“What the people do with the land defines who we are.” “We either bring our languages back, or we die,” says Khelsilem, the founder of the Squamish Language Immersion Program at SFU. With Trudeau’s announcement of a National Indigenous Languages Act, and with today’s announcement of renaming National Aboriginal Day to National Indigenous Day, we […]
Contest: Win Tickets to Attend the We Speak! Fundraising Gala
Celebrating Squamish Language & Culture All are invited to join Kwi Awt Stelmexw for the second annual We Speak! Fundraising Gala on April 8, 2017. This is an event to celebrate another year of achievements towards Squamish Language revitalization, and to fundraise for our next big dream: a Squamish Language Centre! The evening will feature […]
Seeking Your Input: Vision Statement for Skwxwú7mesh Sníchim
Collaboration for the Future of Our Language Kwi Awt Stelmexw is seeking your feedback on the Vision Statement for Skwxwú7mesh Sníchim, developed last year as part of a community-wide process to develop a 25-Year Strategic Action Plan for the Squamish Language. Visit the survey here or complete the form at the end of this post. […]
Call of 2017-2018 Cohort
This 2017 year are are pleased to announce Kwi Awt Stelmexw in partnership with Simon Fraser University to offer fifteen placements in the Squamish Language Adult Immersion program. These positions are selected by a Kwi Awt Stelmexw committee and require tuition funding to be eligible. Being selected for the adult immersion program is one of the […]
HIRING: Executive Assistant to Khelsilem
Vancouver, BC | Part Time (approx. 32 hours per 2 weeks) DESCRIPTION: Khelsilem seeks an an individual who likes inspiring work changing the world. Khelsilem’s work ranges from co-Executive Director of numerous non-profits, soon to be lecturer at a local university, and leadership in the Indigenous Language Revitalization movement. You value innovation, community, and brainstorming […]
Visioning Café to Lead the “Squamish Language Action Plan”
Community Comes Together to Start Language Visioning Process On Monday May 16th, Kwi Awt Stlemexw hosted a Visioning Café for the Squamish Language at the Xwmelch’stn Longhouse. Youth, elders, teachers, and community members came together for an evening of food, language games, and conversations about how to get more Skwxwú7mesh language into our lives. We […]
Interview: That our languages thrive, not merely survive
This interview was original posted on apihtawikosisan.com. With many Indigenous languages being listed as “critically endangered” as a result of having only a handful of fluent speakers left, it can seem like the one option left is to document these languages before they die out completely. Sort of like the linguistic version of freezing your body […]
#100DaysofSkwxwú7mesh | DAY 11: CRAZY
#100DaysofSkwxwú7mesh | DAY 10: SURPRISED
New initiative launched to save Squamish language
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VANCOUVER — Seven years ago, the Squamish language was on the brink of extinction. There were fewer than 10 fluent speakers and those who could speak were dying each year. Today, a not-for-profit organization from the Squamish Nation community is partnering with Simon Fraser University together to launch a two-year full-time adult […]