Qw'oqw'elith'a

ABOUT US

In 1969, the concept  of a provincial Cultural Education Centre was initiated at the founding meeting of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs in Kamloops, B.C.  The mandate for developing and maintaining the cultural centre was given to the UBCIC as a Land Claim strategy.  The UBCIC relocated to Vancouver for better accessibility and the cultural education initative was transferred to the East Fraser District Council.  In 1972, the local twenty four Sto:lo Chiefs were mandated to operate a cultural centre.  They appointed the initial Board of Directors to become a registered non-profit agency and to implement a cultural centre for the benefit of the Sto:lo people as well as Aboriginal peoples in general.

The Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre was incorporated in 1973 as a non-profit charitable organization and operated it's programs and services on the Coqualeetza properties in Chilliwack, B.C.

The operations philosphy at the Coqualeetza Cultural Centre is that the centre belongs to the Sto:lo people but open to all aboriginal peoples, students and educators.  The people we serve identify culturally relevant programs and services.  Programs and services enhance self-esteem and pride while fostering effective social adjustment through the traditional way of teaching and learning from each other.  Program development undergoes extensive verification processes in keeping with respect, honour, accuracy and integrity.  Our reality, our truths, our values and our lifestyle are embodied in our notion of place, our love of the land, and our link to all creation.

The service worldview is founded in the Halq'emeylem language.  It encompasses a wholistic perspective based on family, customs, traditions, spirituality, socialization (teaching, learning behaviour), knowledge of history, arts, laws, and governance.

Our main strengths are the active participation and guidance of Elders and the flexibility in responding to community needs and the belief that societal problems must be resolved from within - individuals and communities have the answers!

We provide programs and services in cultural education

  • Halq'emeylem Instruction
  • Bilingual Curriculum Development
  • Cultural Consultation
  • Elders Weekly Meetings
  • Workshops - Shxwetetilthet (Sto:lo Nation Alternative School)
  • Archives - traditional use studies, genealogical studies, research papers
  • Library
  • Gift Shop
  • Cultural Workshops
  • Sto:lo Sitel Curriculum Development
  • Sto:lo Musuem
  • Liaison
  • Cross Cultural Awareness
  • Partnerships

The Centre is governed by a 7 member Board of Directors who serve for two year terms.  There is an annual general meeting held in June of each year.

The Centre obtains it's funding from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, cultural education program and is based on a per capita formula and band council resolutions.  Currently 15 First Nations support the centre, however two support by band council resolution wihout a per capita rate.

Our supporting First Nations are:

  • Chawathil
  • Cheam
  • Chehalis
  • Katzie
  • Peters
  • Scowlitz
  • Skowkale
  • Soowahlie
  • Union Bar
  • Yale
  • Kwayhquitlam
  • Qayqayt
  • Skway
  • Skwah

During its tenure Coqualeetza introduced many "firsts" to the Nation and to the public.  A writing system for the oral language - Halq'emeylem was developed and adopted by the fluent speakers in 1977.  Archiving of the language and oral history forms a large part of the collections.  A comprehensive social studies curriculum was developed and published for grades one to seven.  It is based on the history of the Sto:lo and complements the B.C. Ministry of Education's guidelines for social studies.  Relevant publications continue to be produced.  The annual Sto:lo Awards was inititated in 1977 to honour and support students attending public schools in the five school districts in the Fraser Valley.  Numerous ceremonies like the first salmon, name giving, up lifting were introduced through our programs.  In addition, crafts such as beading, drum making, paddle making, canoe building, carving, salish weaving, cedar bark clothing all were revived through the centre.

Beginning in the middle of the 1970's, members of the Board participated in the founding of the Fraser Valley College, now the University College of the Fraser Valley.  A partnership grew out of this collaboration whereby Coqualeetza provided cultural awareness programs and relevant educational support to the personnel.  Toti:lthet Centre was born out of this arrangement to provide Basic Adult Education, Chefs training and university transfer courses for Aboriginal students.  It was to become the Department of Aboriginal Studies but was sadly interrupted by the politics of the day.

