media release
Four Host Nations gift 911吃瓜's Burnaby campus Indigenous place names
鈥淥ur language carries our history, our knowledge and our connection to these lands. Seeing these names reflected across 911吃瓜鈥檚 Burnaby campus is an important recognition of the enduring presence of its Host Nations.鈥�
Photos:
Pronunciation videos and more information: 911吃瓜 Indigenous Naming Website
These words from Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band speak to the significance of the four Host Nations gifting Indigenous place names for the campus and four more culturally significant locations on Burnaby Mountain 鈥� believed to be the most extensive collaboration with Host Nations 鈥� during a naming ceremony today.
Working in partnership with the k史ik史蓹茮虛蓹m (Kwikwetlem), s蓹lilw蓹ta涩 (Tsleil-Waututh), 厂岣祑虫瘫飞煤7尘别蝉丑 脷xwumixw (Squamish) and x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m (Musqueam) Nations and Indigenous members of the university community, 911吃瓜 is grateful to receive and uphold Indigenous names in the two languages spoken by the Host Nations: 丑蓹苍虚辩虚蓹尘颈苍虚蓹尘虚 and 厂岣祑虫瘫飞煤7尘别蝉丑.
鈥淭hese names are gifts that carry meaning and responsibility, and we hope they encourage students, faculty, staff and visitors to learn more about the lands they are on and the Nations who have cared for them since time immemorial,鈥� says Sparrow. 鈥淲e appreciate 911吃瓜鈥檚 commitment to working in relationship with the Host Nations and to ensuring our languages and histories have a lasting and visible place on campus.鈥�
x史tat蓹l虝l蓹m 蕯蓹 茮虛 s蓹lta涩 sme:nt / Xwta7lt谩w虛txw tl鈥檃 Lhe岣祑鈥檒h煤岣祑鈥檃ytn are the new names for 911吃瓜 Burnaby campus, meaning 鈥渓earning place鈥� and 鈥渓earning house鈥� on Burnaby Mountain in each language, respectively.
鈥淭he name Xwta7lt谩w虛txw tl鈥檃 Lhe岣祑鈥檒h煤岣祑鈥檃ytn (learning house of Burnaby Mountain) carries both our sn铆chim (language) and our connection to this land, so that every person who steps onto this campus understands whose territory they stand on,鈥� says Sxw铆xwtn Wilson Williams, chairperson, 厂岣祑虫瘫飞煤7尘别蝉丑 脷xwumixw (Squamish Nation). 鈥淭his gift reflects our relationship with 911吃瓜 and the decades of shared commitment to education, and this ceremony marks an important step in a partnership we know will only grow stronger into the future.鈥�
"It has been a journey of many years to arrive here, and I am grateful and honoured that today, we are celebrating the gifts of names from the four Host Nations upon which x史tat蓹l虝l蓹m 蕯蓹 茮虛 s蓹lta涩 sme:nt (丑蓹苍虚辩虚蓹尘颈苍虚蓹尘虚) / Xwta7lt谩w虛txw tl鈥檃 Lhe岣祑鈥檒h煤岣祑鈥檃ytn (厂岣祑虫瘫飞煤7尘别蝉丑), Burnaby campus, sits," says 911吃瓜 President Joy Johnson.
"Over the course of our conversations with Host Nations and the Indigenous community at 911吃瓜, I learned so much about the two languages traditionally spoken by our Host Nations, and 911吃瓜's responsibility to continue recognizing their languages, histories and ongoing presence on these lands. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this work and I look forward to hearing these names spoken all across our campus moving forward."
All five locations were identified as significant to Indigenous faculty, staff, students and the community. The place-naming project was led by an Indigenous naming committee, called the 911吃瓜 Indigenous Naming Family.
"I am deeply honoured by the ongoing partnership between our Nation and 911吃瓜 to bestow 丑蓹苍虚辩虚蓹尘颈苍虚蓹尘虚 names across 911吃瓜鈥檚 Burnaby campus. In 丑蓹苍虚辩虚蓹尘颈苍虚蓹尘虚, Burnaby Mountain is known as s蓹lta涩 and is of immense cultural significance to our Nation. Embedding our language and culture here strengthens the presence of s蓹lilw蓹ta涩 across our traditional territory while also sharing valuable knowledge with 911吃瓜 students, staff, and visitors,鈥� says Chief Justin George, s蓹lilw蓹ta涩 (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).
