Sqwélqwel te Temtéméxw
Traditional Territory Acknowledgement
Bedford Channel, Fraser River · Lhalas / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage Watch recognizes that Fort Langley is located on the traditional territory of the Kwantlen First Nation, part of the Stó:lō Nation, whose communities have lived along the Fraser River for thousands of years. Their history, trade networks, and stewardship of the land long predate the arrival of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1827.
Kwantlen Traditional Territory
The shaded area shows the approximate extent of Kwantlen traditional territory, spanning from Richmond and New Westminster in the west to Mission in the east. Click any marker to learn about key village sites and reserves. The Kwantlen Nation has ceded no territory.
Territory boundary is approximate and for illustrative purposes only. For authoritative territorial information, contact the Kwantlen First Nation directly.
About the Kwantlen First Nation
The Kwantlen (also written Qw'ántl'en) are one of the Stó:lō peoples whose ancestral territory spans the lower Fraser River valley. The name Kwantlen is understood to mean "tireless runner," reflecting the people's strength and endurance. Long before European contact, Kwantlen villages were established at key points along the Fraser River, including the area now known as Fort Langley.
The Kwantlen were active traders and fishers, and the Fraser River provided salmon, sturgeon, and other resources that sustained their communities for generations. When the Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Langley in 1827, they did so in the heart of Kwantlen territory, and the early fur trade was built substantially on relationships — and imbalances of power — with Kwantlen and other Stó:lō peoples.
Heritage and Reconciliation
Heritage Watch is committed to presenting Fort Langley's history in a way that acknowledges the full story — including the Indigenous history that preceded and shaped the community we seek to protect today. The heritage buildings and streetscapes we advocate for exist within a landscape that has been home to Indigenous peoples for millennia.
We are committed to expanding this page as we learn more, and to working respectfully with Kwantlen First Nation as Heritage Watch grows. If you have knowledge, corrections, or perspectives to share, please contact us.
Learn More
Kwantlen First Nation — Official Website
The official website of the Kwantlen First Nation, located in Fort Langley, BC.
Stó:lō Nation — Official Website
The Stó:lō Nation represents communities along the Fraser River.
Native Land Digital — Kwantlen Territory Map
Interactive map of Indigenous territories across North America.
Parks Canada — Fort Langley National Historic Site
Parks Canada's account of Fort Langley's history, including its Indigenous context.