Tla’amin Nation requests new title for Powell River Board of Education

School District 47’s board of education has received correspondence from Tla’amin Nation hegus John Hackett requesting a name change for Powell River Board of Education.

In his correspondence, reviewed at the board’s April 13 committee of the whole meeting, Hackett stated that a process has been underway for some years to remove the name of Powell from various geographic and organizational names throughout the region. He stated this has included a renaming of qathet Regional District, and increasingly, many organizations that serve residents throughout regional district boundaries, including qathet museum and archives society, Vancouver Island University, and Powell River Regional Hospital District. 

“It has also recently included joint efforts with the City of Powell River to engage residents about a name change for the municipality,” stated Hackett. “The Powell River Board of Education (School District 47) has been involved in this process in a number of ways, including being invited to leadership briefings about the engagement process.”

Hackett outlined Dr. Israel Powell’s deeds in his correspondence and stated that memorializing this individual in the name of the education board is incompatible with reconciliation, and the recent announcement that all secondary students in BC will need to complete Indigenous-focused coursework to graduate.

“It also does harm to Tla’amin and other Indigenous students attending schools operated by the Powell River Board of Education,” stated Hackett. “Finally, it does not recognize that many schools overseen by the board of education fall outside the municipal boundaries, and that students served come from across the qathet Regional District and Tla’amin territory. 

“Now that we know what we know about Israel Powell, there can be no denying the need for a name change. This change is a meaningful act that advances implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the safety and dignity of all. We therefore respectfully urge you to publicly confirm support for a name change for the Powell River Board of Education.”

In the notes from the committee of the whole meeting, it was stated that after considerable discussion, it was recommended that the letter be received, and that staff draft, for trustee consideration, a response reflective of the discussion, including the board’s willingness to consider a name change. 

It was acknowledged that given the two short work weeks stemming from the Easter long weekend, that the draft letter would likely not be ready in time for consideration at the April board meeting. 

Board of education chairperson Dale Lawson, in an email, stated the response would be ready for the next meeting in May.