Planting More Than a Tree Building Connection and Respect
At Xw’epiteng Elementary in South Surrey (White Rock area), students, staff, families and members of the Semiahmoo First Nation (SFN) recently gathered for a heartfelt cedar-tree planting ceremony. This act wasn’t simply landscaping; it symbolized deeper ties being woven between the school and Indigenous community.
On October 23, after SFN Chief Harley Chappell gifted the school its name “Xw’epiteng,” the ceremony sealed a year’s worth of work building relationships, sharing traditions, laying the foundation for what would become a land-based learning journey.
What the Ceremony Stands For Respect, Learning & Belonging
- The cedar was selected in consultation with community knowledge-keepers. Its planting represents respect for the land, ancestral heritage, and a promise to nurture both environment and spirit.
- As part of the ceremony, every student, teacher and community partner had a chance to place soil by hand symbolizing shared responsibility, community, and hope for the future.
- For the school, the tree is more than décor. It’s curriculum in action teaching listening, respect, culture, land stewardship, and weaving Indigenous values into everyday learning.
Building a Culture of Land-Based Education
Over the past year, Xw’epiteng Elementary has woven together traditional knowledge, hands-on activities and modern education. Students learned to weave with cedar, build crafts, drum, and engage in land-connected science all under guidance from SFN members and Elders.
Rather than treat Indigenous culture as a “module,” the school integrated it gently and respectfully at the pace set by community guidance, with humility and consent.
Now, with the cedar firmly rooted on school grounds, it will stand a living reminder of connection, respect, and the promise of ongoing learning.
Why This Matters For Youth, Community, and Heritage
- For students many of whom may come from diverse backgrounds the ceremony is a chance to learn about the traditional lands beneath their feet, to appreciate Indigenous culture, and to develop respect and understanding from an early age.
- For the Semiahmoo community and Indigenous peoples at large initiatives like this help restore visibility, reclaim heritage and build lasting bridges with future generations.
- For the region embedding Indigenous teachings into schools fosters reconciliation, cultural awareness and environmental respect in a generation growing up on these lands.
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