ȽÁU,WELNEW, an additive process

ȽÁU,WELNEW is best pronounced as Tlay will nook

MLA Adam Olsen (Green), May 15, 2019, “This is an additive process, not a reductive one. The name ȽÁU,WELNEW will be added to John Dean Provincial Park so it will now be known as ȽÁU,WELNEW/John Dean Provincial Park.”

May 16, 2019, Bill 16 – 2019 received Royal Assent.

The full backstory will be presented shortly. Firstly, I believe it’s essential to listen to what Adam Olsen said in the BC Legislature on May 8, 2018: Expanding park land and reattaching Indigenous names through Bill 19 (2018 annual BC Parks amendments bill): https://adamolsenmla.ca/expanding-parkland/ (12:22).

“Indigenous place names have marked and identified important locations throughout British Columbia for countless generations. Following contact and settlement of European people new names were added and signs were erected. Bill 19 expands parkland and begins to reattach Indigenous place names to those important places. In second reading debate I take the opportunity to discuss the importance of Indigenous names to critical locations, and what we can learn from them.”

Both before and after this May 8, 2018, speech, I (Jarrett Teague) suggested to MLA Adam Olsen that if there was ever a time, this was the time to add the traditional name of ȽÁU,WELNEW to John Dean Provincial Park.  Interestingly, John Dean Park was not mentioned in this address. However, within a month, Adam had encouraged and/or inspired the ȽÁU,WELNEW students to petition government for the name change. This name change or addition idea was first made publicly known on June 12, 2018 (Adam Olsen BLOG).

https://www.facebook.com/Olsen4MLA/videos/1925024250863491/

Regardless of the spin, since 1990 I have celebrated and promoted the traditional mountain name ȽÁU,WELNEW, which is now well-known and accepted within the park. I fully support this traditional name addition.

Summer 1990, I collaborated with W’S’ANEC elder Gabriol Bartlemen and BC Parks to name three trails and a stream within John Dean Park. For 29 years I have maintained the following signs:

1. ȽÁU,WELNEW TRAIL  |  ȽÁU,WELNEW ŚKEM¸SET
2. SLEKTAIN TRAIL  |  SLEKTAIN ŚKEM¸SET
3. THUNDERBIRD TRAIL  |  ZINCO SOL  |   TO ȽÁU,WELNEW SUMMIT
4. RAVEN CREEK  |  SQTO¸; SPOOL

Best, Jarrett