A campaign to raise awareness of the power that a name holds fuels the documentary təm kʷaθ nan Namesake. The film directed by ƛɛsla Dr. Evan Adams and t̓agəm Eileen Francis observes members of the Tla’amin Nation as they lobby to change the name of Powell River. The city in British Columbia draws its moniker in honour of Israel Wood Powell, a long-serving politician who held the first office as superintendent of Indian Affairs from 1872 to 1889. The documentary observes how the politician’s past, and the city’s name, carries painful significance given his role in Canada’s residential school system, the consequences of which continue to this day. POV has the first look at the full trailer for təm kʷaθ nan Namesake ahead of its premieres at Toronto’s Hot Docs and Vancouver’s DOXA.
Təm kʷaθ nan Namesake reflects wider conversations about reconciliation and historical memory rippling throughout Canada. Efforts to remove the names of men who played a role in the nation’s colonial past have been at the centre of considerable conversation and controversy as some Canadians hold onto aspects of historical record, while others emphasize the need to make amends by acknowledging the past often ignored by the history books. The documentary marks a collaborative effort between members of the Tla’amin Nation and the settler community to capture the full story.
Get your first full look at the film below:
Synopsis: təm kʷaθ nan (Namesake) follows an ongoing conversation between Tla’amin Nation and the city commonly known as Powell River about a name that honours Israel Wood Powell, whose policies harmed Tla’amin people and culture. As the Nation asks the city to consider a new name, the community responds with reflection, resistance, allyship, and difficult conversations about history, identity, and belonging. Elders share naming traditions rooted in responsibility to place, while the film situates this moment within over 12,000 years of continuous presence. The outcome remains uncertain, but through the rhythm of the seasons, the film shows how change happens over time—through listening, disagreement, and the willingness to move forward together.
