SD35 announces new Indigenous name for middle school in Langley

The Langley Board of Education (SD35) has announced that it is opening a new middle school that will have an Indigenous name: stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle School. The word “stɑtl̓əw̓” reportedly means ‘little river’ or ‘little creek’ in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, which is the traditional languages spoken by the local First Nations. The school district noted that students across its schools have been learning the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language from SD35 Aboriginal Education department staff. Naming this school in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language is part of the district’s broader efforts to revitalize the language and nurture cultural representation.