KWIKWETLEM FIRST NATION 2-65 COLONY FARM ROAD, COQUITLAM, B.C. V3C 5X9 CANADA
+1 (604) 540-0680
EMAIL US: reception@kwikwetlem.com
The name Kwikwetlem applies to our people, our lands, and the river and lake at the heart of our traditional territory. Kwikwetlem refers to a “small red salmon” or unique sockeye salmon that once ran in large numbers in Coquitlam River and Coquitlam Lake. We take our name from this forebearer that sustained our community for thousands of years.
Kwikwetlem people have long lived along the Fraser and Coquitlam rivers. Today, our community members reside on two reserves located at the ancient village sites of slakəya’nc (Coquitlam I.R. 1) near the confluence of the Coquitlam and Fraser Rivers, and setłama’kmən (Coquitlam I.R. 2 ) about 2 km further up the Coquitlam River.
Our community has experienced dramatic changes over several generations, but we have always held and respected our own unique history, stories, culture and identity, and have always occupied our lands in and around the Coquitlam watershed.
We are guided by the teachings of our Elders to respect, care for, and protect our community, our culture, and our lands, waters, and resources for past, present and future generations. Our culture and heritage are the legacy of our ancestors, and are what defines and unites us as Kwikwetlem people.
CARRY ON THE SAME AS OF OLD ... (CHIEF KWIKWETLEM WILLIAMS, 1843-1953)
Dozens of known archaeological sites throughout our territory serve as a physical record of our ancient lifeways. Hundreds more archaeological sites remain undocumented, and we are actively engaged in the identification, management, and protection of these irreplaceable cultural records. Our community also possesses rich traditional knowledge passed generation to generation that tell our stories, describe place names, spirit places, trails and travel routes, resource locations and activities, cultural narratives, genealogies, inherited traditional names, songs, and much more. Together, traditional knowledge and archaeological sites convey the story of Kwikwetlem, our ancestors, and our place in a changing world.
We take an active role in the protection, management, and celebration of Kwikwetlem traditional use and archaeological resources. Please help us preserve and celebrate our heritage by ensuring that all activities in our territory comply with the Kwikwetlem Cultural Heritage Policy.
Kwikwetlem are proud hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking (downriver Halkomelem) Coast Salish people. We descend from a tradition of Elders who were renowned as spirit and winter dancers, skilled canoe builders, and master sturgeon and salmon fishers.
Like all Salish Nations, we recognize our own leaders, hold sacred hereditary knowledge, host community gatherings, value traditional customs of esteemed behaviour, and recognize stories and legends that link us to the natural places and cultural landscapes of our territory. As in the past, we sustain our community and territory by hunting, fishing, gathering, and caring for all the resources of our territory.
As we look to the future, we seek to care for our community and our traditional lands in culturally meaningful ways. Within this framework we are building strong cultural programs, community and social services, business partnerships, and extra-community networks to ensure Kwikwetlem continues as a thriving economic and cultural player in our diverse and increasingly urbanized territory.
Kwikwetlem First Nation is a proud hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking Nation. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is the Downriver Dialect of the Salishan language Halkomelem and is part of the Hul’q’umi’num’/Halq'eméyle/hən̓q̓əmin̓əm language family, which spreads through the Lower Fraser region and across the Salish Sea to communities on the island such as Cowichan, Chemainus and Snuneymuxw.
We are currently working collaboratively with three other hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking communities (Katzie, Kwantlen and Musqueam) on an Intercommunity Language Revitalization Planning Project to bring the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language back into our people. Through the efforts of this committee, we are currently completing a language revitalization plan with the gracious support of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.
Together with our partners, we have developed and adopted a Vision and Mission statement for the future of our language revitalization efforts. These will help to guide our initiatives as we move forward with the project in the future.
Kwikwetlem First Nation is committed to ongoing growth to build a strong foundation for future generations. The Nation is involved in an ongoing Comprehensive Community Planning process to guide the decision-making process of Council.
From the beginning, the planning process has focused on building the strength of the Nation for future generations. The youth have also had a voice through the process, and have played a significant role in influencing the plan for the future.
The CCP process has brought the voices of the community together to help develop a shared set of goals for the future.
As the Nation moves through a period of growth and change, we remain committed to retaining our traditional heritage. We are involved in a number of activities to ensure that our young people have the opportunity to learn and experience our traditions. Some of these activities include:
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