Changing place names around Campbell River to Indigenous terms would be an act of reconciliation, and could lead to stronger ties within the community.
That’s the hope of Jamie Bryant, who started a petition to show support for a First Nations request to rename Discovery Passage, the Tyee Spit, and the Quinsam River to their names in the Likʷala (Lik-walah) language.
“I’ve always been told that the land wants to hear the language of its ancestors,” she says.
Bryant says she comes from a mixed heritage, with Indigenous and European ancestors, and says reclaiming traditions and language is an important part of healing from past traumas.
“I think a lot of us, we don’t necessarily know our place, but I do feel that our history of where we are living, I do believe we do need to be educated fully,” she says.
Bryant points out that the word Tyee is actually a Nuu-Chah-Nulth word with little connection to the region other than its common usage to describe a large salmon.
“That just goes to show that having that really specific education, and having those name places to be able to connect to land, and have a people visibly see that connection, and their connection to land, is just so completely profound,” she says.
You can participate in the petition here.
Meanwhile city council this week formally supported the request, and is asking the province to hold public information sessions to further community insight and understanding.
There are eight place names under consideration for change by the province, Vista Radio detailed them in a previous story. The three names within Campbell River city limits considered for change are:
- Change Discovery Passage to Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ (pronounced Lee-gwilth-daxw) Passage
- Change Quinsam River to Kʷənsəm (pronounced Quinsam) River
- Change Tyee Spit to ʔuxstalis (pronounced Oox-sta-lease)
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