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
Jada McIntyre: Student advocate, compassionate leader, and UFV’s 2024 Outstanding Student Leadership Award recipient.
Jada McIntyre’s passion for inclusion and advocacy emerged in the early days of her Bachelor of Social Work studies at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). Surrounded by the community of her Social Work cohort, Jada’s experiences at UFV were marked by a focus on supporting her peers, fos ...
Community comes together for UFV’s St’elt’elawtexw Celebration
Under a canopy of twinkling lights on September 26, the Fraser Valley community came together to celebrate leaders who make the world a little brighter. The University of the Fraser Valley’s picturesque Chilliwack campus hosted St’elt’elawtexw: a Celebration of Community. More than 250 frien ...
Keenan Beavis: Avid entrepreneur, Indigenous mentor, and UFV’s 2024 Young Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
Walking into Longhouse Branding and Marketing, the values instilled by founder Keenan Beavis are immediately evident. The office buzzes with a team of nearly 15 people, working collaboratively in one large open space – reflecting the long-standing traditions of the Stó:lō People, who have done s ...
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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.
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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.
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We would love to hear from you. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, comments, or wish to explore partnership opportunities.