May 14, 2026
NUMEROUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NAMED OR RENAMED IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES in BC and Alberta (among other places), often thanks to the efforts of Elders and community leaders working with local school districts.
As well, many schools fly “special flags” for purposes of welcoming and inclusion.
But these practices are—or may be—threatened in Alberta by an amending bill passed on May 13 and not yet in force.
School names in BC
Some recently named or renamed schools in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley include:
- wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm Elementary (Vancouver): wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ for “the sun rising over the horizon”.
- stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle School (Langley): stɑtl̓əw̓ is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ for “little river” or “‘little creek”.
- xpey̓ Elementary (Vancouver): xpey̓ is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ for “cedar”.
- Skwo:wech Elementary (New Westminster): Skwo:wech is halq’eméylem for “sturgeon”.
- stəywətən̓ Point Grey Secondary (Vancouver): stəywəte:ń is xʷməθkʷəy̓əm for “the strength of the west wind”.
On Vancouver Island and in other regions of the province, examples include:
- QELEṈSEN Á, LEṈ Secondary (Sooke/Langford): QELEṈSEN Á, LEṈ is SENĆOŦEN for “eagle house”.
- PEXSISEN Elementary (Victoria): PEXSISEN is ək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ for “the opening of hands”.
- Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School (Victoria): Lellum is Hul’q’umi’num’ for “house/community”.
- SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ Elementary (Sooke/Langford): SĆIȺNEW SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ is SENĆOŦEN for “salmon children”.
- c̓uumaʕas Tsuma-as Elementary (Port Alberni): c̓uumaʕas is nuučaan̓uɫ for the Somass River.
- Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) siʔáḿθət School (North Vancouver): siʔámθət is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ meaning “someone who is rich in knowledge”.
School names in Alberta
Numerous public and First Nation schools in Alberta have adopted Indigenous names, including:
- amiskwaciy Academy (Edmonton): Public school for grades 7-12. amiskwaciy is Cree for “Beaver Hill”.
- Piitoayis Family School (Calgary): Public school for kindergarten-grade 6. Piitoayis is Blackfoot for “Eagle Lodge”.
- École kisêwâtisiwin School (Edmonton): Public school for grades 7-9. kisêwâtisiwin is Cree for “the act of being kind”.
- Alex Janvier School (Edmonton): Named after the renowned Denesųłiné artist from Cold Lake First Nations.
- Kipohtakaw Education Centre (Alexander First Nation): A First Nation-operated school. Kipohtakaw (ᑭᐳᐦᑕᑲᐤ) is Cree for “river that bars the way” or “enclosed”. It is the traditional Cree name for the Alexander First Nation.
- Amisk Community School (Beaver Lake Cree Nation): A First Nation-operated school. Amisk (ᐊᒥᐢᐠ ) is Cree for “beaver”.
Controversy over Alberta school namings and renamings
Some school renaming policies have been controversial in Alberta in recent years, with some proposed renamings being called off entirely.
Now, some Alberta public school trustees are worried about a recent amendment to the province’s Education Act whereby the Education Minister would have to approve “any public school name assignment or name change, which opens the door to the provincial government, not local representatives, choosing school names” (CBC News).
Section 18 of Alberta’s An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, 2026 (Bill 25 – 2026), which passed third reading on May 13, 2026, and awaits Royal Assent, sets out the requirement (regulations pending):
18 The following is added after section 195:
Naming of school buildings
195.01(1) Before the board of a public school division may name or rename a school building that the board owns, the board shall, in accordance with the regulations, apply for the Minister’s approval of the name.
(2) The Minister may approve or refuse to approve an application made under subsection (1) in accordance with the regulations.
Flags in Alberta schools
As well, the Alberta amending statute will ban the flying of any flags (such as the “Every Child Matters” flag or the Pride flag) other than the Canada and Alberta flags. The latter will be required in every school, along with the playing of Canada’s national anthem (regulations pending).
This amendment is contrary to some existing policies in Alberta regarding flags. Currently, for example, the Edmonton Public School Division requires the respectful indoor display of the Treaty 6 and Métis flags in every school in the Division.
In addition, “[s]pecial flags may be displayed with senior flags such as the National Flag of Canada or the Flag of Alberta, if the order for precedence is observed.”
A special flag is a rectangular piece of fabric bearing a symbol, logo or message, and is often used to celebrate or recognize a specific event, group or place. Special flags are not senior to the National Flag of Canada or provincial flags. Examples of special flags are the Canada 150 flag and the Pride flag.
(Administrative Regulation GNDB.AR, retreived 2026-05-14)
Flags in BC schools
In British Columbia, protocols for “special occasion” or “community” or “awareness” flags are determined by local school districts. For example, Burnaby schools lower Canadian and BC flags to half-mast during National Truth and Reconciliation Week beginning in late September and display flags such as the “Every Child Matters” and “Survivors’ Flag” throughout school buildings and classrooms to honour survivors of residential schools. Schools wishing to fly a specific local Nation’s flag work directly with the host Nations, often under the guidance of an Elder, and often coordinating with the school district’s Indigenous Education Department.
Indigenous education in BC schools
Follow the links at this page to learn how Indigenous education in BC “seeks to improve success and supports for Indigenous students, and increase the presence of Indigenous culture, languages and history for all students. It also aims to help teachers bring Indigenous knowledge into their teaching practice.”
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We acknowledge that the land on which we work is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.