Two new ferries set to begin service on Snuneymuxw First Nation含羞草研究社檚 traditional territory on Vancouver Island, were named in consultation with a different First Nation, and that doesn含羞草研究社檛 sit well with Snuneymuxw含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社橬amgis First Nation.
Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse issued a statement the next day, Jan. 12, saying he was 含羞草研究社渟addened and frustrated含羞草研究社� that BC Ferries含羞草研究社� leadership has 含羞草研究社渄ecided to choose a racist and discriminatory path riddled with colonial acts that is woefully inflammatory and offensive to building a relationship between us.含羞草研究社�
A press release from SFN mentioned 含羞草研究社渟everal executive meetings含羞草研究社� between Snuneymuxw and BC Ferries. Wyse said the ferry company proposed building a totem pole, while Snuneymuxw, he said, wanted to 含羞草研究社渞esolve fundamental and critical issues regarding their existing and proposed ferry operations in our territory.含羞草研究社� He said ferry service in and around the four local terminals has caused 含羞草研究社渟ignificant negative impacts to our territory含羞草研究社� and has infringed on treaty rights.
Wyse says the ferry company含羞草研究社檚 choice to apply 含羞草研究社橬amgis First Nation culture in Snuneymuxw territory violates human rights and contravenes the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
含羞草研究社淚 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,含羞草研究社� Wyse said.
A BC Ferries social media post on Tuesday noted that 含羞草研究社渙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.含羞草研究社�
BC Ferries含羞草研究社� press release announcing the name of the new ship said the name Island Gwawis, which means raven of the sea, 含羞草研究社渃elebrates the cultural connection between the original mariners of the coastal waters and the communities the vessel will soon serve.含羞草研究社�
In an e-mail, Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries spokesperson, said the names of the ships aren含羞草研究社檛 related to territories and routes on which they may operate.
含羞草研究社淭he ships are identical, standardized and interoperable,含羞草研究社� Marshall said. 含羞草研究社淎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.含羞草研究社�
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