Park to be renamed

Photo: Contributed

A Shuswap park could be renamed if proposed legislative amendments are passed.

Roderick Haig-Brown Park will become a traditional Secwepemc name Tsútswecw Park, which means 'many fish,' at the request of the Little Shuswap Indian Band.

"These amendments allow our government to take an important step forward towards our ongoing reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples throughout British Columbia, which includes honouring the commitments we made under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. "The renaming of these parks to traditional Indigenous names, as rooted in history, reflect the significant heritage values recognized by all British Columbians and beyond."

Roderick Haig-Brown Park or Tsútswecw Park is one of three parks in the province that will likely be renamed to reflect Indigenous peoples historic and cultural significance as part of reconciliation efforts.

Brooks Peninsula Park on Vancouver Island could be renamed to Mquqwin/Brooks Peninsula Park, which was originally intended when the park name was changed in 2009. The word Mquqwin means "The Queen" in the Nuu-Chah-Nulth language.

Boya Lake Park near the northwestern B.C. border could be renamed Tā Ch'ilā Park (a.k.a. Boya Lake Park), meaning "holes in a blanket," at the request of the Kaska Dena First Nation.

The bill also proposes to add more than 1,600 hectares of land to 10 parks and one conservancy, as well as improve boundary descriptions and make administrative changes.