Indigenous Relations

“Red fish up the river”

kʷikʷəƛ̓əm draw their name “Red Fish Up the River” from an early spring sockeye salmon run that once flourished in the Coquitlam River and Coquitlam Lake prior to the construction of the Coquitlam Dam. The Kwikwetlem are based near the Coquitlam River and historically fished for salmon in the waters that flow into Port Moody’s inlet​.

“People of the Inlet”

This name reflects the deep ancestral connection the Tsleil-Waututh Nation has to Burrard Inlet, which has been their home for countless generations. Centered on Burrard Inlet, the Tsleil-Waututh had a village in Port Moody and have long stewarded the lands and waters of the Inlet​.

“People of the məθkʷəy̓ plant”

The name xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) relates back to the flowering plant, məθkʷəy̓, which once abundantly grew throughout Musqueam territory. The traditional territory of the Musqueam Nation is located around the mouth of the Fraser River.

“Mother of the Wind” and “People of the sacred water”

The Squamish Nation’s territory spans from Howe Sound through North Vancouver and into the Burrard Inlet; they are historically connected to the lands north of Port Moody.

“Land of the moss”

This name reflects the Nation’s deep relationship with the natural environment, particularly the lush, moss-covered landscapes of their territory. Katzie have long inhabited the areas along the Pitt and lower Fraser Rivers, east of Port Moody, with ancestral lands that encompass vital watersheds flowing into our region.

“Tireless runner”

The Kwantlen people have long inhabited the Lower Fraser River region and are part of the broader Stó:lō cultural and linguistic family, reflecting deep-rooted connections to the land and water.

“Resting place”

Also known as the New Westminster First Nation, the Qayqayt are a smaller nation whose people traditionally lived around the New Westminster area of the Fraser River​.

“People of the River”

The name Stó:lō comes from the Halq’eméylem word for the Fraser River, which has sustained the Stó:lō people culturally, spiritually, and economically for thousands of years. The term Stó:lō refers to a collective of First Nations whose territories lie along the Fraser River watershed, particularly upriver from Metro Vancouver and extending into the Upper Fraser Valley. These communities are united by shared linguistic, familial, and territorial ties.

Each of these Nations holds a distinct and rich history, language, and cultural identity. We encourage you to visit each Nation’s website to learn more about their governance, traditions, languages, and ongoing contributions to the region. Below are the names, pronunciations, and websites of the Indigenous Nations whose Traditional Territories we include or intersect with:

Coast Salish artist and Port Moody resident, Tasha Faye Evans, began a journey with a project titled The Welcome Post Project. The project included a series of community engagement opportunities and educational sessions along with the carving of a house post at the Noons Creek Hatchery. The house post, Saymahmet, by Squamish artist and carver James Harry, was raised at a ceremony at Rocky Point Park and installed at Noons Creek Hatchery in 2018. This project inspired a larger initiative to honor Indigenous presence in Port Moody.

City Council endorsed the In the Presence of Ancestors project, an important cultural initiative that will see five Coast Salish house posts installed along the Shoreline Trail between Rocky Point and Old Orchard Park. Carved by artists from Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, the house posts stand as a powerful tribute to the original stewards of this land.

The project recognizes the enduring cultural and spiritual connection Indigenous Peoples maintain with these lands and waters. As shared by project lead Tasha Faye Evans, house posts and welcome figures were once a familiar presence along Port Moody’s shores. This initiative helps restore that presence and invites reflection and learning.

The City hired an Indigenous consultant to help chart a path forward on reconciliation. The consultant delivered the Indigenous Relations Final Report​, which recommended the collaborative development of a short-term Indigenous relations strategy. Council directed staff to begin work on the short-term strategy to lay the foundation for a three-to-five-year Indigenous relations strategy to help the City build meaningful and respectful relationships with First Nations.  

Several of the In the Presence of Ancestors house posts were completed. They were blessed during ceremonies carried out in partnership with First Nations artists and Elders, including one held on National Indigenous Peoples Day. 

The City hosted its first community-wide Blanket Exercise, a participatory learning experience that invites reflection on the lived histories and enduring impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders and educators, the exercise offered a powerful opportunity to build empathy, understanding, and awareness. In recognition of its importance, Mayor Meghan Lahti committed to making the Blanket Exercise an annual offering, as part of the City’s continued commitment to truth-telling, respectful learning, and reconciliation.

The City hired its first Manager of Indigenous Relations to lead reconciliation initiatives and help embed Indigenous perspectives across City departments. 

Port Moody formally entered Phase 2 of the Truth and Reconciliation program, with a focus on visible actions and stronger community engagement. Planning began for the Truth and Reconciliation Crosswalk, intended to honour residential school survivors and visibly demonstrate the City’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation.

Throughout the year, the City continued to host cultural events, deliver Indigenous education sessions, and work with First Nations to incorporate Traditional Knowledge into project planning and decision-making.

