Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the KPU Communities Trust, and the Seyem Qwantlen Resources Limited Partnership are working together to conduct archeological assessments of university-owned sites. Cordillera Archaeology Archaeologist Brendan Gray explained that the team is “surveying areas of the campus […] looking for surface exposures of fire altered rock, artifacts, pit features, or any interesting rock formations which might show that there was previous land use here before the university, before our settlers were here.” The university hopes that understanding the land’s past use and historical significance will promote informed stewardship of the campus environment. “Undertaking an overview assessment shows KPU is taking responsibility for its land stewardship into the future,” stated KPU Instructor Brian Pegg. This project is a component of KPU and the KPU Communities Trust’s ongoing partnership with the xwməθkwəyə̓ m (Musqueam), qi̓ cə̓ y̓ (Katzie), SEMYOME (Semiahmoo), scə̓ waθən (Tsawwassen), kwikwəƛə̓ m (Kwikwetlem), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), and qw̓ ɑ:nƛ̓ ə̓ n̓ (Kwantlen) First Nations.
