Two women stand beside one of the new e-Ferries
Transportation

Newest Island Class BC Ferries receive Indigenous names

CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a special naming ceremony in Victoria’s harbour, the third and fourth Island Class ferries destined for the Campbell River – Quadra Island route were officially designated as “Island Nagalis” and “Island K’ulut’a.”

Photo Credit: Ferry loading at Quathiaski Cove – Photo by Roy L Hales

The naming ceremony took place on Monday at the full-service shipyard Point Hope Maritime. The names were carefully chosen through a community engagement process and “celebrate the important connection to some of the coastal communities the ferries will serve,” BC Ferries stated in a press release. Nagalis translates as “dawn on the land” and K’ulut’a is the name for porpoise in two of the Kwakwaka’wakw dialects, Kwak̓wala and Lik̓wala. 

In a partnership between BC Ferries and the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC), Indigenous artists will be invited to participate in an open call for submissions of art for the interior of the vessels, with more details released in the fall. The BC Ferries’ press release states that the art will “recognize Indigenous peoples as stewards and original mariners of B.C.’s coastal waterways.” 

Island K’ulut’a sponsors: BC Ferries’ Crewing Advisor Jennifer Thacker and June Johnson from We Wai Kai Nation. Photo courtesy of BC Ferries.

As befitting maritime tradition, two sponsors were chosen to name each ship ceremonially. The four women sponsors at the ceremony were an employee to represent BC Ferries paired with an Indigenous elder to represent the community, for each vessel. Each pair spoke the ship’s name followed by a blessing: “May she bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her.” 

The Island Class ferries are diesel/electric, however, Mark Collins, president and CEO of BC Ferries, said, “the hybrid technology is merely to bridge the gap until we can be fully electric.” 

These newest additions to the BC Ferries fleet will commence a two-ship service on the Campbell River – Quadra Island route in 2022, with each ship’s capacity being 47 vehicles and up to 400 passengers and crew.

Watch the BC Ferries video of the ceremony’s highlights.

Top photo credit: Island Nagalis sponsors: BC Ferries’ Strategic Planning Manager Joanne Doyle and Lorraine Henderson from Wei Wai Kum First Nation. Photo courtesy of BC Ferries.