Popular Metro Vancouver park has Indigenous name restored

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Indigenous leaders unveiled a new sign displaying the original name of a park on unceded Tsleil-Waututh territories on Friday.

Also known as Belcarra Regional Park, temtemíxwten (“tum-tum-YOUFF-ton”) park represents an important step in recognizing the nation’s history in the area.

Its Indigenous name roughly translates in English to “the biggest place for all the people.”

Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation was at the renaming ceremony, where the park’s new sign was presented to the public for the first time.

“I’m feeling our ancestors here today,” they said.

“Auntie Dee talked about this is the village where we had smallpox affect our members. And Musqueam members had to come over and bury our members here. We’re on our ancestors here.”

Read Related: ‘Shift in perspective:’ Indigenous place names moving Canada from colonial past

Gerry Lawson from the UBC Oral History and Language Lab says these renaming processes can introduce people to learning about Tsleil-Waututh territory, history, and community.

Lawson, whose Heiltsuk name is Ma̓la̓gius, adds that Elders and knowledge holders are often at the center of these processes to educate stakeholders about Indigenous values.

“The decisions are all made foundationally with children of several generations,” he said.

“These renaming processes really are sort of the start of allowing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children to grow up with that awareness that representation is important. That Indigenous names, and culture, and people are important to a place.”

Today I was honoured to speak for @tsleilwaututh as we restored the name of 1 of our most important Villages. Belcarra Regional Park is now officially təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park @metrovancouver The name means “Biggest Land/Place for the People”. My Heart Soars pic.twitter.com/oQqM8lcds6

— Gabriel George (@edgegeo) October 9, 2021

Ninety-five per cent of B.C. is on unceded land, meaning it was never legally signed away to the Crown or Canada.

Lawson says while there is a lack of consistent understanding between the provincial government and Indigenous people in B.C., renaming processes can continue to remind everyone of the inherent indigeneity in Canada.

“There are things we may not have the groundwork to really solve right now, and we’ve taken several generations to get to where we’re at,” he said.

“I’m not worried about taking a few generations to get to a better place, and I think education and awareness is a huge part of that.”

The signs at the regional park will be changed in the next few months to reflect the new name.