately, there continues to be substantial challenges that need resolution. Both the federal and provincial governments have been in negotiations with local First Nations at various levels yet while some issues are moving forward others are stalling. This needs to change! The First Nations on the Saanich Peninsula are negotiating in good faith and have shown tremendous patience. However, the patience is wearing thin! The cost of not finding the political will in the bureaucratic rhetoric is eroding the trust in the work invested by both sides. The last thing we need is a public display of the frustration at the table.

Finally, both the federal and provincial governments have committed to legislating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).  This process is slow. In my opinion, it is way too slow. I remain hopeful that these initiatives will continue to proceed and we will see these commitments fulfilled sooner than later. We must see provincial legislation to this effect this coming fall session.

In thinking back to my first election to public office a decade ago, a lot has changed in relationships with indigenous peoples. There is both a lot of potential to keep these relationships moving forward together and also potential for good will to collapse. Today, I celebrate where we have come from and re-affirm my commitment to continue de-colonizing British Columbia so we can see our full potential – together!

In the end, changing names is important work and helps give us a more full understanding of our place. However, it is only one part of building resilient, trusting relationships across diverse cultures.

“Welcome figure” by “Ruth Hartnup” used under license “CC BY 2.0“