A B.C. councillor is facing growing criticism for his comments around the renaming of Powell River.
During a live broadcast of the city香蕉视频直播檚 Jan. 30 committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Jim Palm used a made-up name,香蕉视频直播漌akawana,香蕉视频直播� to refer to what Powell River could potentially be renamed.
香蕉视频直播淪tep one is 香蕉视频直播楢re you in favour of a name change?香蕉视频直播� Yes or no. That香蕉视频直播檚 simple. You don香蕉视频直播檛 convolute it with 香蕉视频直播榃akawana香蕉视频直播� or whatever name comes out of Tla香蕉视频直播檃min. You just simply ask the question and get a response. Yes or no, and then we have a direction,香蕉视频直播� Palm said.
Tla香蕉视频直播檃min Nation denounced the comment Monday (Feb. 5), saying Palm had belittled and mocked the Nation香蕉视频直播檚 language and ancestral place names.
香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� said Hegus John Hackett, the chief of Tla香蕉视频直播檃min.
Tla香蕉视频直播檃min executive Coun. Losa Luaifoa said the Nation doesn香蕉视频直播檛 take a mockery of its language lightly, 香蕉视频直播渆specially from a long-time schoolteacher and elected official.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淥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 Tla香蕉视频直播檃min people and our allies to keep up their work to restore and draw attention to the beauty of our language.香蕉视频直播�
The City of Powell River released a statement the following day in response to Tla香蕉视频直播檃min. In it, the city apologized to the Nation, adding it wishes to 香蕉视频直播渃ontinue serious conversations about furthering all aspects of reconciliation.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淐ouncil is committed to fostering a positive and respectful relationship with Tla香蕉视频直播檃min Nation and work with all Councillors to understand and address the impacts of colonialism and stresses the importance of appropriate language.香蕉视频直播�
Now, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is calling on the City of Powell River to 香蕉视频直播渁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.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淪adly, these ignorant and bombastic acts of racism, that occur everyday, have become acceptable in today香蕉视频直播檚 society and results in the normalization of casual racism,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渆volve practices to foster reconciliation in local processes.香蕉视频直播�
I stand with Tla香蕉视频直播檃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
香蕉视频直播� Murray Rankin (@MurrayRankinNDP)
B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday, said he stands with Tla香蕉视频直播檃min Nation, and fully supports their leadership and community.
香蕉视频直播淚 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.香蕉视频直播�
Rankin said the city香蕉视频直播檚 name is a constant reminder of the harmful legacy Israel Wood Powell香蕉视频直播檚 actions have had and continue to have.
The city was named after Powell, B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 first superintendent of Indian Affairs. Tla香蕉视频直播檃min Nation says Powell was one of the chief architects of early colonial policies, including the rise of residential schools.
香蕉视频直播淭he town香蕉视频直播檚 name is a constant reminder of the abuses inflicted on Indigenous children for more than a century, spurring a renaming campaign,香蕉视频直播� Tla香蕉视频直播檃min Nation said in its statement.
In spring of 2021, Tla香蕉视频直播檃min Nation made a request to Powell River council to consider a name change, 香蕉视频直播渋n light of the devastating legacy the actions of Israel Powell have had and continue to have on the Tla香蕉视频直播檃min people.香蕉视频直播� 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, 香蕉视频直播淭ake real steps towards a name change.香蕉视频直播�
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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