Namesake

təm kʷaθ nan Namesake documents an ongoing conversation between the Tla’amin Nation and the city commonly known as Powell River.

The city’s name honours Israel Wood Powell, a government official whose policies helped establish residential schools, criminalize cultural practices, and remove Tla’amin from its home at tiskʷət. The Tla’amin Nation asks the city to consider changing its name, not to erase history but to build a new future together.

This request sparks public meetings, emotional testimony, resistance and outrage, allyship, and reflection across the region. Elders share naming traditions that connect people with history, land and responsibility. Archaeological evidence reveals over 12,000 years of continuous Tla’amin presence. Current residents grapple with family history, belonging, and fears of losing identity.

The outcome remains uncertain. The conversation itself becomes the story…

Riveting. A vital and impactful conversation starter, təm kʷaθ nan Namesake is an enthralling look at how the past and present impact our ability to move forward on the land together.

Courtney Small, POV magazine