Vancouver FC is proud to work and play on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples and to foster special relationships with q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nation towards reconciliation. Using Vancouver FC’s platform to amplify the important truth, history and legacy that are being taught by the Coast Salish peoples has been a part of the Club’s mission since the idea of a team was just blossoming. This Saturday marks a celebration of those efforts when VFC faces Halifax Wanderers FC in the Indigenous Culture match.
Ahead of this match, Kevin Kelly and Michael Kelly-Gabriel, husband and son (respectively) of Kwantlen First Nation Hereditary Chief, Marilyn Gabriel, visited the club for the name honouring of Sp’óq’es (sp-aa-KUS), VFC mascot, and to share stories and the language spoken by people of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Tsawwassen, Kwikwetlem, and Musqueam First Nations.
The name honouring happened at the Kwantlen Plaza right at the entrance of Willoughby Community Park Stadium, which features a mural and a house totem pole painted and created by members of the Kwantlen First Nation. The artwork was unveiled as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Township of Langley.
“The man [carved at the top of the pole], he’s welcoming the people to the land here. That’s what that represents. He’s wearing a cedar hat. Down below, is a wolf that in our language means, the teacher, the leader, that represents my wife’s clan. Right below him, he’s got the two salmon. The salmon to the west means a new beginning,” explained Kelly.
Kelly shared his passion for football and anecdotes, such as playing against Terry Felix, the first Indigenous professional soccer player in North America and the first Indigenous player on Canada Men’s Team. “Soccer is big in B.C., all natives play soccer. Anywhere you go in B.C. you’ll see native tournaments and we have some pretty good players too.
“Keep doing what you’re doing. Lots of kids that are out there, whether they’re in preschool or up to university, they want to play soccer, they want to be pros someday. Give them the opportunity. Let them reach for the stars.”
Before colonialism, Kwantlen First Nation was 15,000 – 20,000 people strong. Now, Kwantlen First Nation has a membership of 450 and counting. At one point, there were only 69 members at the height of colonialism. The tragic truth that a Nation who was once close to 20,000 people nearly disappeared, dropping down to a population of just hundreds. “My community was just about extinct and with that, we didn’t know who we were,” explains Kelly-Gabriel.
For almost a hundred years, Kwantlen Nation was known as Langley Indian Band. It was only in 1994, that historian Albert (Sonny) Mckelsie helped the Kwantlen Nation to recover their identity. “Twenty-eight years ago, [Mckelsie] came up to my mom, when she became chief for the first time and said ‘Kwantlen First Nation.’ That was the first time we knew who we were,” recalls Kelly-Gabriel. “The first thing that my mom did when she became hereditary chief is that we reclaimed our name back.”
Working alongside Kwantlen First Nation, VFC is committed to using its platform for reconciliation. “Having your team show up for us is reconciliation, being in a circle, having an open mind and having an open heart,” says Kelly Gabriel. “Hearing about the truth, hearing about what happened to our people and moving forward from that and educating the general public. That’s Reconciliation.”
Vancouver FC fans are invited to join in the celebrations of Indigenous Culture Match on Saturday, September 23rd. Local Indigenous vendors will be stationed around the stadium for those in attendance to browse and learn more about local Indigenous histories. VFC is also grateful to receive a second land blessing from the Kwantlen First Nations to open the match in a pre-game ceremony, which will be performed by Kevin Kelly and Michael Kelly-Gabriel. Tickets for the match can be purchased online here or in person on game day.