In the beginning the Centre was supported by 24 Sto:lo First Nations.  This served an area from Langley to Yale totaling an approximate radius of a 100 miles and has a total registered population of 6,434 (2005).

The Need for Cultural Centres

Culture is the basis for an identity.  Without it, one is lost.  First Nation cultures have always produced individuals with a sense of dignity, pride, self-esteem, a sense of confidence and knowledge of one's place in the family, clan, nation and universe.  The absence of cultural knowledge or experience attack's one's self-esteem.  The total absence of First Nations culturally oriented education has disastrous effects on the very core of the First Nations child - his identity.

Each cultural Centre provides a strong cultural support base to their community, from language classes, arts and crafts training, traditional social gathering, ceremonial, research, development and publishing.  Cultural Centres have accomplished a tremendous amount of work over the last 33 years to preserve and maintain our First Nation languages, traditions and values as espoused by our rich and vibrant cultures.  A great urgency persists to move beyond the barriers that diminish capacity building.  These barriers prevent us from celebrating the true value of our languages and cultures.

Over the years, numerous studies and reports have confirmed that cultural education remains as relevant today as it was at the programs inception.  In recognition of this, the federal government has repeatedly committed to supporting the protection, retention, and revitalization of First Nations languages and cultures.  These principles have also been supported by First Nations independently and through the Assembly of First Nations.

Unlike minority immigrant cultures, First Nation people are indigenous populations who have been marginalized in their own territories over time.  They have nowhere to go back to if they wish to engage their living culture.  The longstanding and constant threat to the languages and cultural identities of First Nations people and the lack of knowledge and understading by Canadians generally is an ongoing stress.  In a study published by the FNCCEC in September 2002, the author writes:

         "The process of decolonization includes learning personal, family, and community history, and discovering more about personal cultural identity and the positive and negative forces that have influenced the way we live today.  Healing often takes the place in this process of discovery and recovery ....
(Relating this to decolonization).  It involves systematic steps by government, economic, social, legal, and education systems to remedy and restore conditions in such areas as housing, employment, discrimination, and to build genuine respect for aboriginal culture and aspiration for self-direction and self-governance." 

(FNCCEC - The Mind and Spirit of Life, Language and Related Cultural Practices for Restoring First Nations Family and Community Health, September 2002)

The First Cabinet document reasoned as follows:

"The concept has been developed on the premise that an Indian who has a firm base in his own culture and who has been given the opportunity to acquire a solid understanding of the traditions and values of that culture is much more likely to be able to participate in the larger society, with pride and with dignity, than one who has been educated only in the mainstream of the majority culture."  (INAC, supra footnote 19)

These words cannot be seen as any less true today as they were in 1972.  Indeed, they may be even truer when in an age of globalization, First Nations' language and culture is increasingly under threat.  Mass media, satellite and Internet make the struggle to retain a vibrant culture amidst the on-slot of information and imagery from the dominant cultures inconceivably difficult but increasingly necessary.  If lost, there is no turning back; there are no sancturairies to which First Nation people can return to revive their roots; no motherland aside from that upon which Canada lies.

The importance of the cultural Centres in the protection, preservation and revitalization of First Nation language cannot be exaggerated.  Centres cannot be expected to function and thrive on inadequate resources.  As the population they serve grows and diverges, Centres must adapt, developing training tools that respond to the most recent technology.  In order to enhance programming, Centres require stable and predictable resources to hire knowledgeable staff, develop appropriate media and gauge their own effectiveness.

As a truly grassroots drive initiative, the cultural Centres program is highly efficient.  Centres have minimal full frame staff, making optimal use of volunteers.  Because the languages and cultures differ greatly, no texts exist nor is there a model program that can adequately anticipate or address the needs of cultural groups.  As a result, cultural centres must be highly responsive to the needs and situation of their particular community, which demands effective communication and creative approaches.

Given the present circumstances limited funding is available to Cultural Centres across Canada, they are forced to seek supplementary funding to meet the goals and objectives of each respective Centre.  Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre is moving toward this very objective.


