Sick & Tired of Indigenous Renamings? How to Fight the Abuse & Endless Woke Gaslighting

The New Westminster Times

4.38K subscribers

4,341 views Feb 4, 2026 #decolonization #DRIPA #UNDRIP

Tired of endless name changes, statue removals, and the rewriting of British Columbia's history? In this eye-opening video from The New Westminster Times, editor David Brett stands at historic Sapperton Landing in New Westminster — the Royal City — to reveal a surprising way to resist the decolonization agenda. Brett explores the 1864 gathering of 4,000 Indigenous people honoring Queen Victoria, Governor Frederick Seymour's promises, and the 1873 petition delivered to Israel Wood Powell, BC's first Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Far from being a villain, Powell advocated for larger reserves and fair treatment for First Nations — yet today his name faces erasure in Powell River amid demands from the Tla'amin First Nation, triggered by Kamloops 215 narratives and residential school controversies. Discover how UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and DRIPA (BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act) actually affirm that ALL PEOPLES contribute to humanity's cultural heritage — and prohibit doctrines claiming superiority of one culture over another. This means forced repudiation of settler, pioneer, and Crown-linked heritage may violate the very principles of cultural respect that reconciliation claims to uphold. From gaslighting accusations of racism against those who value BC's unique history, to erased traditions like May Day, Brett argues this is cultural abuse — not reconciliation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action focus on education and health, not monument toppling or renaming of streets, bridges, schools, or cities. A must-watch for Canadian and proud British Columbians who cherish the province's history, original industries (logging, fishing), the Chinook Wawa language and the Royal City and Powell River historic legacies. What You'll Learn:

• The true historical role of Israel Wood Powell — advocate for Indigenous land rights in the 1870s
• How UNDRIP / DRIPA can be used to defend all cultures, including non-- Indigenous BC heritage, against erasure
• Why name changes in Powell River, qathet School District, and beyond feel like cultural gaslighting
• The irony of Indigenous gatherings honoring the Crown at Sapperton Landing vs. modern repudiation of "Royal City"
• Why the TRC Calls to Action never demanded statue removals or widespread renaming
• A surprising tool to push back on cancel culture and decolonization in British Columbia

Useful Resources: https://www.newwesttimes.com Unreconciled: Veteran Powell River Paramedic Forced Out of His Job for Opposing City Name Change https://tinyurl.com/Forced-Out-of-His... Time for a Reckoning Re Kamloops 215 Anomalies says Dr. Francis Widdowson from UFV    • Time for a Reckoning Re Kamloops 215 Anoma...   Uncovering the Kamloops Cover-Up: Ground-truthing GPR Anomalies    • Uncovering the Kamloops Cover-Up: Ground-t...   UNDRIP full text: https://www.un.org/development/desa/i... BC DRIPA legislation: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/go... Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action: https://www.trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_t... Stay Connected: Subscribe to The New Westminster Times YouTube for more on BC history, reconciliation truths, and cultural defense Website & support our independent journalism: https://www.newwesttimes.com (Support button top right) Newsletter sign-up for articles & updates Follow on X / Twitter: @NewWestTimes (or search David Brett / New Westminster Times) If you value British Columbia's pioneer spirit, Crown heritage, and balanced history — like, comment your thoughts, share with fellow Canadians, and subscribe for more unfiltered perspectives.#decolonization #DRIPA #UNDRIP #BritishColumbiaHistory #PowellRiver #NameChange #NewWestminster #RoyalCity #IsraelWoodPowell #TruthAndReconciliation #CancelCulture #CanadianHistory #Boomers #Seniors #BCPolitics #Heritage #Reconciliation #CulturalRights #SappertonLanding #TlaaminNation