The In the Presence of Ancestors project reached a major milestone with the installation of the first house post along the Shoreline Trail. The remaining posts are scheduled to be raised by the end of the year. Each post site will include interpretive signage written in the words of the respective Nation, sharing who they are and their vision for the future. 

The City also hosted numerous cultural awareness and sensitivity workshops for staff across departments, strengthening internal understanding and ensuring services are delivered with cultural humility and respect. 

Reconciliation is a journey with no fixed destination. As we move through 2025 and beyond, the City remains committed to building meaningful partnerships, listening to Indigenous voices, and taking continued steps toward a more inclusive and respectful future.

This is a major ongoing initiative in Port Moody that celebrates Coast Salish culture and history. In partnership with local First Nations, five carved house posts are being installed along the Shoreline Trail to restore a visible Indigenous presence in our community​. 

The first post (carved by Squamish Nation artist Xwalacktun) was raised at the Old Mill site in 2025, and the remaining four posts will be raised in 2025 with appropriate ceremonies and celebrations. It acknowledges that Port Moody stands on shared Traditional Territory and invites residents to learn about the original caretakers of this plac​e.

In June 2024, the City held a free Blanket Exercise in Rocky Point Park, facilitated by Indigenous educators, to help residents experientially learn about the history of colonization and its ongoing effect​s. Participants stood on blankets that symbolized the land and walked through a scripted exercise covering pre-contact history, treaty-making, the residential school era, and resilience of Indigenous People​s. This powerful activity builds empathy and understanding.

Holding these exercises annually are part of our commitment to public education under Call to Action #57 (educating public servants and Canadians on Indigenous history​).

The City is committed to reconciliation and the respectful recognition of Indigenous Peoples through both symbolic and action-based initiatives. As part of this commitment, the City recognizes six Indigenous days annually. These actions aim to deepen public awareness, honour Indigenous histories and voices, and create space for ongoing learning and reflection. Internally, City staff will also receive information and opportunities to engage in dialogue around the meaning and significance of each day.

Days of Significance

• May 5 – Red Dress Day (MMIWG2S Awareness)
  • Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people.
• May 15 – Moose Hide Campaign Day
  • Raise awareness of and stand against gender-based violence toward women and children, particularly Indigenous women and girls.
• June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day
  • Celebrate the diverse cultures, heritage, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
• September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)
  • Honour residential school survivors and commit to reconciliation.
• November 8 – Indigenous Veterans Day
  • Recognize and honour the contributions of Indigenous veterans who served in war and peacekeeping missions.
• November 16 – Louis Riel Day
  • Commemorate Métis leader Louis Riel and acknowledge the distinct culture and contributions of the Métis Nation.

Port Moody received provincial funding to train our emergency management staff and volunteers in Indigenous cultural safety and humility. This program will ensure that, in times of crisis (such as floods or other emergencies), the City’s response is culturally informed and respectful of Indigenous people and communities. It’s an example of how we are integrating reconciliation into all areas of city services, even those that may not be obviously related to Indigenous relations. We are also developing guidance for City departments on engaging with First Nations in projects.

Between 2007 and 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada carried out extensive research, including hearing from Residential Survivors, their families, members of their communities, former staff of residential schools and others, to bear witness to the legacy of the residential school system. In 2015, to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Commission presented an executive summary of the findings including 94 Calls to Action. 

The mandate of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is to raise awareness of the history and creation of the residential school system, its ongoing legacy, and how it has shaped the country we live in today. The Centre offers teaching resources and educational programming that make it easier for the public to learn the truth about this tragic history.

The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations is a Provincial Territorial Organization representing and advocating for the 203 First Nations in British Columbia. Representation and advocacy is inclusive and extends to First Nations currently engaged in the treaty process, those who have signed modern treaties, and those who fall under historic treaty agreements which include the Douglas Treaties and Treaty 8. The Assembly also represents and advocates for First Nations in BC that are not in treaty negotiations.

The First Peoples Cultural Council has created the First People’ Map of BC. Explore and contribute to an interactive map, searchable by Indigenous languages, arts, or heritage.

Indigenous Foundations is an information resource on key topics relating to the histories, politics, and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This website was developed to support students in their studies, and to provide instructors, researchers and the broader public with a place to begin exploring topics that relate to Aboriginal peoples, cultures, and histories. Foundations was developed by the First Nations Studies Program at the University of British Columbia, located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.

The mandate of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is to look into and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including sexual violence. The Inquiry must examine the underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional, and historical causes that contribute to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007, establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world. This document also elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous Peoples. Today the Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent and immediately came into force. This legislation advances the implementation of the Declaration as a key step in renewing the Government of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. The purpose of this Act is to affirm the UN Declaration as an international human rights instrument that can help interpret and apply Canadian law. It also provides a framework to advance implementation of the Declaration at the federal level.

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is an important piece of provincial legislation that was passed in November 2019 to formally adopt the principles set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.