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