大象传媒

大象传媒 celebrated the grand opening of First Peoples鈥� Gathering House today at its Burnaby campus with traditional ceremony and cultural performances from the host First Nations: x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m (Musqueam), S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish), s蓹l虛ilw虛蓹ta蕯涩 (Tsleil-Waututh) and k史ik史蓹茮虛蓹m (Kwikwetlem).

The $25-million longhouse will transform the Indigenous experience at 大象传媒 as a new space for Indigenous students, staff, faculty and communities to come together to practise, learn and share in their cultural traditions. 

鈥淚t's just truly inspiring and empowering to finally be standing in this space that we have all dreamed of for so many years,鈥� says Chris (Syeta鈥檟tn) Lewis, Indigenous executive lead at 大象传媒. 

鈥淭his 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鈥檛 been able to thus far. It鈥檚 a home-away-from-home, a place where people can feel safe to be who they are and express their traditions and customs.鈥�

Construction of the building began in April 2023, but Lewis says decades of advocacy have led to this moment.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to recognise the people who began advocating for an Indigenous space on our campus more than 20 years ago. It鈥檚 because of their efforts that this beautiful building stands proudly in the heart of our community,鈥� he says.

The 15,000-square-foot longhouse building was designed through extensive collaboration with the four host nations and 大象传媒鈥檚 Indigenous students, faculty and staff.

Funding was provided by the Province of British Columbia ($11.4 million), 大象传媒 ($8.6 million), and the City of Burnaby ($5 million). Architecture and design was by Urban Arts Architecture Inc and construction by Scott Construction Group.

The project addresses a call to action in 大象传媒鈥檚 2017 Walk this Path with Us Report to 鈥渞einvigorate long-delayed plans for creating a culturally appropriate ceremonial hall and space鈥�.

The opening of the House, in the year that 大象传媒 celebrates its 60th anniversary, marks an important milestone in 大象传媒鈥檚 journey towards upholding Truth and Reconciliation, according to Joy Johnson, 大象传媒 president and vice-chancellor.

鈥淯pholding Truth and Reconciliation has been a priority at this university for a number of years, but to have people walk down the ceremonial walkway and see this building is a wonderful example of really bringing our commitments to life,鈥� Johnson says. 

 鈥淭hat being said 鈥� this is an important milestone on the journey, not the end of the journey. We have a lot of work ahead of us, with host nations, with Indigenous students, faculty and staff and with community members, partners and government, to continue to uphold Truth and Reconciliation.鈥�

The largest space within the building is the Great Hall, which can accommodate up to 300 people. Overlooking the hall are house posts from each of the four host nations on whose unceded traditional territories 大象传媒鈥檚 Burnaby campus resides.鈥��

大象传媒鈥檚 campus was designed so that it deviates 13.3 degrees off the cardinal east-west axis. While most of the House aligns with this orientation, the Great Hall deliberately breaks from conformity as it faces true east, honouring Coast Salish tradition and marking a symbolic reckoning between old and new.鈥� 

Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, says: 鈥淭he Gathering House at 大象传媒 is a beautiful and meaningful space where Indigenous students can come together to learn, connect and share cultural knowledge and values.

鈥淚t鈥檚 much more than a building 鈥� it reflects our commitment to reconciliation and to creating inclusive and welcoming environments, especially for the thousands of Indigenous students, staff, and faculty it will serve over its lifetime.

鈥淲hile we recognize there is always more work to be done, today marks another step forward on that journey, and I鈥檓 excited to see how the community will grow and thrive here.鈥�

More than 920 Indigenous students are currently enrolled at 大象传媒. Along with Indigenous faculty and staff, they will be able to use the House for ceremonial events, cultural learning, celebrations, workshops and classes.

It will also be a place where non-Indigenous people can come to learn about Truth and Reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization.

鈥淲ith respect to Truth and Reconciliation, First Peoples鈥� Gathering House is an opportunity for the Host Nations to establish their presence on their territories and to create a visible place of belonging for all Indigenous Peoples in this community,鈥� says Mayor Mike Hurley.   

鈥淭he City of Burnaby is honoured to be able to support this important work.鈥