We see in the Tri-Cities with the renaming of Riverview as səmiq̓wəʔelə (pronounced Suh-MEE-kwuh-EL-uh) a misguided attempt to rectify history. Yes, the seeds of European colonialism began over 600 years ago, with the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, a momentous event (also perceived as tragic) which was soon followed by the new beginnings of slavery – in imitation of the ancients. Today, North Americans are slowly coming to terms with the legacy of the past as First Nations’ Reconciliation is advanced, in part, by Canada’s Supreme Court and in light of Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict for the murder of George Floyd.
Compassionate
towards the sufferings of others, we can find at many levels a widespread and
empathetic reassessment of history known as postcolonial theory, such that that
almost everyone appears on the same page – and is learning the same thing. But is it always good for everyone to read
from the same book? I am not denying
that we should respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other minorities, but
in the effort to find social justice are we not privileging one group here over
another? Are we not overlooking the
mentally ill?
With
regards to the revamped səmiq̓wəʔelə how can the NDP boast of (as the recent
BC Housing survey states) a proposed “community of mental health excellence” when
there is no indication of plans for an actual hospital? Currently there are some “facilities” in
operation on the former Riverview grounds, but nothing that approaches the
needs of BC’s population.
In typical NDP
fashion, there is also boasting that səmiq̓wəʔelə will be “complete and inclusive”,
words which sound utopian – and a term which means “nowhere”. The therapy is apparently in the community, where
there are proposed amenities for the general public, but no discussion of the
kinds of Wrap Around Services required by the mentally ill – a concept that
prevails in the United States, not in British Columbia.
Years ago,
the name Riverview was introduced to de-stigmatize the original name Essondale. Now in an effort to de-stigmatize Riverview,
we have the name səmiq̓wəʔelə. The trouble with the latest name, aside
from the fact that it is difficult to pronounce (and the native orthography is
beyond me) is that it is tone deaf with regards to the mentally ill. A depressed person, or someone suffering from
psychosis, hallucinations, or delusions simply will not know what to make of
the new name, their whereabouts, or their place in it. I believe that the new name is so counterproductive
that it will only work against the distressed person’s frame of mind - and hinder
the betterment of their condition. As a possible
compromise, I suggest that we foreground what səmiq̓wəʔelə actually means by simply calling it “Place of the Great Blue Heron”.
Everyone seems
so interested in reconciliation - and is busy rewriting centuries of history
from the point of view of the victim, but no one here has considered the mind
of the mentally ill. Perhaps it’s time
to write – or rewrite - the past from their perspective. With that in mind I give the name səmiq̓wəʔelə a failing grade.
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