ʕumtnaakšiƛ: To have a traditional name. The importance of revitalizing traditional ʔiiḥatisʔatḥ names
Date
2026
Authors
John, Christina
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Abstract
Naming practices for ʔiiḥatisʔath people have changed over time due to the ongoing effects of colonization. We traditionally carried more than one name throughout our lives and through the devastating effects of colonization, our people have moved to a more standardized, Euro-western way of naming: one first name and one surname, which is used for an entire life time. This project focuses on reclaiming our ʔiiḥatisʔatḥ naming ceremonies which revitalizes a vital tradition for our people: Carrying more than one name based on milestones and achievements in life, resulting in multiple family names being used over the span of one lifetime. These aren’t just names; our names give us identity, a sense of belonging, and a means of reconnecting us to our ancestors who had come before us.
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Keywords
ʔiiḥatisʔath people, naming practices, reclaiming, naming ceremonies, identity, belonging, reconnecting, ancestors