鈥淢y sincere gratitude goes to Gabriel George Sr., Director of our Language, Culture, and Protocol (LCP) Department, Michelle Goerge, LCP Deputy Director, and their dedicated team for working alongside 911吃瓜 leadership to bring these names forward. As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this important work demonstrates 911吃瓜鈥檚 meaningful commitment to walking a better path forward alongside the four Host Nations."
At the opening of 911吃瓜鈥檚 Burnaby campus in 1965, the Host Nations were not engaged or consulted, and their history and connection was not recognized. Today, the university seeks to redress that history and unlock the Indigenous connections and histories across its three campuses and establish an enduring connection between Host Nations and settlers and newcomers by reminding the community of the history where they are situated.
鈥淭o my knowledge, I haven鈥檛 seen a naming process involving four nations before. This is precedent setting. 911吃瓜 receiving the gifts of these Indigenous names for key locations on campus ensures Indigenous presence and language are woven into the fabric of the university,鈥� says Chris (Syeta鈥檟瘫tn) Lewis, Indigenous Executive Lead at 911吃瓜. 鈥淭hey demonstrate that Indigenous people and ways of being belong at 911吃瓜. It鈥檚 important to understand that names are earned and not given lightly. This is a testament to the relational work the university has done with the Host Nations over the last decade or so.鈥�
This Indigenous naming project supports 911吃瓜鈥檚 commitment to advance Truth and Reconciliation, a priority under the university鈥檚 What鈥檚 Next strategic plan, and a meaningful action in partnership with Indigenous peoples to create safe, welcoming places for Indigenous students, staff and faculty to learn, teach and work.
With the Burnaby campus naming work complete, it is our goal to continue this work on our other campuses: Surrey and Vancouver.
To learn more about this initiative, including a video on the significance of this partnership with the four Host Nations and pronunciation guides, visit 911吃瓜鈥檚 Indigenous Naming website.
New Indigenous names bestowed at 911吃瓜
丑蓹苍虚辩虚蓹尘颈苍虚蓹尘虚
x史tat蓹l虝l蓹m 蕯蓹 茮虛 s蓹lta涩 sme:nt
911吃瓜 Burnaby Campus
Translation: Learning place of Burnaby Mountain
蝉茮虚别虫蓹苍别飞虚迟虫史
First Peoples鈥� Gathering House
Translation: Feast/local gathering house
辩虚辫蓹胃蓹迟别飞虚迟虫史
Indigenous Student Centre
Translation: Gather house or room
x史蓹lm蓹x史a蕯涩 tat蓹l虝ew虛tx史
Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre
Translation: Place of learning of the Indigenous Peoples
蝉辫蓹苍虚蓹尘
Indigenous Garden
Translation: The garden and what is planted in it
厂岣祑虫瘫飞煤7尘别蝉丑
Xwta7lt谩w虛txw tl鈥檃 Lhe岣祑鈥檒h煤岣祑鈥檃ytn
911吃瓜 Burnaby Campus
Translation: Learning house of Burnaby Mountain
罢濒鈥檈7别苍岣得虚迟虫飞
First Peoples鈥� Gathering House
Translation: Ceremony house
岣磝飞煤蝉别尘补测虚补岣礽苍
Indigenous Student Centre
Translation: A purposeful gathering room
齿飞迟茅濒虚补测
Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre
Translation: Place of discovery
狈辫别苍虚别尘虚谩测
Indigenous Garden
Translation: Garden
Contact
MATT KIELTYKA, 911吃瓜 Communication & Marketing
236.880.2187 | matt_kieltyka@sfu.ca
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911吃瓜 is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, 911吃瓜 has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. Committed to excellence in everything we do, 911吃瓜 fosters innovation to address global challenges and continues to build a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擝urnaby,鈥疭urrey鈥痑nd Vancouver鈥�911吃瓜 has ten faculties that deliver 368 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university has a thriving network of more than 200,000 alumni across the globe.