təm kʷaθ nan Namesake

Opening Party Friday March 6 @ 6pm

Film @ 7 pm

Documentary
Not Rated – To be released 2026

In təm kʷaθ nan Namesake, the British Columbia city of Powell River confronts how reconciliation is put into action when the Tla’amin Nation requests Powell River City Council to change the city’s name. This sparks a heated debate about who Israel Powell was, and whose history of this community is told and respected. Through insightful interviews, Tla’amin storytelling and oral history, archival imagery, heated community engagement, and powerful footage of the support for and against this request, the region’s rich Indigenous history is brought forward as reconciliation is hopefully implemented.

The film explores Tla’amin naming traditions as a gift to seeing the land – a way to understand traditional places.  Elders describe how names are given so landmarks are recognizable. Expanding on how Tla’amin choose names for places and people, a map of the area shows Indigenous names being erased as English and Spanish people’s names displace/replace them. The diverse perspectives and reactions to the name change are investigated. The Community Engagement process is shown, racist responses from a small vocal group contrast with heartfelt support from allies in the community. There are those who feel that since their grandfather’s immigrated here, it would dishonour them to change the name of the town they helped build. A young father and ally brings a bouquet of orange flowers from his garden, saying he wants to use his speaking time to have us all think about what it would be like to have our children taken from us, as was done to Indigenous families by the residential school system set up by Israel Wood Powell.

Delegations and emails for and against name change appear at Council meetings as the City’s Strategic Plan is formed. After much debate, the plan, under Intergovernmental Relations, final wording is ‘Take substantive steps toward reconciliation with Tla’amin Nation, by engaging the public on the topic of a name change, including a possible new name, leading up to a public opinion poll timed with the 2026 municipal election’.

Featured in the film are Tla’amin Nation Language Revitalization Leader Koosen Devin Pielle,  ƛɛsla Dr. Evan Adams,  Tla’amin Nation Elder, Educator and Author qaʔaχstales Dr. Elsie Paul, Hegus John Hackett, Tla’amin Nation Government Legislator Tiy’ap thote Erik Blaney, Co-chair Joint Working Group Harmony Johnson,  Co-Facilitators Community Engagement on Name Change Trina Isakson and Lisa Moffatt, Former Mayor of Powell River Stewart Alsgard, and Former Tla’amin Nation Chief KWAST-en-ayu Maynard Harry.

With the knowledge that the name change request won’t be resolved during the making of this documentary, the goal is to make a film that celebrates the Tla’amin Nation, while giving space to those against the name change. The film concludes showing the strength and resilience of the Tla’amin Nation as it works on rebuilding its community. With the Tla’amin Seasonal Calendar as a visual through line in the film, it is clear that while change happens, for good and bad, the land endures. Many in Tla’amin are confident that the City will change its name, it’s not ‘if‘ but ‘when’.

təm kʷaθ nan Namesake is a collaboratively made documentary, a coming together of Tla’amin Nation filmmakers and their allies: Evan Adams, Peg Campbell, Eileen Francis, Angela Kendall, Davis McKenzie, Claudia Medina and Emily White. It is funded and supported by Telus originals. This screening at the film festival is a special community preview prior to its broader release.