This summer, family, friends, and community members gathered in Tla’amin Nation for a traditional naming ceremony that welcomed nine children into a deeper connection with their ancestors, family histories, and cultural responsibilities.
The ceremony, hosted by Dr. Evan ƛɛsla Adams with his mother, Mary Jane qʷasɛymat Adams, and his sister, Maureen ƛayaχamət Adams, marked a generational moment for the Adams family, as three of Maureen’s grandchildren and the six children of Dr. Evan and his partner, Allan McTavish, received their traditional names. Not since the previous generation, when Dr. Evan and his siblings were called forward more than 30 years ago, had the family gathered for such a profound ritual. (It was then that Dr. Evan was given the name ƛɛsla, after his father and great-great-grandfather, a Tla’amin warrior of old.)
Tla’amin naming ceremonies are an important expression of cultural continuity. Traditional names are carefully chosen by Elders and passed down to the next generation, asking them to step up and be as great as the ancestors who carried those names before them.
For First Nations people, names are more than identifiers. They reflect relationships to ancestors and community, and serve as a reminder that each generation has a role in carrying culture into the future. Naming ceremonies help ensure that stories, teachings, and family connections remain strong across generations.
“It was such a joy to have everyone together for this ceremony, and to be able to bless our children with meaningful names that will help guide their futures,” said Dr. Evan. “We work so hard to give our children as much as we can – and for me, giving them a legacy to live up to is a responsibility, yes, but also a life-long gift.”
Dr. Evan ƛɛsla with two of his sons, Jonathan ƛɛsla “Tlesla” (Strong) and Cameron sinkʷə “Sinkwa” (Open Ocean), and their mothers, Sheila Monroe and Gladys Fraser.
All present were drawn into an atmosphere of profound love and pride in culture, family and Two-Spirit (2S) identity. Not only are Dr. Evan and his partner Allan’s children part of a blended family led by 2S fathers; they are also part of the families of 2S mothers, all of whom were present for the ceremony.
For many First Nations, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people have long held important roles as leaders, caregivers, Knowledge Keepers, healers, and community builders. While colonial policies disrupted many traditional understandings of gender and identity, Indigenous communities continue to reclaim and strengthen teachings that affirm the place and contributions of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
As family and community members looked on, the children stood on blankets that represented the pristine canvas of the winter’s first snow – unbroken, pure, and full of hope. To step upon the blankets was to stand at the precipice of one’s old life. To step off, after receiving the gift of a new name, was to walk into a new life tethered to the ancestors who had borne those same names before them. The past and the future are fused like two rivers becoming one.
“The official witnesses, the kids’ escorts, the speakers – each called the kids to step up to their names,” said Dr. Evan. “It was very solemn and sweet at once!”
Dr. Evan ƛɛsla with his twin sons, Jay θəqay “Tha-kuy” (Sockeye Salmon) and Quinn ƛoxʷay “Tloh-Xway” (Chum Salmon), and their mothers, Nancy Cooper (Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation) and Dr. Janet Smylie (Métis). Twins are considered connected to the fish kingdoms and hold a sacred place in Tla’amin worldview.
Dr. Evan ƛɛsla and his children, from left to right: Jonathan ƛɛsla, Cameron sinkʷə, Jay θəqay, Dylan kʷʊθays “Kwoo’thays” (Island), Quinn ƛoxʷay and Celena χopχop (Hummingbird).
All photos courtesy @satya.creative.photo:
