The British Columbia government has permitted Queen Charlotte, BC, to be renamed to Daajing Giids, restoring its ancestral Indigenous name. .“The names of places hold significance, which is why I commend city council for working in partnership with the Haida Nation to bring this important act of reconciliation forward,” said BC Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen in a Wednesday press release. .The release said Daajing Giids Village Council worked with indigenous groups and consulted with the community before submitting the name change to the provincial government..“I am so proud of our community and village council as we had the honour of accepting the Elders’ request to restore the ancient and ancestral Haida name Daajing Giids as our village name,” said Daajing Giids Mayor Kris Olsen. .“This has been a gift and an opportunity to make things right and show respect to the Haida Nation.” .Such a name change is the first in BC history. .The BC government passed a law in 2019 to align provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). UNDRIP has identified giving municipalities indigenous names as an important step towards reconciliation and will allow indigenous languages to be preserved. .This name change was done through a provincial order in council following a municipal vote in April, said the release. .“Our government will continue to support local governments across the province to develop even stronger relationships with Indigenous Nations as we work together to move ahead with reconciliation and strengthen government-to-government relationships to create a BC where residents feel welcome in their communities,” said Cullen. .Canada’s National History Society said in 2021 British Columbia should be renamed to purge the province of its colonial past. .READ MORE: Historical society says BC must change name to shed ‘murderous’ history.“It’s not British; it never was,” said Canada’s National History Society. .“Re-examining the past is not easy.”
