CANCELLED - May 2020 Luncheon Guest Speaker: Khelsilem of Squamish First Nations

   May 2020 Luncheon 

CANCELLED EVENT

Refunds or credits to be issued upon written request.

Sponsor

Topic

 Indigenous Governance and Real Estate

Guest Speaker

Khelsilem

Sxwchálten / X̱elsílem

Squamish Nation Councillor and Spokesperson 

with

Bio

Khelsilem is Squamish and Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia. His lifelong work has been focused on governance, Indigenous languages, and dreams of progressive social change. 

Khelsilem was elected as a Councillor for the local Squamish Nation Council based in North Vancouver in late 2017 for a four-year term. In this role, he has served on various committees, including: Governance, Finance & Audit, Human Resources, and Housing Authority Development. He has strived to create good governance practices that enhance transparency, accountability, and ethical governing standards to benefit the Nation’s members.

In 2016, Khelsilem built and founded the first adult immersion school for the endangered Squamish Language in partnership with Simon Fraser University (SFU). Since its establishment, nearly 42 students have enrolled in the program, and it continues to grow. Within two years, Khelsilem trained and taught students to take over day-to-day teaching and operations of the program.

Over the years, he has focused on climate justice, Indigenous rights, and has been a frequent media commentator and public speaker about defending our coast from oil spills.

The Squamish Nation has recently announced the development of the Senakw project in Vancouver, which will add 6,000 residential units to the Kitsilano neighborhood on approximately 11 acres of reserve land owned by the Squamish Nation.  In partnership with developer Westbank, the development will comprise of 11 towers up to 56 storeys in height, with 70 – 90% of the units planned as market rental units, with the remainder as leasehold strata condominiums.  A number of homes will be made available to First Nation members at a below-market rate and commercial space will also be included in the project.  The Senakw development, located at the foot of the Burrard bridge, is unprecedented as a First Nations led development of this scale. 

Other appointments:

Squamish Nation Council

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Board

    Event Details