Vancouver FC is excited to share that the official name of their eagle mascot is Sp’óq’es (sp-aa-KUS). The name Sp’óq’es was gifted to the mascot by the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen) First Nation which means “eagle” in Halq’eméylem, the language spoken by people of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Tsawwassen, Kwikwetlem, and Musqueam First Nations. The Vancouver Football Club was honoured and gifted with the traditional name Sp’óq’es, from the Kwantlen Nation. Kevin Kelly and Michael Kelly-Gabriel, husband and son (respectively) of Kwantlen Hereditary Chief, Marilyn Gabriel, shared Kwantlen Teachings and Protocols about the Sp’óq’es outside the gates of VFC’s home stadium, Willoughby Community Park.

The eagle holds significant importance to Indigenous communities, including the Kwantlen First Nation. It was through listening to the teachings that Kelly had shared during the honouring that Vancouver FC learned about the Eagle Spirit. 

“When I see an eagle, it’s a good feeling. It looks after you, it protects you. It helps you when you’re not feeling good, it lifts you up, it warms your heart up,” explains Kelly.

Kelly-Gabriel continues, “The eagle represents being the messenger to the Kwantlen Nation. As the eagle is the one who flies closest to our creator.“

Vancouver FC has been blessed with the Eagle Spirit being present for many milestones including the home opener, first home victory and first derby win. Michael Kelly-Gabriel explains that, “through every heavy thing that you go through in life and every highest success that you go in your life, the animal that your heart, your whole team, and your family connects to, will show up.

“To us, [the eagle is] our ancestors checking up on you guys, celebrating alongside you guys when you have your wins and even when you have your losses too because it is stuff that you can learn from and pick up from and that eagle will show itself too,” said Kelly-Gabriel.

Sp’óq’es’ name honouring was the most recent building block in VFC’s relationship with Kwantlen First Nation as the Club has sought the guidance of their neighbors since the expansion-side was announced. “I thank everyone at Vancouver FC for always respecting and wanting to learn from our people,” says Kelly.

“Our logo, the mascot, our taglines and overarching branding were inspired by our Kwantlen neighbours, we wanted to showcase and honour them from the beginning. There truly is ‘Something in the air here,” said Stephanie Wood, VP of Marketing and Business Development.

For the honoring, members of Vancouver FC gathered around the mural forming a circle to symbolize that VFC and Kwantlen were all Nautsa’mawt, one mind, one heart. “When we go around in a circle, it means that we’re not better than anyone else. All of us here are equal, all our gifts are equal and all that we say is equal,” said Kelly-Gabriel. “This is how it should be every single time we go out on that field, you guys are one family.” 

Immediately after, Kelly-Gabriel connected the heartbeat of all who were present through a beat on his drum while, “calling upon [the ancestors] to guide us and to give us strength.”

The name Sp’óq’es was given to Vancouver FC to remind everyone of the privilege of embracing their identity, a gift that was once stripped from the Kwantlen Nation. “The importance of today is to be proud of who you are and to be proud of where you come from. That’s why we let you use that name,” expressed Kelly-Gabriel. “You all come from different countries. Always remember where your grassroots are. This is who you are as a human being. Nobody can ever take that from you,” added Kelly. 

To celebrate the new name of Sp’óq’es and reaffirm the importance of the Eagle Spirit, Kelly Gabriel and Kelly sang a song from the Lummi Nation which included English lyrics that sang: 

“You are the only one to fly high. Fly eagle fly. Fly high, soar through the sky.”

Through this collaboration and the education by the Kwantlen First Nation the eagle was chosen as the mascot and Vancouver was fortunate to begin their inaugural home opener with a traditional land blessing. However, timing is everything and there was no better time to bestow Sp’óq’es’ name than with the completion of Kwantlen Plaza and the lead up to VFC’s Indigenous Cultures match on September, 23rd, just a week prior to Orange shirt day on September 30th.

“We want people to be curious and ask about the name, we need to help share indigenous culture and history, we want to spark conversation”  said Stephanie Wood, VP of Marketing and Business development. “It’s important for us to use our platform for real reconcili-ACTION”

Vancouver FC has always been humbled to learn, amplify, and respect the lived histories of Indigenous peoples. However, there is also always more than can be done and VFC will continue to foster their integral relationships with those they share this land with.

“It’s important to recognize the land, because it’s still our land. We never gave or surrendered our rights and title, this land was taken away from us,” says Kelly-Gabriel. “To have that representation here, to have the honour of you guys carrying Sp’óq’es as a name and educating the public about it means so much.”

Give Sp’óq’es a warm welcome this Saturday, as he makes his first official named appearance at Willoughby Community Park for VFC’s Indigenous Culture game. Tickets are available at Gate 1 of the Langley Events Centre or by clicking on this link.