As Leq’á:mel Xwélmexw (People), and people of the river, we are uniquely connected to the Halq’eméylem language that is deeply linked to our community’s history. In recent years, there has been many contributions by Leq’á:mel community members, the Leq’á:mel Cultural Society, and the community as a whole in efforts towards revitalizing our community’s language, culture and traditions. Leq’á:mel, meaning the level place where people meet, was once one of the most popular trading stops in Stó:lō territory. It was also said to have been the birthplace of Halq’eméylem; the word itself stems from the dialect spoken by the Nicomen/ Leq’á:mel. Leq’á:mel was home to many of the longhouses, some recorded almost a kilometer long. Historically our affiliates were the Semá:th (Sumas), Sq’éwlets (Scowlitz), Máthxwi (Matsqui) and Nooksack tribes. Leq’á:mel sits on the borderline of the Upper/Lower river dialects of the language, hence the translation of Leq’á:mel from Nicomen. Leq’á:mel First Nation continues to encourage cultural awareness and support inclusion of traditional practices throughout the community. Our community strives to maintain being grounded in our history and culture, and always paying respect to our past community leaders who supported the path for us to get to where we are today. Much like our neighboring nations throughout the Stó:lō territory, the people and community of Leq’á:mel carry rich history of creation and origin stories. These stories remind us of our inherent rights and responsibilities in prioritizing culture and history, and continuing the work to share this history with our future generations. Some of these creation stories explain to us how our language came to be, or how our community is uniquely tied to the Skwó:wech(sturgeon), or how at one time the men of Leq’á:mel descended from the Stqó:ye(wolf). All of these creation stories share reminders and lessons on how we are expected to conduct ourselves, and lessons we are meant to pass on to others. One Sxwōxwiyám (ancient accounts of how the world came to be the way it is) of Leq’á:mel: The Leq’á:mel – “Their ancestor, Ialepke’lem (EE-AY-lep-kelem), lived with his mother. People in those days didn’t yet have fire and were living as if in a dream. When Sun saw this, he took pity on them and descended from the sky in the form of a man. He gave fire to EE-AY-lep-kelem. Then he awoke from his dreamlike existence to real life. Sun taught him and his people all the skills. Later Qals (Xals) passed by and fought EE-AY-lep-kelem. They stood opposite each other and tried to transform one another. EE-AY-lep-kelem picked up some white wood ashes, and, sprinkling them over himself, boasted to have become powerful and wise through Sun’s help. He was jumping high into the air. So Qals called out, ‘In the future, do the same in the wa- ter,’ and transformed him into a sturgeon.” (Boas 1891). Leq’á:mel First Nation is located in Deroche, BC, 22 kilometers east of Mission, BC. Leq’á:mel holds ten Indian Reserves, Yaalstick IR #1, Lackaway IR #2, Lakway Cemetery IR #3, Papekwatchin IR #4, Aylechootlook IR #5, Holachten IR #8, Zaitscullachan IR #9, Skweahm IR #10, Lakahahmen IR #11 and Sumas Cemetery IR #12. Leq’á:mel utilizes three of these reserves for residential use, two as cemeteries and as for the other five, they are either: under a certificate of possession to members; leased for agricultural use; or held for future economic development.