Simon Fraser University has officially opened the First Peoples’ Gathering House at its Burnaby campus.
The $25-million longhouse will transform the Indigenous experience at SFU as a new space for Indigenous students, staff, faculty and communities to come together to practice, learn and share in their cultural traditions.
“This is a place where our Indigenous students, faculty and staff can come and rejuvenate their spirit and connect with each other in ways that we haven’t been able to thus far. It’s a home-away-from-home, a place where people can feel safe to be who they are and express their traditions and customs,” said Chris (Syeta’xtn) Lewis, Indigenous executive lead at SFU.
Construction of the building began in April 2023, but Lewis said decades of advocacy have led to this moment.
“It’s important to recognize the people who began advocating for an Indigenous space on our campus more than 20 years ago. It’s because of their efforts that this beautiful building stands proudly in the heart of our community,” he says.
The 15,000-square-foot longhouse building was designed through extensive collaboration with the four host nations and SFU’s Indigenous students, faculty and staff.
Funding was provided by the Province of British Columbia ($11.4 million), SFU ($8.6 million), and the City of Burnaby ($5 million). Architecture and design was by Urban Arts Architecture and construction by Scott Construction Group.
“This design recognizes higher education is not just pedagogy but as experience—a way for Indigenous students to find their place in the western education system while honouring their culture and home communities,” said Urban Arts Architecture principal architect Ouri Scott.
The project addresses a call to action in SFU’s 2017 Walk this Path with Us Report to “reinvigorate long-delayed plans for creating a culturally appropriate ceremonial hall and space”.
The opening of the House, in the year that SFU celebrates its 60th anniversary, marks an important milestone in SFU’s journey towards upholding Truth and Reconciliation, according to Joy Johnson, SFU president and vice-chancellor.
“Upholding Truth and Reconciliation has been a priority at this university for a number of years, but to have people walk down the ceremonial walkway and see this building is a wonderful example of really bringing our commitments to life,” she said.
More than 920 Indigenous students are currently enrolled at SFU. Along with Indigenous faculty and staff, they will be able to use the House for ceremonial events, cultural learning, celebrations, workshops and classes.
