Simon Fraser University recently celebrated the grand opening of its First Peoples’ Gathering House. This $25M longhouse offers Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and communities a space to connect and practice cultural traditions. The opening included a traditional ceremony and cultural performances from the four host First Nations: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem). The gathering house was designed through collaboration with these four host First Nations and includes a Great Hall with house posts carved by each host First Nation overlooking it. “This is a place where our Indigenous students, faculty and staff can come and rejuvenate their spirit and connect with each other in ways that we haven’t been able to thus far,” said SFU Indigenous Executive Lead Chris (Syeta’xtn) Lewis.