_________________________________________
Coqualeetza
(Anonymous Writer, 1993)

I sit here at this old picnic table, my eyes wandering over the landscape before me.  Tall Poplar trees wave in the breeze.  Lawns lay groomed and quiet.  The fallen autumn leaves skip happily upon uncharted journeys.  The large open fields that lay beyond look tranquil under the warm afternoon sun.  I watch the long grasses dance, sweeping to and fro as if reaching for loved ones, at the many tiny treasures only they can see.  The prevailing rustle of the trees, preventing their invasion, muffles the sounds of hustling traffic in the distance.  This place is calm and restful, and I feel a prayer of thanks for its comforts.  This place is called Coqualeetza.

Somehow it seems impossible that such a place could be the setting of smoldering hostilities and crippling suspicions.  Coqualeetza is a Halq'emeylem word meaning "the cleansing place".  It was once the location of a federal hospital for the Sto:lo peoples of the Chilliwack River Valley.  Today it is used as the hub of administrative activities by Sto:lo tribal organizations and a cultural centre.  Contrary to the meaning of its name, Coqualeetza has become a battleground, where feuding political opponents wage their wars, perhaps more often up0n themselves than deserving outsiders.  I cannot help but ponder the irony that rather than being a "cleansing place",  Coqualeetza is a place engulfed in great sickness and disunity.

Coqualeetza is a place I knew so well as a child.  It was my home away  from home.  Sitting here, my  mind circles back almost twenty years to the times spent here during the preparation and production of the Sto:lo stage drama called "Xa'awthen", meaning a  "story told four times".  It was narrated by an Elder who speaks to the children about wisdom gained in the travels of life.  It spoke of lessons learned through strength and vision and about how to live within the traditional values of  "the people".

Though it's been nearly twenty years, I can still see the faces of the other kids in the play, the sixteen or seventeen teenagers that gave of themselves to make the play possible.  I remember the countless hours we spent making stage sets, sewing traditional costumes, and rehearsing our lines.  I remember the laughter among tears, the anxieties that we faced and the joy and pride we shared.  I smile when I think of the little squabbles we had, the mistakes we made on stage, the endless production adjustments and last minute changes that seemed to take forever.  My  memory wanders back to the many towns we visited during our tours.  I can almost see the audiences that loved us.  My heart says a silent prayer that each of us will remember the lessons and love we received here and somehow allow the gifts to make us strong today, wherever we may be.

As I sit here at this old picnic table, I know I am one of the fortunate ones.  I received "the gifts" of Coqualeetza, its true gifts, the gifts of cleansing and healing.  I have grown well.  Now I feel the need to give something back, something of me, the "me" that has grown strong and able.  I want to return the gifts I received by sharing the fruits of my travels over the years gone by.  In this small way, I hope to contribute to the sanctity of this "healing place", Coqualeetza.

My eyes glance from this page of writing, out into the fields.  All remains much as before, nothing has changed.  The trees go on waving, the birds still chatter, and the grasses dance.  They seem to know their task in all this.  They look patient and wise.  Within them lies the power that will cleanse the people of the wounds, colonialization, oppression, cultural degradation and genocide.

Behind me stands an old brick building, dusty orange, with simple windows each spaced perfectly the same distance apart.  This building is one of several old brick structures, none of any grandeur and all remarkably alike in their drab functional style.   Across the way, on the other side of the complex, is a collection of small white wooden houses and gold metallic portable office trailers, all ingeniously woven together with elevated wooden sidewalks.

Within this complex of buildings, people hustle through their day, hurrying to appointments, attending meetings, writing memos and making telephone calls.  I wonder if they know the true gifts of this place.  I wonder if they know that Coqualeetza is waiting, patiently, for the people to receive it's cleansing.  Perhaps one day they will.  Then they too will be among the fortunate ones.  Then they will walk strong again.  It will be a great day for Coqualeetza.

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DID YOU KNOW ...................

