If you havenB次元官网网址檛 seen it by now, a wayward barge B次元官网网址渃hillingB次元官网网址� on a Vancouver beach is making waves on social media.
The barge washed ashore near Sunset Beach after the Nov. 14 atmospheric river event that caused widespread flooding and mudslides across B.C. Attempts to remove the beached barge have so far been unsuccessful and as of Jan. 19, there is no definitive date for when the barge will be moved.
The Vancouver Park Board seized the opportunity and temporarily dubbed the site B次元官网网址淏arge Chilling BeachB次元官网网址�, a nod to VancouverB次元官网网址檚 famous B次元官网网址淒ude Chilling ParkB次元官网网址�. On any given day, throngs of visitors can be seen gawking at the barge and taking selfies with the sign.
But the sign has generated more than just Instagram selfies as some on social media were quick to point out the beach already has a name B次元官网网址� I虂7iy虛el虛shn, which means B次元官网网址済ood underfootB次元官网网址� in h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m, the language of the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. The Squamish First Nation, whose territory extends into Greater Vancouver, speak S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh.
B次元官网网址淣ow that this dumb barge got a signB次元官网网址ou CANNOT tell me itB次元官网网址檚 that hard to get some traditional place name signs around the cities,B次元官网网址� Indigenous artist Ronnie Dean Harris said in a Facebook post.
Someone took it upon themselves to bring that conversation to the real world by spray painting I虂7iy虛el虛shn over the sign. The sign was cleaned, but days later it was tagged again.
Black Press reached out to the Vancouver Park Board to ask why did a barge get a sign in a matter of weeks when it takes months B次元官网网址� sometimes years B次元官网网址� for signs with Indigenous place names to be installed.
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Rena Soutar, manager of decolonization, arts and culture for the Vancouver Park Board said the process takes so long because there are multiple factors to consider when it comes to place naming.
B次元官网网址淭here are three Nations whose territory weB次元官网网址檙e on and three languages. One of the 11 reconciliation strategies the Park Board adopted in 2016 is acknowledging Indigenous language sovereignty, which is that the Nations should have control over when, where and how their language is used.B次元官网网址�
When the Park Board creates signs with Indigenous place names, they consult with language and culture experts from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations to ensure the correct name is used in the correct language.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the reasons this takes quite a while is place names arenB次元官网网址檛 that simple,B次元官网网址� Soutar said. B次元官网网址淭he Nations, prior to colonization, may have had more than one name for a place depending on which families had access to that land, rights to it and used it. So, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of consultation that has to be done to ensure all the families are in agreement about the name.B次元官网网址�
Angela George, community development director for Tsleil-Waututh, said colonization and the residential school system undermined the h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m language to the point that there are only four highly conversant speakers and no living fluent speakers.
B次元官网网址淲e are working diligently to restore and revitalize our languageB次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 challenging with so few resources. And thereB次元官网网址檚 a process we have to follow that people donB次元官网网址檛 fully understand. We canB次元官网网址檛 just throw names down.B次元官网网址�
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George said the process of restoring Indigenous place names involves researching the history of how the land was used and honouring that history.
B次元官网网址淥ne location may have very deep-rooted history and usage for the people of the land historically and those names have always been there. The names are passed down through our oral tradition and sometimes thatB次元官网网址檚 not recognized in todayB次元官网网址檚 world. Our encyclopedias were held in our stories, our songs and in the artifacts that are connected to the lands and waters.B次元官网网址�
Restoring Indigenous place names and Indigenous connections to the land will be an ongoing process that lasts much longer than the wayward barge parked at I虂7iy虛el虛shn.
B次元官网网址淭he sign has served its purpose and now itB次元官网网址檚 serving a secondary good purpose and that is to spark this conversation,B次元官网网址� Soutar said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 observing whatB次元官网网址檚 being said in the public discourse and all of that is going to inform our approach going forward.B次元官网网址�
cole.schisler@bpdigital.ca
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