What’s in a name?
It was a question first penned by Shakespeare, but also something which for three decades could be asked of the Peel region.
Pinjarra artist and Bindjareb traditional owner Karrie-Anne Kearing Salmon has used her award-winning artwork to continue her campaign to rename the area because of it’s links to the Pinjarra massacre
The region has been known by Peel since the 1980s, when it was named after settler Thomas Peel, who was involved in the 1834 massacre, which claimed the lives of dozens of Aboriginal men, women and children.
Ms Kearing Salmon has highlighted the emotional impact Thomas Peel had on the Bindjareb people and in particular Calyute – leader of the Bindjareb clan – through her 2018 Bindjareb Art Award piece, BULLAY.
“There is sadness in his eyes from the destruction caused by Thomas Peel but also his anger towards Peel as he despised what he had done,” she said in her artwork description.
“The name Bindjareb is tattooed on his heart as this is the true name of this region.
“I find it disrespectful that this area is now named after Thomas Peel.”
To Ms Kearing Salmon, the artwork is a reflection of the change which needs to happen.
It’s a change which Ms Kearing Salmon has also been waiting for most of her life, with her father also speaking out about the issue when it first arose.
“A lot of people thought it was coming out of left field and I was just somebody stirring up trouble but obviously, they hadn't heard about it before,” she said.
“It hasn't been called Peel for forever; there was a traditional name before it.
“And when it was changed to Peel it was through the government not a vote within a community.”
It is understood changing the name of the region would require an act of parliament to amend the regional development commission legislation.
However since first coming the Mandurah Mail with their campaign last year, Ms Kearing Salmon and husband Mark Salmon said they’ve found it hard to find politicians who don’t “pass the buck”.
Mr Salmon said the name change is seen as political, and as such politicians who speak individually on the topic “expose themselves”.
“It’s going to take more than one politician,” he said.
“Although it is a state level thing; it was the state who implemented the name Peel for this area. If they had done the community consultation that they believe we need to do now, back then, we wouldn't have this mess.
“But what we have learnt is that the name Peel is a broken brand name from a tourism point of view.”