SFU’s Burnaby Mountain campus receives official Indigenous names and new signage

Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby Mountain campus has received two official Indigenous names: xʷtatəl̕ləm ʔə ƛ̓ səltaɬ sme:nt in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, meaning “learning place of Burnaby Mountain,” and Xwta7ltáw̓txw tl’a Lheḵw’lhúḵw’aytn in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, meaning “learning house of Burnaby Mountain.” Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Kwikwetlem First Nations joined university officials last week to unveil the names after years of work with SFU.

Four campus locations were also given names in both languages. The First Peoples’ Gathering House is sƛ̓exənew̓txʷ and Tl’e7enḵáw̓txw; the Indigenous Student Centre is q̓pəθətew̓txʷ and Ḵxwúsemay̓aḵin; the Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre is xʷəlməxʷaʔɬ tatəl̕ew̓txʷ and Xwtél̓ay; and the Indigenous Garden is spən̓əm and Npen̓em̓áy. Each pairing lists the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ name first, followed by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh name. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is spoken by the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Kwikwetlem peoples, while Sḵwx̱wú7mesh is spoken by the Squamish people.

SFU’s public relations guidelines describe the Indigenous and English names as co-existing official names. The university’s policy calls for both Indigenous names to be used together, with English serving as a secondary reference. New signage has been installed in selected indoor and outdoor areas, including a prominent sign near the campus entrance at Gaglardi Way and South Campus Road, where “SFU BURNABY CAMPUS” appears in smaller English type.

SFU says the four First Nations were not consulted when the Burnaby Mountain campus opened in 1965. The university describes the project as part of its reconciliation efforts and says it aims to better recognize the Nations’ history and connection to the area. SFU hopes to undertake similar naming projects at its Downtown Vancouver and Surrey City Centre campuses.