Territorial Acknowledgments

Welcome to the wonder of astronomy.

Let us begin our journey by acknowledging where we start.

Douglas College acknowledges that our campuses, where we live, learn, work and play, are located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples of the QayQayt and Kwikwetlem First Nations.

You can access an interactive map here:  https://native-land.ca/

Here is a picture of the Welcome Pole in the Aboriginal Gathering Place at the New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada campus.   She faces up river and her arms are raised in welcome.  Douglas College New Westminster campus sits on the traditional territory of the QayQayt First Nation. The Qayqayt (also Qiqayt, pronounced “Kee-Kite”), is one of the smallest First Nations in Canada and the only one without a land base. The Qayqayt reserve used to exist on the banks of the Fraser River, around New Westminster. The Qayqayt people historically spoke the Halq’eméylem (Upriver dialect), of Halkomelem (also Hul’q’umi’num’/Henqeminem), a Coast Salish language.  https://www.douglascollege.ca/student-services/support/aboriginal-student-services/aboriginal-gathering-place