Two new ferries set to begin service on Snuneymuxw First Nation香蕉视频直播檚 traditional territory on Vancouver Island, were named in consultation with a different First Nation, and that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 sit well with Snuneymuxw香蕉视频直播檚 chief.
BC Ferries announced Tuesday, Jan. 11, that the second Island-class ferry to be used on the Nanaimo harbour-Gabriola Island route will be called Island Gwawis, named with the support of 香蕉视频直播橬amgis First Nation.
Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse issued a statement the next day, Jan. 12, saying he was 香蕉视频直播渟addened and frustrated香蕉视频直播� that BC Ferries香蕉视频直播� leadership has 香蕉视频直播渄ecided to choose a racist and discriminatory path riddled with colonial acts that is woefully inflammatory and offensive to building a relationship between us.香蕉视频直播�
A press release from SFN mentioned 香蕉视频直播渟everal executive meetings香蕉视频直播� between Snuneymuxw and BC Ferries. Wyse said the ferry company proposed building a totem pole, while Snuneymuxw, he said, wanted to 香蕉视频直播渞esolve fundamental and critical issues regarding their existing and proposed ferry operations in our territory.香蕉视频直播� He said ferry service in and around the four local terminals has caused 香蕉视频直播渟ignificant negative impacts to our territory香蕉视频直播� and has infringed on treaty rights.
Wyse says the ferry company香蕉视频直播檚 choice to apply 香蕉视频直播橬amgis First Nation culture in Snuneymuxw territory violates human rights and contravenes the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
香蕉视频直播淚 fully intend to use all remedies available to our people to rectify this issue, urging BC Ferries to discontinue their divisive and colonial behaviour against our nation,香蕉视频直播� Wyse said.
A BC Ferries social media post on Tuesday noted that 香蕉视频直播渙ur six Island-class vessels are interchangeable and will not be dedicated to one specific route, but rather they will serve the coastal communities together.香蕉视频直播�
BC Ferries香蕉视频直播� press release announcing the name of the new ship said the name Island Gwawis, which means raven of the sea, 香蕉视频直播渃elebrates the cultural connection between the original mariners of the coastal waters and the communities the vessel will soon serve.香蕉视频直播�
In an e-mail, Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries spokesperson, said the names of the ships aren香蕉视频直播檛 related to territories and routes on which they may operate.
香蕉视频直播淭he ships are identical, standardized and interoperable,香蕉视频直播� Marshall said. 香蕉视频直播淎s our vessels move around the fleet to meet operational requirements, we no longer name vessels based on geography or territories. Several Indigenous nations and communities, including Snuneymuxw, were invited to engage in the name selection process.香蕉视频直播�
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