British Columbias were okay with the Queen Charlotte Islands being renamed Haida Gwaii in 2010 in recognition of Indigenous reconciliation.
But, it looks like most British Columbians would not be cool with changing the province's name or flag.
A new survey by Vancouver-based public opinion and market research firm Research Co. found that less than 30% of those polled would endorse toying with British Columbia's name or flag.
More specifically, 28% would agree to renaming the province to acknowledge Indigenous heritage.
58% disagree with the ideal altogether.
The remainder were unsure or uncommitted.
When asked pointedly what if anything in particular bothers them about the flag, 17% responded the absence of Indigenous acknowledgement, 16% don't like the 'British' part and 7% could do without the 'Columbia' part.
66% said nothing bothers them about the name.
When it comes to the provincial flag, 26% of those surveyed would endorse the removal of the British symbol Union Jack on the top half of the banner.
Whereas, 52% are opposed.
Again, the remainer are undecided.
In 2022, Vancouver Island led all regions in British Columbia -- 37% -- in its desire to change the name of the province.
That support has fallen by 10 points over the past years, according to Research Co. president Mario Canseco.
Queen Victoria named British Columbia such in 1858 with the 'British' referencing the British Empire and the 'Columbia' coming from the Columbia River, which was named after an American ship 'Columbia Rediiviva', which in turn was named after explorer Christopher Columbus.
So, a lot of colonial content in the name.
The flag of British Columbia was adopted much later in 1960.
The upper half is Britian's Royal Union flag, or the Union Jack, as it's commonly known.
The crown in the centre of the Union Jack is King Edward's headpiece, representing the Royal family and King Edward being the monarch at the time the first provincial coat of arms was approved.
It's that coat of arms that is in British Columbia's shield of arms on the lower half of the flag.
The series of wavy blue and white lines, also on the bottom portion, symbolize the sky and ocean and a rising sun represents the province's locaiotn as Canada's western-most province.
The survey didn't get into what the province should be called if it changed its name to an Indigenous one or what the flag should look like if switched for Indigenous symbols.
Before colonization, British Columbia wasn't called one single name because many different native people speaking different languages had different terms for the land.
Besides Haida Gwaii, there are other Indigenous names all around the province.
Kelowna is the Indigenous name for grizzly bear, Nanaimo is an anglicized name for meeting place and Coquihalla, the name of both the river and highway, comes from underwater 'stingy places.'
