{"id":1395,"date":"2026-07-22T15:22:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/?p=1395"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:31:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:31:19","slug":"whats-in-a-place-name-a-gathering-of-languages-lands-and-learnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/whats-in-a-place-name-a-gathering-of-languages-lands-and-learnings\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s in a Place Name? A Gathering of Languages, Lands, and Learnings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>On June 4<\/strong>, community members, Elders, youth, educators, and university partners gathered at the THE’I:TSLIYA Health and Community Centre (SAY Building) on Skowkale First Nation for What\u2019s in a Place Name? A Gathering of Languages, Lands, and Learnings<\/em><\/strong>\u2014a community-led event celebrating the vitalization of Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem<\/strong> place names.<\/p>\n

The gathering highlighted the deep cultural significance of Indigenous place names and their enduring connection to language, history, identity, and the land. Long before settler contact, Indigenous languages were spoken throughout the territories now known as Canada, carrying generations of knowledge, teachings, and relationships with the natural world. While colonial policies and language suppression disrupted the everyday use of many Indigenous languages, communities continue to lead meaningful efforts to reclaim and strengthen these languages for future generations.<\/p>\n

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This St\u00f3\ua789l\u014d-led, university-supported initiative recognizes that place names are much more than geographic labels. They reflect stories, histories, and\"\"<\/a> ways of understanding the land that have been passed down through generations. By promoting the accurate pronunciation and use of Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem place names, the project contributes to cultural recognition, respect, celebration, and safer, more inclusive educational and community spaces.<\/p>\n

One of the project’s highlights is the creation of a series of short educational videos featuring St\u00f3\ua789l\u014d youth demonstrating the correct pronunciation of Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem place names alongside Indigenous Sign Language (ISL). Developed collaboratively with a Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem language teacher and an Indigenous Sign Language expert, these videos showcase a unique approach to language revitalization. Unlike American Sign Language (ASL), St\u00f3\ua789l\u014d Indigenous Sign Language expresses place names and relationships to the land without relying on English, offering a culturally grounded way of sharing knowledge across generations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Attendees also learned about the creative work being undertaken by a local St\u00f3\ua789l\u014d artist, who is designing artwork inspired by the project for promotional materials and wearable art, helping to further celebrate and share the significance of Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem language and culture.<\/p>\n

During the gathering, participants enjoyed the premiere of several educational videos and had the opportunity to engage in conversations about language revitalization, Indigenous research methodologies, and the importance of community-led knowledge sharing. The event reflected the collaborative spirit of the project, bringing together St\u00f3\ua789l\u014d community members, youth, the University of the Fraser Valley, and regional partners in support of shared learning and reconciliation.<\/p>\n

Guided by Indigenous research methodologies and participatory approaches, the initiative places community governance and St\u00f3\ua789l\u014d protocols at its centre while complementing existing language and place-based initiatives, including Rooted Waters<\/em> by Dr. Albert “Sonny” McHalsie.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The event served as a meaningful reminder that every place name carries a story. By learning, pronouncing, and honouring these names, we strengthen connections to the land, acknowledge Indigenous knowledge systems, and contribute to the ongoing work of language revitalization. Together, these efforts help ensure that Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem language, culture, and teachings continue to thrive for generations to come.<\/p>\n

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On June 4, community members, Elders, youth, educators, and university partners gathered at the THE’I:TSLIYA Health and Community Centre (SAY Building) on Skowkale First Nation for What\u2019s in a Place Name? A Gathering of Languages, Lands, and Learnings\u2014a community-led event celebrating the vitalization of Halq\u2019em\u00e9ylem place names. The gathering highlighted the deep cultural significance of … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":1407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[97,12,142,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-engagement","category-events","category-inclusion","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1395"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1430,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1395\/revisions\/1430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}