Musqueam People
Vanessa Campbell

(L-R) Patricia A. Shaw and Vanessa Campbell in Loon Lake at the First Nations and Endangered Languages (FNEL) Program Retreat, 2014. Courtesy of Vancessa Campbell.
I am a proud member of the Musqueam Indian Band. My parents are Vivian and Richard Campbell. My family lineage comes from the Campbell and Point families. I am blessed to be part of a large family. I am the third eldest of six children, and my strength is derived from the rich teachings of my family and community.
From a young age, I have had a passion for connecting to my cultural identity. I started learning our language when I was in high school. Instead of taking French or Spanish, I began learning hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ in grade ten. Ten years later, my passion for language remains strong. I am now working for my community in the Language and Culture Department and continue to learn every day.
A memorable and profound moment in my work with hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ revitalization was the feedback that I sound like an ancestor. What a compliment! Many mentors have guided me, but I would be remiss if I didn’t credit Patricia Shaw, Jill Campbell, and Larry Grant for constantly guiding my path. I try my best to make sure I’m upholding their teachings and the teachings found in our language. If there is one thing that I want people to know it is that there is a foundation of respect in our language.
My grandma spoke hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ as a child, but she doesn’t speak it anymore because of the trauma she experienced at Indian Residential School. Recently, she heard a recording of me speaking hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and told me how proud and happy it made her. My grandma repeated one of the sentences from the recording and it was the first time I had ever heard her speak our language. This is one of my happiest memories.
Learning our language has helped me find strength and it has challenged me to live my values and become the person I am today. I am dedicated to being an agent of positive change in my community. I aspire to be a role model for the next generation—to be a strong Musqueam woman with values and beliefs that can inspire others to pursue their dreams.

Vanessa Campbell and her stətiwən (nieces) Amai and Fara at the mouth of the Fraser River, Musqueam traditional territory, 2014. Courtesy of Vanessa Campbell.

Vanessa Campbell and her sʔə́yeʔ (sweetheart) in traditional blankets, 2014. Courtesy of Vanessa Campbell.
Growing up, I had many Aboriginal role models, including friends, teachers, and community members. I think leaders come in many forms and hold different positions. Knowing my language really gives me the strength to work towards change, even if I’m doing it from behind the scenes. As a result of working for my community, I have created a space to influence other Musqueam youth who might follow my path.
I want the young people in our community to grow up in a world where people know about Musqueam, where hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is spoken on a daily basis, and where the rich teachings of our ancestors are echoed in the homes of families far and wide. Imagine how great that would be!