Terminology and Truth: BC Conservatives Spark Debate as Surrey Screens Banned Sikh Film
Two stories are drawing the attention of British Columbia's South Asian community this week: a political directive from BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay that has reignited debate over how Indigenous peoples are named in the legislature, and a grassroots effort in Surrey to screen Satluj — a film starring Diljit Dosanjh as Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra — that has been banned in India and pulled from a streaming platform within 48 hours of its release.
BC Conservatives Told to Drop First Nations, Use Indian Instead
BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who was elected to lead the party in May 2026, has directed her MLAs to change the language they use when referring to First Nations peoples in British Columbia. According to a report by Business in Vancouver, Findlay has instructed MLAs to stop using the term First Nations and to instead use the terms Indigenous, Aboriginal, or Indian. The move has sparked immediate debate across the province. The term Indian carries significant historical and legal weight. While it is the term used in Canada's federal Indian Act — making it a legal designation for those registered under that legislation — it is widely regarded as outdated and often offensive in contemporary usage. The University of British Columbia's Indigenous Foundations describes the Indian Act's use of the term as having a complex, often idiosyncratic colonial use in governing identity through this legislation. Findlay's team is reported to have pointed to the federal Indian Act as part of its rationale for the terminology shift. For members of British Columbia's South Asian community, who are themselves sometimes colloquially described as Indian, the directive adds a further dimension to the debate — raising questions about language, political intention, and how communities are named and recognized in public and legislative life. 🏛️ [1]
Surrey Rallies Around Banned Sikh Film Satluj 🎬
A film that has been banned in India and removed from a streaming service is finding a warm reception among Sikh communities in Canada, with a pair of screenings planned in Surrey, B.C., this weekend. Satluj stars Diljit Dosanjh, the celebrated Punjabi singer and actor, in the role of Jaswant Singh Khalra — a Sikh human rights activist who investigated and publicly raised concerns about extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances that took place during Punjab's separatist insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s. India's film censorship board, which must approve all cinematic releases in the country, blocked Satluj from release for approximately two to three years. When the film was finally made available on an Indian streaming platform earlier in July 2026, it was removed within 48 hours on government orders. Indian authorities cited security concerns as the reason for the removal, according to local media reports. Gurpreet Singh, an independent journalist and author based in Delta, B.C., has spoken about both the film's importance and the barriers it has faced in reaching audiences. For Surrey — home to one of the largest Sikh communities outside India — these screenings represent far more than a cultural outing. They offer an opportunity to engage with a chapter of history that many in the diaspora feel has been suppressed, and to honour those who raised their voices at great personal cost. 🙏 [3]
Sources: [1] Daily Hive · [3] CBC