Four Host Nations gift SFU's Burnaby campus Indigenous place names
Simon Fraser University
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Signage at Simon Fraser University displaying new Indigenous place names for its campus in Burnaby, British Columbia.
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“Our language carries our history, our knowledge and our connection to these lands. Seeing these names reflected across Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus is an important recognition of the enduring presence of its Host Nations.”
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 – believed to be the most extensive collaboration with Host Nations – during a naming ceremony today.
Working in partnership with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations and Indigenous members of the university community, SFU is grateful to receive and uphold Indigenous names in the two languages spoken by the Host Nations: hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh.
“These 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,” says Sparrow. “We appreciate SFU’s commitment to working in relationship with the Host Nations and to ensuring our languages and histories have a lasting and visible place on campus.”
xʷtatəl̕ləm ʔə ƛ̓ səltaɬ sme:nt / Xwta7ltáw̓txw tl’a Lheḵw’lhúḵw’aytn are the new names for SFU Burnaby campus, meaning “learning place” and “learning house” on Burnaby Mountain in each language, respectively.
“The name Xwta7ltáw̓txw tl’a Lheḵw’lhúḵw’aytn (learning house of Burnaby Mountain) carries both our sníchim (language) and our connection to this land, so that every person who steps onto this campus understands whose territory they stand on,” says Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, chairperson, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). “This gift reflects our relationship with SFU 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.”
"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 xʷtatəl̕ləm ʔə ƛ̓ səltaɬ sme:nt (hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓) / Xwta7ltáw̓txw tl’a Lheḵw’lhúḵw’aytn (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), Burnaby campus, sits," says SFU President Joy Johnson.
"Over the course of our conversations with Host Nations and the Indigenous community at SFU, I learned so much about the two languages traditionally spoken by our Host Nations, and SFU'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 SFU Indigenous Naming Family.
"I am deeply honoured by the ongoing partnership between our Nation and Simon Fraser University to bestow hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ names across SFU’s Burnaby campus. In hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, Burnaby Mountain is known as səltaɬ and is of immense cultural significance to our Nation. Embedding our language and culture here strengthens the presence of səlilwətaɬ across our traditional territory while also sharing valuable knowledge with SFU students, staff, and visitors,” says Chief Justin George, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).
“My 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 SFU leadership to bring these names forward. As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this important work demonstrates SFU’s meaningful commitment to walking a better path forward alongside the four Host Nations."
At the opening of SFU’s 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.
“To my knowledge, I haven’t seen a naming process involving four nations before. This is precedent setting. SFU 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,” says Chris (Syeta’x̱tn) Lewis, Indigenous Executive Lead at SFU. “They demonstrate that Indigenous people and ways of being belong at SFU. It’s 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.”
This Indigenous naming project supports SFU’s commitment to advance Truth and Reconciliation, a priority under the university’s What’s 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 SFU’s Indigenous Naming website.
New Indigenous names bestowed at SFU
hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓
xʷtatəl̕ləm ʔə ƛ̓ səltaɬ sme:nt
SFU Burnaby Campus
Translation: Learning place of Burnaby Mountain
sƛ̓exənew̓txʷ
First Peoples’ Gathering House
Translation: Feast/local gathering house
q̓pəθətew̓txʷ
Indigenous Student Centre
Translation: Gather house or room
xʷəlməxʷaʔɬ tatəl̕ew̓txʷ
Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre
Translation: Place of learning of the Indigenous Peoples
spən̓əm
Indigenous Garden
Translation: The garden and what is planted in it
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
Xwta7ltáw̓txw tl’a Lheḵw’lhúḵw’aytn
SFU Burnaby Campus
Translation: Learning house of Burnaby Mountain
Tl’e7enḵáw̓txw
First Peoples’ Gathering House
Translation: Ceremony house
Ḵxwúsemay̓aḵin
Indigenous Student Centre
Translation: A purposeful gathering room
Xwtél̓ay
Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre
Translation: Place of discovery
Npen̓em̓áy
Indigenous Garden
Translation: Garden
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SFU is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, SFU 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, SFU 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’s three largest cities—Burnaby, Surrey and Vancouver—SFU 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.
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