Mount Garibaldi sits on the traditional territory of the 撸奶社区Nation, and until settlers arrived, the mountain was named Nch鈥橩ay. 聽
Jazmyn Williams says that she, along with four other students at Sea to Sky Learning Connections School, worked on the initiative to reclaim the mountain鈥檚 traditional name.聽
The fact that Mount Garibaldi was known as Nch鈥橩ay since time immemorial but was then renamed by settlers is disrespectful to the 撸奶社区Nation, says Jazmyn.聽
She says that the students involved believe that reclaiming the mountain鈥檚 original name 鈥楴ch鈥橩ay鈥� would be a sign of respect and be an important step to reconciliation for the community.聽
Almost everyone who was part of the school鈥檚 Aboriginal Youth Group was involved with the initiative, says Jazmyn.聽
The students鈥� initiative began in Jennifer Mansour鈥檚 humanities class when students were tasked with addressing an issue that affected the 撸奶社区community.聽
The assignment is part of the school鈥檚 emphasis on project-based learning according to Mansour.聽
Jazmyn鈥檚 mother Charlene Williams, a cultural language worker with the school, offered a few suggestions the group of 撸奶社区Nation students could explore that centred around the topic of reconciliation.
Charlene says that she sees the initiative as an important step toward reconciliation. Charlene said that Nch鈥橩ay has deep historical significance for the 撸奶社区Nation 鈥� during the great flood, the Nation anchored its canoes to the mountain to survive and as such it shapes who they are and why they are here.聽
She went on to say that it 鈥渋s an insult鈥� that Nch鈥橩ay was renamed by settlers in honour of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a man who had never even set foot in Squamish, let alone on the mountain.聽
The students worked with the idea and eagerly began developing an action plan, says Jazmyn. The first step was petitioning, and collecting signatures in the community, from there the students prepared their argument and took it to 撸奶社区council. 聽
Jazmyn says council and particularly the Mayor Patricia Heintzman were supportive.聽
Heintzman told The Chief that she, along with council, decided to support the initiative because reclaiming the iconic mountain鈥檚 traditional name honours the 撸奶社区Nation鈥檚 language and significance to the area.聽
Additionally, she says that it helps make every member of the community, First Nation and settlers alike understand and appreciative the history of Nch鈥橩ay.聽
The District of 撸奶社区requested letters of support from other levels of government. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver 鈥� Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, responded with a letter of support. The letter says that the students鈥� initiative to reclaim the traditional name of Nch鈥橩ay 鈥渄emonstrates our truth and reconciliation path, and can set an example for others across Canada.鈥� 聽
Heintzman says that she wants to recognize the autonomy of the 撸奶社区Nation students leading the charge on the initiative and as such council 鈥渨ill do whatever we need to do to support it.鈥澛�
At this point, Jazmyn says that she is no longer involved with the initiative and it is in the hands of the Aboriginal Group.
