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Shuswap school district renamed to reflect its Secwépemc location

'K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl91Ƶecw; we are all connected on Secwépemc land'

K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl91Ƶecw; we are all connected on Secwépemc land.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, following the recent release of its new logo in July, the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District 83 announced its name change to better reflect its location on traditional First Nations territory. A media release from the district said it91Ƶs pronounced KWA-SEELT-K-NAWS, meaning we91Ƶre all connected (people, animals, sky, land and water) NAY SUH-KWEP-MUK-OO-LOO, on Secwépemc land. 

91ƵThe phrase was considered especially fitting as it complements the symbolism of the District91Ƶs newly adopted logo,91Ƶ the release adds. 

In an corresponding press conference announcing the "reconcili-action" at the district office, director of instruction Indigenous education Chelsea Prince, Quelmucw Education Council chair Darrell Jones, SD83 board chair Amanda Krebs and Supt. Donna Kriger pronunciation of the Secwépemc phrase can appear intimidating at first. 

91ƵYou91Ƶre not going to learn it in the first little while, it will take some time... continue like anything else to do it,91Ƶ Jones said of advice received from elder language teacher Donna Antoine, who came up with the new name. 91ƵYou have to try it; if you don91Ƶt try it you91Ƶre never going to do it.91Ƶ

Jones first proposed the name change at the May board meeting, but said he91Ƶs wanted to ever since it came about when Armstrong and the Shuswap school districts amalgamated under North Okanagan-Shuswap in 1996.

He explained that while the Secwépemc Nation does butt up against Syilx lands, that doesn91Ƶt include Armstrong. 

91ƵWhen I heard it I thought, wow, that91Ƶs wrong. I said... we should not be called North Okanagan, we are not Okanagan,91Ƶ Jones recalled. 91ƵA part of it is the historical pieces of who we are as Secwépemc People and the Syilx Nation, which is the Okanagan People. We wanted to really be clear on whose Nation the district is in.91Ƶ

Prince also pointed out that both Okanagan and Shuswap are words made by settlers to describe the area that already had an Indigenous name and 91Ƶpart of reconciliation is making that right.91Ƶ 

91ƵChanging our school district name to a word that means that we91Ƶre all connected is making that right and is really looking forward to a different relationship, and a better relationship between Indigenous communities and everybody who91Ƶs ended up here.91Ƶ

Jones, who has worked for the school district for close to 41 years, acknowledged that it91Ƶs been a long road to this point, but they91Ƶre getting there, and commended the board for being willing and open to taking action. 

91ƵWhen I look at the growth from where we started at that time to where we are today, it has been taken like baby steps... 91Ƶ he said. 91ƵBut to hear administrators from the high schools at graduation express the gratitude of being on Secwépemc land, that91Ƶs a very big piece in itself... Like anything, that growth is going to take some time.91Ƶ 

To help with the transition of the new name, there will be education videos posted to the website to support pronunciation, QR codes at district sites with voice recordings as well as written and digital materials. 

91ƵI encourage everyone to embrace this name as a gift, representing the deep ties we share with this place,91Ƶ Krebs said in the media release. 91ƵI91Ƶm excited to learn how to pronounce it and to better understand the history and culture it reflects. Thank you for this meaningful gift.91Ƶ

 



About the Author: Heather Black

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