The North Island-Powell River riding might get a new name, after MP Rachel Blaney requested it be changed in response to the recent Boundary Commission鈥檚 decision to maintain the name.
The Boundary Commission was charged with redistributing the electoral districts in B.C., and presented a report to the House of Commons in February. The report did not change the layout of the electoral district, and in the report the commissioners decided to maintain the current name of the riding.
Blaney spoke at a committee objecting to the name, and requested it be changed to North Island-qathet.
鈥溾�淭he proposed name change is much more reflective of the entire riding,鈥� Blaney said. 鈥淲hile Powell River is only one city is a large area, qathet is the name of the regional district, so it encompasses a much larger, more representative area.鈥�
鈥淭he 鈥楶owell River鈥� part of my riding is reflective of just one community not the many communities that are represented,鈥� she said to the commission.
The word qathet means 鈥渨orking together鈥� in the Tla鈥檃min language, and was gifted to the qathet regional district in 2017. The Tla鈥檃min First Nation asked Blaney to request the name change, and the move was supported by the K鈥檕moks, Homalco and Klahoose First Nations, all of which are represented in the riding and share a language and culture with the Tla鈥檃min First Nation.
鈥淭he name change is an acknowledgement of the First Peoples of this territory,鈥� Blaney says. 鈥淧owell River is named for the first superintendent for Indian Affairs in British Columbia, a man who brought in many colonial policies, including residential schools. Changing the riding鈥檚 name is a vital step towards reconciliation.鈥�
鈥淜鈥櫭砿oks First Nation is fully supportive of the proposed name change for Rachel Blaney鈥檚 federal riding,鈥� said Elected Chief Councillor Ken Price. 鈥淚ncluding qathet in the riding name acknowledges Tla鈥檃min, one of our Sister Nations, both culturally and historically, and provides important recognition of the First Peoples of the region. Promoting Indigenous languages is an encouraging step in the reconciliation process.鈥�
Blaney also said that she spoke to the mayor of Powell River who had no concerns with the change.
鈥淭he proposed electoral riding name change is a small and tangible step on our reconciliation pathway, but is one that will have great impact for Tla鈥檃min Nation and our citizens,鈥� said Tla鈥檃min Hegus (Chief) John Hackett. 鈥淚srael Wood Powell, for whom the City is named after, has caused deep suffering in our community, which continues to affect us to this day. Tla鈥檃min Nation appreciates MP Rachel Blaney鈥檚 ongoing support and reconciliatory effort her office shows for our community and our Sister Nations through initiatives like this.鈥�
RELATED:
marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
Like us on and follow us on
