A B.C. councillor is facing growing criticism for his comments around the renaming of Powell River.
During a live broadcast of the city91裸聊视频檚 Jan. 30 committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Jim Palm used a made-up name,91裸聊视频漌akawana,91裸聊视频� to refer to what Powell River could potentially be renamed.
91裸聊视频淪tep one is 91裸聊视频楢re you in favour of a name change?91裸聊视频� Yes or no. That91裸聊视频檚 simple. You don91裸聊视频檛 convolute it with 91裸聊视频榃akawana91裸聊视频� or whatever name comes out of Tla91裸聊视频檃min. You just simply ask the question and get a response. Yes or no, and then we have a direction,91裸聊视频� Palm said.
Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation denounced the comment Monday (Feb. 5), saying Palm had belittled and mocked the Nation91裸聊视频檚 language and ancestral place names.
91裸聊视频淲e cannot let this racist slur stand. This comment is wholly inappropriate coming from an elected official and contributes to the normalization of racist remarks that make reconciliation harder than it has to be,91裸聊视频� said Hegus John Hackett, the chief of Tla91裸聊视频檃min.
Tla91裸聊视频檃min executive Coun. Losa Luaifoa said the Nation doesn91裸聊视频檛 take a mockery of its language lightly, 91裸聊视频渆specially from a long-time schoolteacher and elected official.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淥ur people were taught to be ashamed of our language through the exact behaviours demonstrated by Councillor Palm and worse. This has resulted in the near loss of our language. We are working so hard to reclaim our pride and fluency in 蕯ay蕯a前u胃蓹m and call on Tla91裸聊视频檃min people and our allies to keep up their work to restore and draw attention to the beauty of our language.91裸聊视频�
The City of Powell River released a statement the following day in response to Tla91裸聊视频檃min. In it, the city apologized to the Nation, adding it wishes to 91裸聊视频渃ontinue serious conversations about furthering all aspects of reconciliation.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淐ouncil is committed to fostering a positive and respectful relationship with Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation and work with all Councillors to understand and address the impacts of colonialism and stresses the importance of appropriate language.91裸聊视频�
Now, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is calling on the City of Powell River to 91裸聊视频渁ddress the situation and put a put an end to these disrespectful bullying tactics carried out in public meetings with no shame or remorse from these decision-makers.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淪adly, these ignorant and bombastic acts of racism, that occur everyday, have become acceptable in today91裸聊视频檚 society and results in the normalization of casual racism,91裸聊视频� said Grand Chief Stewart Philip, president of UBCIC.
The union says it also sees a key role for the province to work in partnership with First Nations to accelerate the commitment in the Declaration Act Action Plan to review the principles and processes that guide the naming of municipalities and regional districts and 91裸聊视频渆volve practices to foster reconciliation in local processes.91裸聊视频�
I stand with Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation and fully support their leadership and community. I understand that Councillor Palm has issued an apology through the media, and I am hopeful that he will learn from the work that the community, City and the Nation has already put in since 2022
91裸聊视频� Murray Rankin (@MurrayRankinNDP)
B.C.91裸聊视频檚 Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday, said he stands with Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation, and fully supports their leadership and community.
91裸聊视频淚 understand that Councillor Palm has issued an apology through the media, and I am hopeful that he will learn from the work that the community, City and the Nation has already put in since 2022.91裸聊视频�
Rankin said the city91裸聊视频檚 name is a constant reminder of the harmful legacy Israel Wood Powell91裸聊视频檚 actions have had and continue to have.
The city was named after Powell, B.C.91裸聊视频檚 first superintendent of Indian Affairs. Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation says Powell was one of the chief architects of early colonial policies, including the rise of residential schools.
91裸聊视频淭he town91裸聊视频檚 name is a constant reminder of the abuses inflicted on Indigenous children for more than a century, spurring a renaming campaign,91裸聊视频� Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation said in its statement.
In spring of 2021, Tla91裸聊视频檃min Nation made a request to Powell River council to consider a name change, 91裸聊视频渋n light of the devastating legacy the actions of Israel Powell have had and continue to have on the Tla91裸聊视频檃min people.91裸聊视频� That fall, the Nation and the city developed a joint-working group to oversee a community conversation about a name change.
The working group released its final report on the engagement process in July of 2022 and, last month, the city tabled strategic priorities including, 91裸聊视频淭ake real steps towards a name change.91裸聊视频�
Black Press Media reached out to Palm on Wednesday (Feb. 7). He said he would not be commenting further and referred to a statement he provided to Global News.
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