City Renames Trutch Street to Su’it Street, Lekwungen translation for “Truth”

July 11, 2022

As part of the City’s commitment to reconciliation, yesterday Trutch Street was renamed səʔit (Su’it) (pronounced say-EET) Street, the Lekwungen word for “Truth” in a ceremony with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations and members of the community. The event included a witness ceremony, an Indigenous blessing and the unveiling of the new sign.

The new street signage includes both the Lekwungen (səʔit) and English (Su’it) spellings and has a pronunciation guide to support the revitalization of the Lekwungen language and enable integration with address and mapping.

As part of the City’s ongoing reconciliation efforts with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, staff have been working with members of the Lekwungen cultural team to strengthen local Indigenous identity and make the culture, history and modern reality of local Indigenous peoples more present and apparent throughout Victoria. Initiatives like these seek to foster resilient, long-term relationships between the City and the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and are important steps forward on the path of reconciliation.

On June 23rd, Council adopted the bylaw to officially rename Trutch Street to Su’it Street. Originally named after Joseph Trutch, BC’s first lieutenant governor, Trutch’s legacy of racist policies and refusal to acknowledge treaties and titles caused significant harm to indigenous groups in BC.