Viewing Object

The Museum is located within a designated Heritage Conservation Area in the village of Fort Langley, Township of Langley. Community collecting began in the 1920's with a Native Sons of BC exhibit located in the last remaining Hudson's Bay Company fur trade era structure (circa 1840). A decision by the Canadian Parks Services to actively interpret Fort Langley prompted the provincial and municipal governments to cooperate in the construction of a new museum adjacent to the National Historic Site.

The Township-owned museum opened July 1, 1958 and housed a majority of the Native Sons collection. It was operated by volunteers until 1974 when it was selected by the Federal government as a site for one of 22 National Exhibition Centres across Canada. The physical plant doubled in size, its mandate was extended to include art, history and science traveling exhibitions and the first staff person was hired. Federal NEC operating funding was eliminated in 1994 but the museum has continued to respond to that expanded mandate. In 1991, the Museum became the core facility of the Community and Heritage Services Department, Planning, Development and Stewardship Division, Township of Langley.
Term Source: BCAUL

'Kwantlen' translates to tireless runner. Kwantlen Traditional Territory extends from Richmond and New Westminster in the west, to Surrey and Langley in the south, east to Mission, and to the northernmost reaches of Stave Lake. The Kwantlen People have lived on this land since time immemorial.

The Kwantlen First Nation are an Indigenous group, mainly located on McMillan Island in Fort Langley. Prior to European contact, their main village was Sqaiametl, where New Westminster is today, but they moved their main settlement to Fort Langley after the Hudson's Bay Company established a fort there. The Kwantlen traded with the Fort. As Canada came together, the Kwantlen peoples' importance in the country diminished, and their affairs were turned over to an Indian Agent. Modernly, the Kwantlen have seen a cultural resurgence after times of displacement and cultural loss, as well as economic growth through their business group, Seyem' Qwantlen. Their current hereditary chief is Marilyn Gabriel. The Kwantlen are culturally a Stó:lō people, though they operate as an independent nation. They speak the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem (hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, or Hun'qumi'num). There has been a renewed focus on teaching and learning hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, one of the ways Kwantlen is reclaiming their culture.