How Indigenous Peoples Have Supported the Salish Sea
The Salish Sea has been formally named not once, but twice. It was first recognized as the “Salish Sea” by First Nations and Tribal governments in 2007, followed by the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada in late 2009 and early 2010.
The formal naming of geographical features is reserved for the governments of Sovereign Nations, and within the continent, multiple governments have been granted authority over parts of the Salish Sea. Today, over 8 million people live in the areas around the Salish Sea, and the United States has jurisdiction over the south part of the Salish Sea while Canada holds control over the northern region. Additionally, there are more than 70 Tribal and First Nations governments that also hold jurisdiction. Due to their status as Sovereign Nations, these Tribal and First Nations governments also possess the right to formally name the Salish Sea.
The First Nations governments began the formal naming process of the Salish Sea in January 2007, at the Quw’utsun’ conference center in Cowichan territory. Many Indigenous leaders came together to express their support for the protection and restoration of the natural values of the sea. To formalize their commitment to the Salish Sea name, each government leader signed a deer hide illustrated with a map of the Salish Sea. The Salish governments that were unable to attend the January signing were given the opportunity to sign the deer hide at the Tulalip Tribal Reservation in the summer of that same year.
Almost all Salish Sea governments had committed to the new name by the summer of 2007, giving formality to the process through the signing of the deer hide. By this process, the Salish Sea First Nations and Tribal governments formally adopted the new name, lending credence to the Salish Sea.
The governments of Canada and the United States did not participate in the formal naming of the Salish Sea done by First Nations and Tribal governments. Very little publicity was generated by actions taken by the Coast Salish, and the renaming of the Salish Sea received very little attention outside of Indian Country. In 2008, however, the idea of renaming the “Georgia Strait” to the “Salish Sea” was brought to the British Columbia government. George Harris, a brother of Ray Harris, the Chemainus First Nations leader who signed the deer hide, brought it to the government. Initially, the British Columbian Department of Aboriginal Affairs expressed support for this idea. Ultimately, the news of the proposed change was met with intense criticism from those in the Vancouver area who called themselves “King George loyalists”. This criticism, as well as opposition from the Monarchist League of Canada, resulted in George Harris’ idea being struck down.
This resistance, however, did not stop change from taking place.
In late 2009 and early 2010, the governments of Canada and the United States both agreed the formally adopt the Salish Sea name as an umbrella term for the Strait of Georgia, the Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
