Multilingual Stories of Indigenization
What Path Will Your Journey Take?
Leq'á:leqel means "journey" in Halq'eméylem, the language of the Stó:lō. The Stó:lō are the Indigenous people of the lands where the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is situated.
Click here to hear the word leq'á:leqel pronounced by Stó:lō Elders.
In this multilingual video series, UFV faculty and staff share how they came to know and connect with the goals of Indigenization. They use their home and heart languages to share their personal journeys into this work – the relationships, the learning, and unlearning that has occurred on their path.
They also share steps you can take to further your own journey.
We invite you to reflect on where you are at in your personal journey.
Why feature languages other than English?
Our languages live deep in our hearts and bodies. They contain our cultures and histories.
By telling these stories in many different languages, we hope you can see different paths into this work and connect to each other with deeper understanding.
We also want to recognize that English-only education has played a significant role in the destruction of Indigenous cultures worldwide. Presenting videos in many languages is an act of inclusion - one we hope you'll embrace in your own classrooms and spaces.
Videos
If you are new to Stó:lō territory you may not have connected with a member of the Stó:lō community. Our faculty and staff have shared that hearing and connecting with community members is an important step.
Thet-simiya is a Stó:lō matriarch in her family and role model to the community. She is actively engaged in the revitalization of the Halq’eméylem language and Stó:lō culture. She practices sharing language and cultural growth with love and compassion for all. We can see this in the stories she shares to encourage people to understand Stó:lō worldviews and protocols.
Elder Wendy, whose traditional Stó:lō name is Th'et-simiya, shares a traditional story about the Stó:lō’s sacred responsibility to respect the land and its creatures and the importance of that responsibility in creating a sustainable future for us all.
Faculty & Staff stories
Stories told in Punjabi, Farsi, Greek, Filipino, Hindi, Korean, and English. All videos have English captions available.
How to Use This Resource
This resource is designed to support faculty and staff in finding their own path into the work of Indigenization. Start by reflecting on the following questions:
- Which story did you most connect with and why? What did you notice that surprised you?
- What's one path or action that you would like to pursue related to Indigenization?
Coming Soon: Worksheets are to help you further your journey!
These videos can also be used to have open discussions with students about their journeys. For ideas and lesson plans, contact Leanne Joe or Victoria Surtees. We would love to create something that works for you!
Do You Want to Share Your Story?
We are always honoured to hear about different paths into Indigenization work. Contact Leanne or Victoria to record your story.
