About XWCS

The xʷəlməxʷqən Cultural Society (XWCS) is dedicated to the preservation and transmission of traditional cultural knowledge and language of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ people across the generations. 

We have only recently become a formal organization, but members of our team have been working together for the past 20 years to ensure the resurgence of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language and culture. Seven years ago, language specialists from throughout various hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ territory met under the auspices of a FPCC Language Revitalization Grant, and we collectively planned future directions which included founding a society whose sole focus is language and culture. XWCS arose from those discussions.

Mission Statement

The mission of the XWCS is to create and share language and culture materials. In order to achieve this goal, we have constructed a hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ Language Revitalization Plan around four pillars: 

• advocacy and outreach
• teaching and language education 
• resource development 
• language and culture revitalization. 

Each of these four pillars play an essential role in supporting the development of a successful language program across our communities.

Our ancestors’ system of teaching and passing on knowledge was through oral stories, as well as art in many different forms. Our intentions as a society are to bring back this way of teaching, and to create stories, art, and songs focusing on land-based learning.

Our purpose is to ultimately aid the development of fluent speakers by creating language resources, offering immersion clubs, and hosting workshops to further learners’ language abilities.

Our Board

We operate under a board made up of Indigenous elders from several nations, and our projects involve researchers and learners from Katzie First Nation, Musqueam First Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation,Tsleil Waututh First Nation, and Kwikwetlem First Nation. 

Board Members