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'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.

The term 'Stó:lō' applies to both a political organisation and a broader grouping of culturally similar, though distinct, First Nations.

The Stó:lō Nation is the political amalgamation of eleven Stó:lō communities. The traditional territory (S'olh Temexw) of the Stó:lō people extends from Yale to Langley, BC. It must be noted, however, that various independent First Nations exist within that territory without being a part of the political organisation of the Stó:lō Nation. The Stó:lō Nation, and their neighbouring nations have lived in this territory since time immemorial.


The Stó:lō people or "river people" are, more broadly, a cultural grouping of people who have lived their lives dependent upon the river and land for their survival and livelihood since time immemorial. Within this cultural grouping the common language is Halkomelem, though there are three distinct dialects within it.

Older spellings of Stó:lō include Stahlo, St'Lo, Stolo, and Sto:lo.