  • In 1969, the Union of B.C. Chiefs mandated to occupy the Coqualeetza property and to initiate the development of a provincial Cultural Education Centre
  • On October 10, 1973, the Coqualeetza Cultural Education Training Centre incorporated as an association under the Provincial Society's Act and as mandated by the the Fraser East District (Sto:lo) Chiefs were founding members of the Fraser Valley College, now, the University College of the Fraser Valley
  • On May 31, 1974, the Coqualeetza Education Training Centre held it's first annual general meeting where the CCEC was mandated by the  24 Sto:lo Chiefs  to manage the Coqualeetza and St. Mary's properites
  • In September 1974 the NITEP Centre operated from Snookwa Hall - students were Merle Adams, Masset; Marjorie Dawson, Alert Bay; Cheryl Gabriel, Ft. Langley; Donna Gabriel, Ft. Langley; Katherine Hall, Skulkayn; Virginia Hall, Bella Bella; Sue Kelly, Soowahlie; Pansy Marsden, Port Edward; Jill Point, Skulkayn; Beatrice Silver, Kilgard; Mel Tait, Port Simpson; Wayne Williams, Scowlitz
  • In October, 1974 the Elders Group formed, they have been sharing weekly luncheons and meetings since 
  • In 1975, the Sto:lo Nation News was born
  • January 31, 1976, the Coqualeetza Ladies Basketball Team was founded
  • In Febrary 1, 1976, the Family Tree Course was initiated with Jack Kirkman, facilitator and was held in the Big House
  • Also in February, 1976, the Board of Directors authorized the Sto:lo Sitel Program to develop locally developed curricula to be taught within the 5 school districts in the Sto:lo area for the Grade 4 curriculum
  • On May 6, 1976, the Board of Directors, Chiefs and Elders take direct action to occupy the Nurses' Residence to publicize the lack of action on achieving reserve status and ownership of the Coqualeetza Property - those taken to jail and charged with trespassing were; Ann Malloway, Sandra Silver, Michelle Joseph, Bonnie Leon, Karen Sankey, Margie Florence, Rose Peters, Archie Charles, Mary O'Connal, Vaughn Jones, Bob Hall, Happy Louie, Kwethomet/Wilfred Charlie, Lloyd Charlie, Shirley Leon, Becky Leon, Clarence Pennier, Barbara Pete, Marion Bisaillon, Larry Commodore.  Those brought to jail but not charged were; Val Sutherland, Raymond Pete, Walter Commodore, Peter Pete, and Edna Gutierrez.
  • On October 8 & 9, 1977, the First Annual Elders Gathering, hosted by the Coqualeetza Elders, was held at the Chehalis First Nation, there were 300 participants and 9 cultural areas represented; Sto:lo cultural sharing was the revival of the traditional name giving ceremony, the first (public) in 70 years; name recipients were Shirley Leon - Siyamtelot, Charlene Charlie - Siyamtelot, Rudy Leon - Swelimeltxw, Ed Leon III - Pulemqen, Brent Galloway - Lawechten
  • In 1977, The first Halq'emeylem writing system was developed and adopted with the assistance of Linguist Brent Galloway and the Coqualeetza Elders Group and fluent speakers
  • In April 1977, the first Annual Walkathon was held at the Seabird Island Community - 10 miles; 116 participants and the Elders raised $3,626.38 for their annual trip to the Provincial Elders' Gatherings in Morrristown
  • In June 1977, the Coqualeetza Ladies Softball team was formed, they were named the Stalo-ettes, coached by Barry Leon and Tim Leon, Manager, Shirley Leon
  • The Sto:lo Sitel Program introduced the Sto:lo Sitel Curriculum Guide which was developed in consultation with the Coqualeetza Elders Group and was coordinated by Joanne Archibald, edited by LaVerne Adams, typeset by Gay Kelly and illustrated by Peter Lindley.
  • In July 1977, the Coqualeetza Elders Group travelled to Ksan on an Elders' Cultural Experience.
  • Rueben Ware coordinated the Sto:lo History Committee on July 21, 1977
  • On August 26-28, 1977, the first Annual Coqualeetza Summer Festival was held and was organized by the Young Canada Works Project of Coqualeetza, staff were:  Marilyn Gabriel, Gerald Charlie, Bev Campbell, Yvonne Goslin, Audrey Phillips, Michael James; there were 500 people in attendance - Walker & Vincent Stogan opened the event; there were hop picking contests, children's sports, logging sports, tug-o-war competitions, boxing, puppet show, arts and crafts and slahal
