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