Long before Canada was formed, the Stó:lō (People of the River) lived and thrived on the land on which UFV is located. UFV gratefully recognizes and honours the contributions that Indigenous people have made — and continue to make — to our community.
St’elt’elawtexw | Community
Engaging Learners
Yoystexw Ye Totilthet
Transforming Lives
Ayeqet Kw’e Shxwaylexws
Building Community
Thayt Kw’e St’elt’elawtexw
Welcome to St’elt’elawtexw
The language spoken by the Stó:lō people is Halq’eméylem, the “Upriver dialect” of Halkomelem. Halq’eméylem is primarily spoken in the upper and central Fraser Valley, the Lower Fraser Canyon, and in communities near Harrison Lake. St’elt’elawtexw means “community” in Halq’eméylem.
At UFV, St’elt’elawtexw is woven into our fabric, and we are grateful for the connections we have with the individuals and organizations who contribute to our collective impact.
Watch the video to learn the proper pronunciation of St’elt’elawtexw.
“On our 50th anniversary, we celebrate through reflection and by honouring the people and places who came before and made us who we are today.”
Susan Mide Kiss | Vice-President, Community Engagement
Spotlight
Featured community stories
Stories from the community
UFV researcher links wildfire smoke to mental health
Luisa Giles always feels unsettled when wildfire smoke starts drifting into the Fraser Valley. She knows that the sun will be turning red, the blue sky will turn grey and soon she’ll be spending a lot more time indoors. “When I’m stuck inside my motivation for anything, especially physical a ...
UFV welcomes community to open house at Abbotsford campus
Nearly 1,000 members of the Fraser Valley community visited the Abbotsford campus on Saturday, Oct 26 for the third annual UFV Open House. Greeted cheerfully by 250 dedicated UFV students, employees, and alumni, they arrived at the Student Union Building (SUB) before branching out to imagine what th ...
Coast Capital support gives UFV trades and technology students a helping hand
Macey Michaud has had a passion for cooking and baking since before she could reach the kitchen counter, and with help from UFV and Coast Capital, she’s on track to turn her passion into a career. Coast Capital is a significant supporter of UFV Trades and Technology. With a strong belief that s ...
Engage with UFV
Get involved
Whether you are a student, an alum, a staff, a faculty member, an organization or group in the Fraser Valley community, or someone eager to make a positive impact, there are countless ways for you to get involved.
Join our mailing list
Be the first to learn about community engagement opportunities and receive updates on new and current partnerships, events, and news.
Submit a story for the 2025 Community Report
Share your UFV-Fraser Valley community initiatives. Submissions may be featured on the UFV blog or the next edition of the St’elt’elawtexw | Community Report.
Contact us
We would love to hear from you. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, comments, or wish to explore partnership opportunities.