Trutch Avenue in Chilliwack will be getting a new street name that doesn91裸聊视频檛 glorify a racist figure from B.C.91裸聊视频檚 colonial past.

City of Chilliwack will be removing street-name recognition for Joseph W. Trutch, who became the province91裸聊视频檚 first lieutenant-governor in 1871.

Trutch91裸聊视频檚 legacy was demeaning First Nations people, refusing to recognize their rights and title, and effectively displacing them from their traditional lands.

Chilliwack council voted at the June 15 meeting to rename Trutch Avenue with a name of Indigenous significance, after receiving a request from Squiala Chief David Jimmie, president of the St贸l艒 Chiefs91裸聊视频� Council.

The staff report explained the move is in keeping with a 91裸聊视频渟trategic goal91裸聊视频� of council 91裸聊视频渢o support truth and reconciliation through building relationships of mutual respect and understanding91裸聊视频� with local First Nations.

91裸聊视频淎s part of this commitment, the City (of Chilliwack) currently has the opportunity to review and rename a street name.91裸聊视频�

City of Vancouver and City of Victoria have debated similar requests to rename their own streets that carry the name Trutch.

Chief Jimmie91裸聊视频檚 request to Chilliwack council mentioned 91裸聊视频渢he harm91裸聊视频� associated with the Chilliwack street name Trutch, which is a small street of 16 properties, off Ashwell Road.

In a letter dated June 23, 1850, on the topic of Indians, from the Joseph Trutch Papers at the UBC Library, Trutch wrote to his wife, Charlotte: 91裸聊视频淚 think they are the ugliest and laziest creatures I ever saw and we should as soon think of being afraid of our dogs as of them.91裸聊视频�

Trutch became chief commissioner of lands and works in 1864, and helped smooth B.C.91裸聊视频檚 entry into confederation in 1871 with the promise of building the Canadian Pacific Railway.

In 1867, Trutch sent a letter to the Acting Colonial Secretary: 91裸聊视频淭he Indians really have no right to the lands they claim, nor are they of any actual value or utility to them,91裸聊视频� according to research conducted by Graham MacDonnell, of Fraser Valley Heritage Research Services.

That same year, according to MacDonnell91裸聊视频檚 research, Trutch 91裸聊视频渞efused to recognize the legitimacy of the reserves91裸聊视频� that had been established by former Lieutenant-Governor James Douglas, and had them re-surveyed, reducing their size by 91 per cent.

Several members of council said this week that given Trutch91裸聊视频檚 actions on the land question, they didn91裸聊视频檛 think he 91裸聊视频渄eserved91裸聊视频� the recognition of a street name.

Coun. Jason Lum described the effort as 91裸聊视频渁n opportunity to educate ourselves91裸聊视频� on why City of Chilliwack would go so far as to take the unusual step of renaming a street.

91裸聊视频淚 hope the residents of that street 91裸聊视频� and there91裸聊视频檚 only a few of them 91裸聊视频� understand the process we91裸聊视频檙e following and why,91裸聊视频� said Coun. Bud Mercer during the council discussion. 91裸聊视频淚 hope they embrace this initiative for what it is, which is doing exactly the right thing.91裸聊视频�

City officials will be sending letters to residents affected by the street name change, and will be consulting with Chief Jimmie on some suggested names of significance to local Indigenous communities.

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