Honouring Language and Legacy: MOLA Celebrates Halq’eméylem Graduates

By María Eugenia De Luna

On June 18, 2025, a significant new chapter began at UFV’s Chilliwack campus: the first graduating class of the Halq’eméylem Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma programs was celebrated in a heartfelt and joyous ceremony. These graduate-level credentials are offered through UFV’s Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Modern Languages Institute (MOLA), in close partnership with Indigenous communities. They demonstrate a deep commitment to the revitalization and teaching of Halq’eméylem, the upriver dialect of Halkomelem and the traditional language of the Stó:lō people.

Bringing these programs to life was not without challenges. Creating university-level credentials in an Indigenous language required sustained advocacy, collaboration, and a willingness to shift institutional norms. For many years, Stó:lō communities have called for formal recognition of Halq’eméylem learning. UFV worked together with Indigenous leaders, Elders, and educators to create space within academic structures for a program that is rooted in community priorities. The result is not only a new set of credentials, but a shared achievement grounded in trust, persistence, and respect.

This celebration was more than an academic milestone. It was a moment of language revitalization, cultural affirmation, and community pride. As a language that was nearly silenced through colonial policies and residential schools, Halq’eméylem’s presence at the heart of a university graduation affirms that language carries memory, connection, and future.

MOLA proudly celebrates these graduates and the broader language revitalization work they represent. While the graduate programs are housed in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, they are delivered through MOLA and build upon the foundation of undergraduate Halq’eméylem courses long supported by the Modern Languages Institute. These courses have been central in expanding access to Indigenous language learning and in making space for Stó:lō worldviews in UFV classrooms.

Six students completed the Graduate Diploma in Halq’eméylem:

Courtney Charlie

Diana (Mám’xa) Charlie

Leanne Joe

Sophia Lynn Moreno

Brenda Pierre

Beatrice Maureen Stewart

The Graduate Certificate in Halq’eméylem was also awarded to:

Diana (Mám’xa) Charlie

Led by instructors Mary Stewart and Dianna Kay, both programs are rooted in community-based learning, cultural knowledge transmission, and relational teaching. The evening began with a communal meal, bringing together graduates, families, Elders, and supporters. It was followed by a ceremony filled with traditional songs, speeches, and stories, celebrating not only academic achievement but also the strength of intergenerational learning and community resilience.

As part of its mission, MOLA is deeply committed to supporting linguistic diversity, Indigenous language learning, and the value of multilingualism and bilingualism in our communities. We strive to foster educational spaces that honour both the knowledge systems of the land on which UFV is located and the diverse language experiences of our students.

We are proud to recognize the achievements of this inspiring graduating class and look forward to continuing our support for Halq’eméylem learners through undergraduate programming and meaningful partnerships.

Congratulations to the 2025 graduates. Your voices carry the language forward and remind us all that languages matter.