Editor:
Some valid reasons for opposing the proposed geographical name changes have been expressed in the letter from the Pender Harbour Area Residents Association as it appears on the PHARA website. I find it interesting that the B.C. government would be willing to consider the proposed name changes for small communities on the Sunshine Coast and yet I wonder how receptive the government would be to proposals to change the names of Vancouver, Victoria, etc.
It is my understanding that local native cultural and historical information has traditionally been passed down through the centuries by way of storytelling and art, and as with most North American indigenous societies, there has never been a written language. I believe the advent of a writing system for these spoken languages is a modern construct developed in order to document and preserve the various Indigenous languages. The grammar is complex and the English characters and symbols that have been adopted to represent words are only comprehensible by those few who are dedicated enough to learn these unique languages. As such I believe the significant undertaking and expense required to officially change the geographical names does not serve the general public very well.
The Sunshine Coast is a significant tourist destination and I think a more interesting and equitable approach that would serve everyone would be to erect signage at the entrances of small communities and/or at tourist information kiosks that include the Salishan names and information plaques explaining the significance of these names and perhaps carvings (if applicable) that are representative of the local histories. This would go further to educate visitors and still be respectful of the local shíshálh Nation’s history.
Dan Leland, Madeira Park
