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The B.C. authorities is asking native governments and First Nations about eliminating the title of a Vancouver Island creek which may be offensive.
Coonskin Creek flows via Youbou into Cowichan Lake, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) just lately obtained a letter from the province in regards to the title.
“Consideration to rescind this official title is predicated on the offensive nature of the language within the title,” reads the letter.
“The BC Geographic Names workplace is conscious of the potential harms arising from derogatory language in geographical title and want to decide if rescinding this title is supported by native communities…”
Within the neighbourhood, it’s not exhausting to search out raccoon prints within the snow — however the phrase coon could be, particularly in components of the U.S., a racial slur.
The province says the creek was named in 1952 and was submitted by the Water License Department. It says the origin of the title was not included within the submission.
In an extra assertion to CHEK Information, the province says Pure Useful resource Canada despatched a letter in late 2022 to all provinces requesting significant steps to vary any derogatory names. Coonskin Creek was one of many names recognized.
Neighbours say they’ve by no means thought in regards to the title being offensive.
“Why would they wish to change it? We’ve at all times simply referred to as it Coon Creek. I don’t see something offensive about it. It’s from the raccoons,” stated Bud Towle, a neighbour who has raccoons dwelling in his yard.
Quite a few neighbours instructed CHEK Information they don’t consider the title’s origins had been associated to race.
“My ideas are to go away issues alone. It’s named for a purpose, so it ought to keep at Coon Creek,” stated Audrey Towle.
Additionally close to the creek is Coon Creek Highway.
The province is asking native governments and First Nations for suggestions earlier than rescinding the creek’s title with no plan to rename it.
The letter from the province to the CVRD could be discovered within the correspondence part of the linked agenda.
In 2022, a First Nations delegation requested the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District to change the name of Sproat Lake.
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