Excavations


... nothing is more essential to public interest than the preservation of public liberty.

- David Hume



Saturday, April 24, 2021

What's in a name? The renaming of former Riverview Hospital Lands as səmiq̓wəʔelə

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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