Mount Douglas Park will soon be known by its Indigenous name B次元官网网址� restoring a title thatB次元官网网址檚 existed for thousands of years.

An important step towards reconciliation was taken during Monday (Aug. 15) night when Saanich council approved a WSANEC Leadership Council request to restore the areaB次元官网网址檚 original name.

PKOLS is the name for Mount Douglas in the SENCOTEN language and a historically significant location steeped in culture and tradition, Tsawout First Nation elder and WLC community engagement coordinator, Eric Pelkey explained in a news release.

B次元官网网址淧KOLS is an extremely important location in the history of the WSANEC Nation,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was created by XALS as the border between us and the Lekwungen people, and it was where we met with James Douglas in 1852 to discuss what became known as the Douglas Treaty. For reasons, we, as WSANEC people, have a special relationship with PKOLS.B次元官网网址�

Under the districtB次元官网网址檚 parks naming policy, Saanich council has the authority to name or rename municipal parks. Back in 2019, council included renaming the park in its four-year strategic plan as an action to recognize the sacred significance of the area to the WSANEC people. In 2021, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Saanich and the WLC which prioritized the parkB次元官网网址檚 renaming.

B次元官网网址淭his is another step forward in our journey toward reconciliation,B次元官网网址� Mayor Fred Haynes said. B次元官网网址淎s we work to build and strengthen relationships with our neighbouring First Nations, IB次元官网网址檓 pleased to address this significant action from our strategic plan.B次元官网网址�

The plan calls for Saanich and WLC staff to work together to develop an appropriate protocol to honour the name restoration. A ceremony to mark the parkB次元官网网址檚 renaming is expected to take place in 2023.

Information regarding the event will be shared at when it becomes available.

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austin.westphal@saanichnews.com
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