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 CommissionB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址淭he proposed name change is much more reflective of the entire riding,B次元官网网址� Blaney said. B次元官网网址淲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.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he B次元官网网址楶owell RiverB次元官网网址� part of my riding is reflective of just one community not the many communities that are represented,B次元官网网址� she said to the commission.
The word qathet means B次元官网网址渨orking togetherB次元官网网址� in the TlaB次元官网网址檃min language, and was gifted to the qathet regional district in 2017. The TlaB次元官网网址檃min First Nation asked Blaney to request the name change, and the move was supported by the KB次元官网网址檕moks, Homalco and Klahoose First Nations, all of which are represented in the riding and share a language and culture with the TlaB次元官网网址檃min First Nation.
B次元官网网址淭he name change is an acknowledgement of the First Peoples of this territory,B次元官网网址� Blaney says. B次元官网网址淧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 ridingB次元官网网址檚 name is a vital step towards reconciliation.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淜B次元官网网址櫭砿oks First Nation is fully supportive of the proposed name change for Rachel BlaneyB次元官网网址檚 federal riding,B次元官网网址� said Elected Chief Councillor Ken Price. B次元官网网址淚ncluding qathet in the riding name acknowledges TlaB次元官网网址檃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.B次元官网网址�
Blaney also said that she spoke to the mayor of Powell River who had no concerns with the change.
B次元官网网址淭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 TlaB次元官网网址檃min Nation and our citizens,B次元官网网址� said TlaB次元官网网址檃min Hegus (Chief) John Hackett. B次元官网网址淚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. TlaB次元官网网址檃min Nation appreciates MP Rachel BlaneyB次元官网网址檚 ongoing support and reconciliatory effort her office shows for our community and our Sister Nations through initiatives like this.B次元官网网址�
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