  • Also during the summer of 1977, the first Halkomelem Upper Stalo Indian Language Colouring book, by Nancy Pennier was published.  The book is illustrated by Peter Lindley
  • In October of 1977, Noel Starblanket, National Indian Brotherhood, President and Special Assistant, Arnold Goodleaf visit Coqualeetza to learn about the land claim on the property
  • On September 26 - 30, 1977, 4 Guatemala students visit Coqualeetza for one week on a student exchange program
  • On October 31, 1977 the first Halkomelem Instructor's 12 week course was scheduled and held at the Fraser Valley College; Instructor - Brent Galloway;  Graduates were: Amelia Douglas, Edna Bobb, Albert Phillips, Elizabeth Phillips, Agnes Kelly, Susan Peters, Danny Charlie Sr., Wilfred Charlie, Tillie Gutierrez and Jean Silver.
  • In December of 1978, 16 Canada World Youth Participants, 8 Indonesian, 8 Canadian, stayed at Coqualeetza for 10 weeks.
  • In 1979, the Sto:lo Sitel Program started publishing story books as told by our Elders and from the Sto:lo point of view.  The first book published was a story called "Mr. Bear and the Baby" by Ed Leon I.
  • On June 25, 1979, the first steering committee was formed between the Department of National Defense, East Fraser District Council, Coqualeetza, INAC - land transfer mandate
  • In July 1983 the first annual Elders Fish Camp started at Emory Creek Provincial Campsite
  • In 1985, the Coqualeetza Media Centre is accredited for a press pass for Expo 86
  • Also, in early 1985, the Coqualeetza Centre took over the Salish Weaver's Shop
  • In July of 1986, the Coqualeetza Elders hosted an uplifting ceremony and honoured four Sto:lo Chiefs with the title of Grand Chief for their long terms as Chief of their respective communities
  • On July 15, 1988, Adam Koczapski donates $10,000.00 to Coqualeetza for a Pam Koczapska Memorial Award; awarded annually based on interest rate
  • January & February 1989, 29 B.C. First Nations participated in a New Zealand Study tour.  Participants were:  Albert & Dan Billy, Janice Michel-Billy, Ann Michel, Agnes Grant, Isabelle Dafoe, Ron Baker, Eliza Fiddler, Paul Monias, Mary Jackson, Shane Jackson, Melissa Jackson, Shirley Norris, Mary Lou Fox, Corry Archibald, Joanne Archibald, Judy Marchand, Marie Crowchild, Karin Clark, Leona Nahannee, Joanne Morris, Edna Arcand,  Cathy Hall, Rudy Leon, Shirley Leon, Verna Kirkness, Val Friesen, Chief Simon Baker, and Mary Pullen
  • In 1990, the Rebirth of a Nation Series premieres on Chilliwack's Cable 10 station - providing weekly programming for 8 months
  • October 13, 1980 was the start of Halq'emeylem Instruction at the Chilliwack Landing Preschool
  • On May 25, 1995, Coqualeetza staff becomes the Secretariat for the House of Elders.  Sto:lo First Nations belonging to the Governance House appoints an Elder to the House of Elders, House of Si:le.  Swearing in Ceremony takes place at Skway Community Hall. (Coqualeetza News, Winter 1995) Kwethomet (Wilfred Charlie) says, "We've waited a long time to see something like this.  We've been working very hard all these years to bring back our people.  We fought many years ... for Sto:lo Unity.  I'm very proud today to say it's here, in (the) Sto:lo Nation.  Sto:lo Nation has a lot of work to do ... We'll do the best we can for the future of our younger generations."
  • In 2001, the Coqualeetza Elders Group host the 25th Annual Elders Gathering where 5,000+ Elders travelled from all over B.C. to come to Chilliwack to help the Sto:lo celebrate an event that originated here.  It was truly an historic event.

The Coqualeetza Cultural Centre is managed by a manager and is governed by a seven member Board of Directors.  There are two full time staff and two part time staff - Halq'emeylem Instructor, Elder's/Cultural Program Co-ordinator, Bookkeeper.  The Centre solicits volunteers on a regular basis and takes part in job development, job training, and student summer employment programs.