On behalf of Musqueam, congratulations to the 2022 graduates, their families, and friends of snəeyəɬ lelə, Langara College. Our lands have long been places of learning, and Langara is situated on our unceded, ancestral, and traditional territory on what was once a Musqueam village. We have honoured that connection by gifting the College a name in our language, snəeyəɬ lelə, which means “house of teachings.” The word snəeyəɬ references the advice given to a child to build their character and to guide them into adulthood. We trust that your time at snəeyəɬ lelə has helped to do just that, and prepared you all for successful futures. Our connection with snəeyəɬ lelə is also reflected in the Convocation ceremonies in a number of ways. A Musqueam drummer opens Convocation leading the procession, and the river grass at the base of the College’s coat of arms, printed on every diploma and certificate, refers to Musqueam,
, which means “people of the river
grass.” We value our continued partnership with snəeyəɬ lelə and the opportunity to share a small part of our culture with you. Congratulations to all the graduates, including our growing number of Indigenous students who will cross the platform in these ceremonies. Your accomplishment reflects your hard work and talent, and we hope that you continue to contribute to snəeyəɬ lelə, your communities, and society after you graduate. We wish you every success for your future.
Cover art designed by Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow.
