Drumming at the Land Code Celebration

kʷikʷəƛ̓əm m̀əlstéyəxw (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm members) recount a broad range of traditionally important places, practices, activities, and natural resources that have shaped their life and use of the territory.

The traditional language of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm people is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, previously Downriver Halkomelem, which is part of the Central Coast Salish family of languages.

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ was once spoken widely by First Nation communities across the Lower Mainland from the Fraser River delta to around the Stave River. Many kʷikʷəƛ̓əm families regularly spoke hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ into the 1940’s before colonial pressures suppressed language use and intergenerational teaching. Today, it is considered a severely endangered BC First Nation language with less than 100 remaining fluent speakers.

Riverview (located on our core territory) was recently renamed to səmiq̓ʷəʔelə, which means Place of the Great Blue Heron, in our traditional language. There are many other examples of how our culture and language is being shared with others at səmiq̓ʷəʔelə, such as all street signage will be in both English and hən̓q̓əmin̓em throughout the site. 

Our language carries knowledge of the landscape and were passed down generation to generation and have always connected our people to the land, waters, spirit places, trails and travel routes, cultural narratives, inherited traditional names, genealogies, songs and much more.

It is with pride that we are upholding the words of our respected Elders and ancestors.

House Post dedication at səmiq̓ʷəʔelə/Riverview