Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Sq’éwlets Families

Like our Stό:lō relatives, we come from many generations of longhouse people. Many of our families lived together under the same roof. Today we live in separate houses, but we are still connected through close extended families. Many of our family trees are huge. We count our relations through both our mother and father’s family lines. Today as in the past, grandparents, uncles and aunties pitch in to raise our children. We also count family connections through the families who take part in our winter dance longhouses.

Today we have about 300 Sq’éwlets members living in the community. As in the past, our Sq’éwlets family genealogies extend throughout the region and beyond. At right you will see a series of maps showing where Sq’éwlets families and members beyond the community live today. Many families live throughout the Fraser River region, other families have moved across Canada, still others live internationally.

Our Interconnected Communities

A map showing all of the familial connections between Sq’éwlets people and other communities throughout British Columbia.

Familial connections between Sq’éwlets people and other communities throughout British Columbia

British Columbia - Canada

  • Sq'éwlets
  • North Vancouver
  • Vancouver
  • Tsawwassen
  • Coquiltlam
  • Pitt Meadows
  • Langley
  • Mission
  • Abbotsford
  • Chilliwack
  • Chehalis
  • Laidlaw
  • Hope
  • Yale
Map of Canada showing Sq’éwlets connected to most of the provinces.

Map of Canada showing Sq’éwlets connected to most of the provinces
  • Sq'éwlets
  • Alaska
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Montana
  • Colorado
  • Wisconsin
  • Michigan
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Nova Scotia
Map of the world showing Sq’éwlets connected to many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Jamaica, and the Phillippines.

Map of the world showing Sq’éwlets connected to many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Jamaica, and the Phillippines
  • Sq'éwlets
  • Alaska
  • Jamaica
  • Phillippines
  • Ireland
  • England
  • Wales

Gallery of Sq’éwlets Families

These photos include contemporary portraits of Sq’éwlets families and members and historical photos shared by Sq’éwlets members. We focus on those living in the community today who have contributed to this project.

Three adults are sitting on the grass outside, with trees behind them.
A woman and man stand outside on the grass. She has her arms wrapped around the his waist, and is facing the camera. He is looking at her.
A woman stands beside a building, holding up a framed black and white photograph in each hand.
A framed photograph of a young couple. The frame is dark silver, with some ornate details on the sides.
A black and white photograph of a family. The man and woman stand in front, with four children standing behind. The woman holds the youngest child beside her.
A black and white photograph of a group of twenty men. They are standing outside a building in three rows, and wearing formal suits.
A black and white photograph of a young boy standing in a field. The boy is wearing overalls and a long-sleeved white shirt.
A black and white photograph of two young girls and two young boys standing in a snow-covered field. The children are all wearing winter clothes.
black and white photograph of a woman standing in front of a tree wearing a short-sleeved dress.
A man stands next to a building with two framed photographs in his hands.
A woman and man stand next to each other in front of a soccer field. There are trees and mountains in the background.
A woman stands between two men in front of a soccer field with their arms around each other. The man on the right is the father.
Two men stand in front of a soccer field. In the background there are trees, water, and mountains.
Two women stand between two men in front of a soccer field. In the background there are trees, water, and mountains.
A girl, a young woman, and a woman are in a kitchen peeling potatoes. The woman has her arm around the young woman.
Two woman, a man, and a girl stand in front of a soccer field. In the background there are trees, water, and mountains. The young girl has her arms around the woman on the left.
Two women stand in front of a soccer field with their arms around each other. In the background there are trees, water, and mountains.
A man stands between two women in front of a soccer field. The man is holding a baby. In the background are some trees and mountains.
A man stands between two women in front of a soccer field. The man is holding a baby. In the background are some trees and mountains.
A man and woman stand outside beside a canoe, resting their arms on it. The woman is touching the man’s arm with her hand.
A man and a young girl sit on a couch as they are interviewed. A woman is kneeling in front of a camera on a tripod, while a male interviewer is sitting in a chair.
Three young children stand outside. The girl on the left holds a paddle upright. The girl in the middle holds a drum. The boy on the right smiles at the camera.
A woman kneels over a young boy in a field. The woman and boy hold a wooden paddle. In the background are some trees and mountains.
A boy sits in a field and smiles at the camera. In one of his hands he is holding up a grey object. In the background are some trees and mountains.
Two girls smile at the camera. The girl on the left is wearing a pink shirt and has her arm around the girl on the right. The girl on the right is wearing a white shirt and has a woven hat on her head.
A man wearing a baseball cap looks at artifacts in a glass case.
A group of men and children play soccer on a grass field. The children chase after a man dribbling with the ball.
A boy stands in front of a house, holding onto a spear. The spear is taller than the boy. A green rope attached to the spear is wrapped around the boy’s hand.
A girl wearing a fancy powwow dress smiles at the camera. The dress is bright orange, pink, and white. Her hat is white and has a black design on it.
A woman holds her young granddaughter in her arms. The woman is smiling. Her granddaughter is wearing a purple dress and stares into the distance.
Two boys and a girl sit in front of a grey stone wall. The boys are smiling and the little girl looks pensive.
A girl, a boy, and a man sit in front of a grey stone wall. All three are laughing. The boy sits on the leg of the man.
Two teenage boys sit in front of a grey stone wall. They are both smiling at the camera.
A man stands in front of a cedar tree, laughing. In his hand is a drum that has a blue hummingbird design on it.
A black and white photograph of a young man and woman on their wedding day. They are cutting their wedding cake.
A woman stands in front of a soccer field. In the background there are trees, water, and mountains.
A woman stands in front of a soccer field. She has her hands behind her back. In the background are some trees and mountains.
A woman stands in front of a building. Her hands are folded in front of her and she is smiling at the camera.
An older photograph of a woman standing in front of a red curtain. She is wearing a fancy white dress that has a floral brooch pinned on it.
A family poses in front of the trunk of a very large tree. Four adults stand in the back, and three children stand in front.
A black and white photograph of a young couple sitting side-by-side on a blanket on the grass outside.

Xwelmexw (People/Places)