- Programs
- Undergraduate
- Graduate
- Professional Programs
- Community Economic Development
- Graduate professional programs
- Events
- Learning from the Global Pandemic
- Women Bending the Curve on Climate Change
- Engaging the Community to Build Flood Resilience: 12,000 Rain Gardens for the Puget Sound
- Engaging the university community in realizing sustainabiity: a transformational approach
- Engaging Citizens in Bike Lane Proposals: A Toronto Experience
- Climate Narratives
- Students
- Research
- Giving
- About
- Events
- News
- REDIRECT ONLY
- Sea, Land and Sky Initiative
Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Environment respectfully acknowledges the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples on whose unceded traditional territories our three campuses reside.
Today, September 30th, marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a time for reflection and a time to come together in the spirit of reconciliation, and honour those who have been impacted by Canada’s residential school system. We invite students, staff and faculty to wear orange and take time to mark the day.
The Faculty of Environment recognizes that we have much work to do on reconciliation, Indigenization and decolonization and commits to sustained effort to enrich and improve our relationship with First Nations.
We are grateful for the hard work of our faculty and students who have begun this work and are collaborating with Indigenous communities, innovating curriculum, and engaging with Indigenous students.
We share a few highlights of this work:
REPATRIATION
SFU Archaeology is committed to repatriation of ancestral remains and archeological objects to First Nations as a very visible form of reconciliation. This social media post from Rob Rondeau documents part of this work:
On Tuesday, July 13th, the archaeological remains of the Tsawwassen First Nation’s Ancestors and their belongings were returned home. The majority of the remains are from excavations that took place at the Beach Grove site (DgRs 1) in 1961 and 1979.
Tia Williams, Lu’kwo’liye, Archaeology Coordinator for the Tsawwassen First Nation, (pictured) accepted on behalf of her Nation. Witnessing her signing was Hugo Cardoso, Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Archaeology (pictured).
Also, in attendance was consulting archaeologist, Sarah Smith from Stantec, who has been involved in the repatriation project. Involved in the return home project were also SFU Archaeology Laboratory staff; Peter Locher, Megan Wong and Shannon Wood, assisted by previous work done by archaeologists Andrew Barton and Heather Robertson and a multitude of volunteers and Department work study students through the years.
What can i do?
Learn about the languages of the First Nations Communities where SFU resides.
Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus is on Burnaby Mountain. This is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ), Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) and Musqueam(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Nations.
In Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Burnaby Mountain is: Lhuḵw’lhuḵw’áyten
Visit SFU’s Bill Reid Centre to learn more about Coast Salish place names.
Did you know
- Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ), means People of the Inlet?
- Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) is derived from the flowering plant, məθkʷəy̓, which grows in the Fraser Rivere estuary?
- Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm) refers to a small red salmon or unique sockeye salmon that once ran in large numbers in the Coquitlam river and Coquitlam Lake. The Kwikwetlem nation takes their name from this forebearer that sustained their community for thousands of years?
Visit The Squamish Nation to learn greetings and more in Skwxwú7mesh Snichim.