Vancouver: Historical renaming - Šxʷməaeθəy̓line Street unveiled!
Vancouver: Historical renaming - Šxʷməaeθəy̓line Street unveiled!
Vancouver, Kanada - in Vancouver, Canada, there was recently a significant change in the cityscape: The Trutch Street was renamed ŠxʷməaeSəy Street. This step is not just a mere change in the street name, but a deeply significant symbolic act of reconciliation and respect for the indigenous peoples of the region. The renaming took place at the end of June, and among those present were the mayor, representative of the Musquea team and members of the local press. Reisorter reports that street names fulfill an important function for orientation and communication, often also serve to honor people or memory of historical events.
The original name "Trutch" was named after Joseph Trutch, a governor who was known for his racist views and withdrawn many rights and lands to the indigenous peoples of Canada. A great cultural and linguistic revival is aimed at with the new name based on the North American phonetic alphabet (NAPA) and is not written with Latin letters. Šxʷməakʷəy̓əm comes from the Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm dialect of the Halkomelem language, which is spoken by the Musqueam. Süddeutsche adds that hardly anyone in Vancouver speaks the Musqueam language fluent, which makes the renewal of the restoration of cultural identity.
a step for reconciliation
Since 2012, the renaming has been discussed, and the final decision was made in 2021. The city administration has also provided information on the pronunciation of the new name and offers a sound recording on its website to support the public in the correct pronunciation.
practical challenges and cultural visibility
Nevertheless, there are also challenges that go hand in hand with this renaming. Despite the positive cultural change, residents have to deal with practical problems. The Canadian post can process the new NAPA letters, but many banks and authorities are not able to do so. It remains to be seen how efficiently the new address data can be handled in emergencies. Rescue services express concerns that callers could have difficulty in an emergency to correctly express the new, complex name.
In addition, a sign with the English translation "Musqueweamview Street" is to be hung on every street corner. This is not only used for practical orientation, but also to create a bridge between cultures. Representatives of the Squamish people have expressed concerns in another intermediate tone, since the street also runs through its former settlement area and they were not consulted in the decision-making. Despite these problems, the renaming is generally considered a step towards more visibility and recognition of indigenous culture.
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Ort | Vancouver, Kanada |
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