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[sthdslayer]

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/british-columbians-told-to-stop-using-term-british-columbians-because-it-s-offensive-now/ar-BB1iVhGs?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=df986016ec28484bbfb373736e32512f&ei=23

British Columbians told to stop using term 'British Columbians' because it's offensive now

[clarki]

No, British Columbians aren’t being told to stop using the term “British Columbians”

Rather, BC public servants were given a writing guide to “help writers create content that respects the cultural integrity of Indigenous Peoples.”

It says “We recommend instead saying 'people living in B.C.’”

It’s a writing guide for public servants. It doesn’t apply to anyone else and no one is being told anything.

The guide is here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/service-experience-digital-delivery/web-content-development-guides/web-style-guide/writing-guide-for-indigenous-content
And the statement that everyone is so up in arms about is here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/service-experience-digital-delivery/web-content-development-guides/web-style-guide/writing-guide-for-indigenous-content/terminology

[dennisK]

No, British Columbians aren’t being told to stop using the term “British Columbians”

Rather, BC public servants were given a writing guide to “help writers create content that respects the cultural integrity of Indigenous Peoples.”

It says “We recommend instead saying 'people living in B.C.’”

It’s a writing guide for public servants. It doesn’t apply to anyone else and no one is being told anything.

The guide is here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/service-experience-digital-delivery/web-content-development-guides/web-style-guide/writing-guide-for-indigenous-content
And the statement that everyone is so up in arms about is here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/service-experience-digital-delivery/web-content-development-guides/web-style-guide/writing-guide-for-indigenous-content/terminology

Are you saying the media has a pre-disposed agenda in their news articles? So the National Post may have a different spin on the facts then the Toronto Star?

[Blood_Orange]

As Clarki pointed out, it's a writing guide for BC government workers when writing documents that address FN issues. Why would you call someone a "British Columbian" if they identify primarily as, say, a member of the Tsawwassen Nation?

If you identify as a British Columbian, you should be addressed as such. The same goes for those who don't identify as British Columbian. It's called respect.

The writer of that article sure missed the point, though I'm sure it was an honest mistake and not just another dog whistle piece to continue the "othering" of aboriginal groups by painting them as outsiders.

[clarki]

Are you saying the media has a pre-disposed agenda in their news articles? So the National Post may have a different spin on the facts then the Toronto Star?

No , I didn't say that.

What I said indirectly is that, if you look beyond the headlines, it's all perfectly reasonable and there's no need for hair on fire.

[RalphH]

people forget (or mostly likely are not aware) that in the 1970s then premier Dave Barrett suggested changing the name of the Province from British Columbia since we aren't very British anymore. He thought Canadian Columbia might be an alternative which went over like a lead balloon. Considering how much coffee we drink and dope we smoke it may be more appropriate today.

There was a similar sky is falling moment in 1990s when the internal policy was to use non gendered pronouns so rather than "he" as a default it would be "they" etc. This was before the current trans gender non-binary wars & wasn't direction from Big Brother to the general population. Still there was the usual "hair on fire" "the sky is falling" reaction when it hit the media... who are trying to provoke such a response. It's how they make their money.