Is it time to rename one of the oldest and most used streets in Coquitlam? This is the question that some enterprising students of social studies, with the help of their professor Megan Leslie already known in the field of the battle against racism, have asked themselves.
The request to change the name of the street was made to the government after learning of the story of the one that gives it its name, Edgar Dewdney, to which the dedication had been made as the builder of the city’s state schools.
However, as reported by Tricity News article by Kyle Balzer, he also seems to have been a greedy man, who after moving to B.C. from England, used his power as vice-governor (1881-1888) for racist purposes towards the Indigenous people and the Metis nations, forcing that ethnic groups to repression in the reserves, and thousands of people to starve, for what can be considered a genocide.
According to the story, it also seems that the construction of state schools was a political move, designed to remove the young Indigenous generation from relatives and society, for fear of what they might do in the future, and to educate them according to his ideals.
The class so decided to refer to the government asking for support for this gesture that according to them although it seems small, can be a starting point for reconciliation with the Indigenous community, and a demonstration of solidarity on the part of society.
The request seems to have been granted by the government, and is already supported by Bonita Zarillo, Port Moody-Coquitlam mp and Chris Wilson, Coquitlam coun. ,while to date, Feb. 9 it is still waiting for the response of the mla Rick Glumac, who however has made it known that he has received the letter and that he is preparing a response.
But the question is, has the government done enough so far for similar situations? according to Greta Parrino, a university student, the answer is,”If the name of the street is still that, it means that the problem had never been posed and so the government has never thought about such a gesture that could really have been a sign of reconciliation with the Indigenous society”.