Planning IMPAC5 is a collaborative effort bringing together several organizations. We want to highlight the people making this Congress possible, starting with the three IMPAC5 Host First Nations —xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).
We are grateful to the Host First Nations for welcoming us into their traditional territories for this Congress and for helping us include Indigenous Peoples Leadership — one of IMPAC5’s three cross-cutting streams — into every aspect of the Congress.
Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations have lived in the present-day Greater Vancouver area for generations upon generations. They continue to play an important and dynamic role in the area today, recently earning the top spot on Vancouver magazine’s 2022 Power 50 List! Keep reading to learn more about each Nation.
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm are traditional hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people living in the Fraser River estuary for thousands of years. Today, many members live on Musqueam’s reserve located in south Vancouver within a small portion of our traditional territory.
Musqueam have moved throughout this territory using the natural resources for fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering. Our lands and waters continue to support cultural and economic practices while serving as a vital source of knowledge and memory. Our sniw̓ (teachings) are part of who we are, and they have persevered because of the wisdom and resilience of our ancestors.
Learn more about xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish)
The Squamish Nation is a vibrant and dynamic Coast Salish Nation, with a strong culture, rich history and bright future. We are the descendants of the Coast Salish Indigenous peoples who lived in the present day Greater Vancouver area, Gibson’s landing and Squamish River watershed. Our traditional territory is located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, where our Nation has existed and prospered since time immemorial.
Learn more about Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish)
səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)
We are Tsleil-Waututh Nation, “People of the Inlet”, a distinct Coast Salish nation whose territory includes Burrard Inlet, the waters draining into it and the surrounding shores. Our oral history tells us up to 10,000 Tsleil-Waututh members lived in our traditional territory, before contact with Europeans. The families of TWN ancestors traveled throughout the territory, keeping villages in different locations so that they could live wherever seasonal resources were plentiful that were connected by the waterways that were considered our highways.
