Jump to:

• Language Revitalization
• Increasing Awareness of Our Culture and Language
• Cultural Events and Traditions
• Seasonal Ceremonies
• Xwti’tis Transformer Stone

Our objectives, as described in our 2021 Comprehensive Community Plan, are to:

1. Increase hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ being spoken in the community.
2. Re-establish kʷikʷəƛ̓əm culture into everyday life.
3. Return Big House culture.
4. Increase awareness of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm culture throughout our Traditional Territory.

Language Revitalization

Our Nation recognizes the important impact that language revitalization has on our culture, our identity and well-being. hən̓q̓əmin̓em names carry knowledge of the landscape, passed generation to generation, that connect people to the land, our traditions and our ancestors.

The Həṅq̓əmín̓əḿ Language Revitalization Initiative will serve to leverage our current efforts to keep our language alive and accessible for generations today, and into the future.

Over the past few years, we have been developing curriculum in Downriver Hən̓qə̓mínə̓m for broader community use. This material is currently being piloted in a community-based language program for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm after a prior run with children in the Katzie community.

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓an Language Classes for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm m̀əlstéyəxw

The kʷikʷiƛ̓əm First Nation offers hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓an language classes for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm m̀əlstéyəxw and staff. Our goal is for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm m̀əlstéyəxw to learn some basic language skills and knowledge and help to promote traditional language use in our daily lives at home and work/school.

Language Classes for members in 2022

We are pleased to be offering language classes for our members.  Details are also posted on our Event Calendar.

For more information, contact Nancy Joe, Cultural Advisor.
Email: nancy@kwikwetlem.com or Cell: 778-554-1025

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Increasing Awareness of Our Culture and Language Within Our Traditional Territory

The Nation also regularly engages with government agencies, non-profit organizations, the private sector and schools to showcase, and teach others, about our language and culture. Some recent examples include:

• The Evergreen Canoe Project – The kʷikʷiƛ̓əm First Nation donated a canoe which is on permanent display at the Evergreen Skytrain Station in Coquitlam, BC.
• Riverview Lands – The Province of BC renamed Riverview to səmiq̓ʷəʔelə in honour and respect of our nation’s ties to our ancestral lands. There are many examples of our culture and language on display throughout səmiq̓ʷəʔelə and all street signage will be in both English and hən̓q̓əmin̓em throughout the site. Learn more about the səmiq̓ʷəʔelə/Riverview project here.

• Schools – The kʷikʷiƛ̓əm First Nation have also participated in flag raising ceremonies with several schools throughout the Coquitlam School District 43.

  Evergreen Canoe, Skytrain Station

   
  

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ʔəw sənwal̕wəɬ tə ɬniməɬ kʷθə təl̕i ʔə ƛ̓ hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ təməxʷ k̓ʷs wəθəʔits kʷθə sʔa:nɬ sqʷel kʷθə shən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən, ʔiʔ ƛ̓a kʷə kʷθə sʔələyeʔ ct k̓ʷs haʔkʷəx ct ʔəw niʔət qʷi:l̕qʷəl̕. We are in agreement, we, who are from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ region, that hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is our own language, and therefore our vision is that we use it when talking. * * * ƛ̓a cya:ys k̓ʷs m̓i ct q̓ənstəxʷ kʷθə sɬəq̓əlləxʷ ʔəw niʔəs k̓ʷ shən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən. səct ʔəw t̕θit̕θəxʷəm ʔal̕ k̓ʷs hiyay̓əstəl̕ ct ʔəw θey̓təm kʷθə nə́c̓aʔmat nəɬmən k̓ʷs həlit ct kʷθə hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən. Our mission is to return the knowledge that is within the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language. We will be supportive as we work to make a unified plan to revitalize hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. Source: First Peoples' Cultural Council and New Relationship Trust (2013)

Cultural Events and Traditions

We have many exciting cultural activities planned for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm m̀əlstéyəxw in 2022. An overview of these activities are listed in the table below. For further details on these events, please see our Events Calendar.

šxwəlməxwaʔɬ təməxw (“This is our land!”) Community Celebration – July 1st

With the monumental passing of Land Code in 2020, the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm community has renamed this day šxwəlməxwaʔɬ təməxw—which means “This is our land!” We now have an annual opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our Nation in reclaiming our land and protecting it as stewards of these lands and waters for generations to come. The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm community has an opportunity to come together to plan how we want to celebrate this year and what we would like to include on this monumental day of celebration.

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Seasonal Ceremonies

The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Nation holds seasonal ceremonies hosted by our members. These ceremonies are open to change from year to year, while still respecting our traditional cultural and ceremonial practices. The seasonal ceremonies will be hosted by each of the following groups: children, youth, elders and adults.

• Spring (Children)
  Spring is the season for enjoying and celebrating the rebirth of flowers, trees and grass. Animals also reproduce in the spring because their biology says that there is more food available. For the first ceremony, children were able to make an offering of a tree sapling to the Community Garden on slakəyánc (I.R. #1) as well as bring a sapling home for their own gardens. As it can be hard for children to plan an event such as a Spring Ceremony, we can come together as a community to develop ways for them to include what they would like to do to celebrate this season every year.
• Summer (Youth)
  Summer is the season for harvesting many foods. It is also a great opportunity for the youth to learn what our traditional foods are, where they are found in our territory and how we gather these foods. As the first day of Summer also includes the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, we may celebrate this event together or on a separate day, depending on what is planned. The Youth will be asked to plan what their ceremony will look like with the assistance from the community.
• Fall (Elders)
  Fall is the season for ending the harvesting season and for beginning the processing of the foods gathered. This season is ideal for the elders to teach the younger generations how we stored and prepared our food for winter. The elders will be able to plan how to host this ceremony and share their knowledge with the community.
• Winter (Adults)
  Winter is the season when adults help the community stay strong together through the long, cold and rainy winter months. We typically spend a lot of time indoors and gather to reflect on the year as well as plan ahead. Traditionally, this is also the Smokehouse/Big House season when old stories are shared to keep our teachings alive. The adults can come together to plan how we can celebrate this season and help the community.

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Xwti’tis Transformer Stone

The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm leadership and staff have been working on the logical steps necessary to relocate the transformer stone. Working with the Katzie First Nation and respected cultural advisors, we will host a gathering to celebrate this important work and acknowledge all those that have supported our Nations.

For more information, contact:

Nancy Joe, Cultural Advisor
Email: nancy@kwikwetlem.com
Cell: 778-554-1025

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