I attended the public announcement of the name for the new elementary school in Langford this week.
The school’s name is “S膯I群NEW瘫 S峁瓻冉I峁复E冉”, which means “salmon children” in the SEN膯O纽EN language.
Elders, youth, leaders and members of Sc’ianew First Nation spoke and shared culture, the language, and the protocol and process of the gifted name.
It was beautiful to see the school board, school district staff, municipal leaders and provincial leaders together with Sc’ianew members announcing and celebrating the name. The pronunciation sent out in a news release from the Sooke School District is “schee-ay-nuh ska-leetk-luth.” On the school district’s with Grandma Lavina Charles of Sc’ianew First Nation teaching viewers how to pronounce the name, and the message and meaning behind it.
A common message from all the speakers at the event was acknowledging that naming a school in a language other than English could be challenging for some to pronounce, and acknowledging some folks might get nervous or feel uncomfortable trying.
“We are going to learn together,” Chief Russ Chipps shared.
The event reminded me of the several trips and many days I spent working with shíshálh Nation on the Sunshine Coast. The community members speak English with many she shashishalhem words emerging throughout every conversation.
After a few days, I no longer thought of it as their land, community or territory, it was their “swiya.”
Chief and council don’t use the term chief and council, they use “hiwus 蓙iy te hihewhiwus.”
On my second and third trip to shíshálh Nation, I understood many of the she shashishalhem words sprinkled in conversation. When I was drafting letters or news releases, I used the words in the context they were meant in.
Even as I wrote this column I remembered the words, but did double-check the spelling.
When I first stared working with shíshálh Nation, I felt out of place and confused with the shíshálh words that emerged in conversation.
When I was having a one-on-one conversations, the shíshálh words were still there. The way the community spoke wasn’t tailored to me, the outsider coming in, and in turn I learned some of the words. I know what they mean and I can use them in conversation, too.
One of my favourite mottos is “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”
If the shíshálh community changed how they spoke to me and used only English words where they normally wouldn’t, I wouldn’t have learned anything, and they would have been changing themselves for me, which clearly wouldn’t benefit anyone.
I feel honoured to share the small part of the language and culture I was exposed to, because I have a better understanding of the community.
When people share parts of their language with you, it shows a deep respect and trust. It might be tricky at first, but eventually you’ll understand the benefit.
If you see the name S膯I群NEW瘫 S峁瓻冉I峁复E冉 and feel uncomfortable or nervous, go watch the YouTube video and be gentle with yourself, and if your children or grandchildren attend the school, you’ll be surprised how quickly they’ll learn the pronunciation and teach you.
Sc’ianew First Nation spoke of the name being gifted to the school district, gifted to the community and gifted to the students.
There is a difference when a name is gifted and when a name is asked for. If you, or an organization you are with is seeking an Indigenous name, take the time to understand the protocols, ask yourself why you are asking for a name, how will that name educate the community on the Nation you are requesting this from, and know that asking for a name or a word in an Indigenous language has far more meaning and cultural components attached than you might realize.
I’ve heard from organizations that have asked for names, and I’ve heard from Nations that have been asked to give names and were not interested.
In a western culture, providing the opportunity to name a park, building or program is an honour. That honour being offered from a western culture isn’t the same from an Indigenous culture, even if the ask is well intentioned.
When you ask for a piece of a language, or are offered it, know that it’s more than words; it’s history, culture, honour, trust and friendship. And any request for Indigenous names or words should be rooted in that understanding.
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