The Tsawwassen First Nation legislature Monday unanimously approved a motion to examine strategies to reduce and remove the use of certain incorrect and potentially offensive terms in reference to the TFN.
The legislature expressed a concern that certain terms used under the Indian Act are no longer appropriate or correct. Terms specifically referenced in the motion included the words Indian, band and reserve.
"We have escaped the terrible repression of the Indian Act, but its words became part of our language, and they are hard to erase," said Chief Kim Baird.
"It is still a learning process, both within our own community and around the country. We hope to change the words that are used to refer to Tsawwassen First Nation and its members. It is one more step in getting away from the Indian Act, which kept us apart and separate, and one more step towards reconciliation."
INCORRECT TERM
. Indian band
. Tsawwassen Indian Band
. Tsawwassen Indian
. Tsawwassen reserve
. Reserve
. Band or band council
. Band office
CORRECT EQUIVALENT TERM
First Nation or Treaty First Nation
Tsawwassen First Nation
Tsawwassen member
Tsawwassen lands
First Nation lands
Tsawwassen government (general term) or
government or legislature (specific body, if required)
or executive council (specific body, if required)
TFN administration office
