Abegweit First Nation calls for renaming of Savage Harbour

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. First Nations group is looking for the province to rename a close-by space that features a derogatory time period in the direction of Indigenous individuals.

In a press launch, Abegweit First Nations chief Junior Gould referred to as on the province to vary the title of Savage Harbour, in addition to close by areas Savage Bay, Savage Wharf and the Savage Harbour cottage space.

In a telephone interview with SaltWire Community, Gould stated the AFN group takes subject with the usage of the phrase savage, which has lengthy been a derogatory time period used to explain Indigenous individuals.

“It is simply inappropriate nowadays in society,” he stated.

“I feel the reference, there is no such thing as a justification for it immediately. We’ve had discussions for 3 years the place individuals have stated, ‘oh it is only a French time period or it means to eat off the land or no matter’. Savage is a derogatory time period, and I feel that’s straight ahead.”

Indigenous individuals had been known as savages by settlers and had been referenced as such by John A. Macdonald when he addressed the Home of Commons on Indigenous individuals in 1879, stated Gould.

Altering the title of Savage Harbour has been one thing Gould has been engaged on for the final three years and has consulted with members of the group and residents close by, most of whom had been supportive of the change.

Nonetheless, he stated there was some pushback, as he had anticipated.

“I respect pushback as a result of I feel to be able to have grownup conversations and constructive discussions, you want to have the ability to settle for criticism,” he stated.

Gould stated making the decision public was a vital step to push for motion. He stated it made sense to do make the announcement on Nationwide Indigenous Individuals’s Day.

“If all people is listening on Nationwide Indigenous day, hearken to the Indigenous group,” he stated.

“In the event that they make an announcement saying this can be a derogatory time period they’re slighted by, if there may be any fact or reconciliation in our society, respect our needs. That is the proper day to honour that and take motion.”

On the time of the intervies, Gould stated he hadn’t acquired a response from the province on the demand. In an emailed assertion despatched to SaltWire Community, a spokesperson for the province’s Government Council stated P.E.I. lacks a proper course of for renaming communities.

“We’ve been working over the past variety of months to design a course of and the method will likely be launched when it’s accomplished and accepted. We count on it to be accomplished within the coming months,” stated the assertion.

“If they’re (speaking about altering) the Confederation Bridge only for the straightforward advantage signalling of honouring Mi’kmaw individuals, why don’t they modify the title of Savage Harbour, which is offensive and a derogatory time period in my yard.”

– Abegweit First Nations chief Junior Gould

Permitting the title to stay would go away a marginalized a part of society feeling offended and slighted, stated Gould, and could be a step backward for reconciliation.

“To say we’re doing our greatest underneath Fact and Reconciliation however then say we aren’t going to do that or we aren’t going to do this, that’s type of the issue,” he stated.

“If they’re (speaking about altering) the Confederation Bridge only for the straightforward advantage signalling of honouring Mi’kmaw individuals, why don’t they modify the title of Savage Harbour, which is offensive and a derogatory time period in my yard.”

Gould stated renaming Savage Harbour could be a constructive change for the group and would assist previous and future generations reconcile and heal.

As for what they rename it to, Gould stated he has no suggestions.

“We wouldn’t push something on anyone, we simply wish to deliver it to everybody’s consideration that (these names) simply aren’t acceptable nowadays,” he stated.

“Our course of for the previous few years has been participating the communities outdoors of the Abegweit First Nation to a minimum of educate and say that this stuff are inappropriate, so no matter they got here up with could be acceptable to us.”