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Khelsilem Tl'aḵwasiḵ̓an Sxwchálten (born July 19, 1989), also known as Dustin Rivers, is an Indigenous Canadian politician and First Nations leader in British Columbia. He[a] is serving his first term as councillor for the Squamish Nation Council.[2] The youngest Councillor elected in the 2017 election, he topped the polls with the most votes and was appointed as one of two Official Spokespersons for the Squamish Nation Council. He serves on numerous Council committees including Finance & Audit, Governance, Human Resources, and chair the Planning & Capital Projects Committee, and deputy chair for the Rights & Title Committee and Climate Action Task Force.

A frequent critic of LNG projects and the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project,[3] Khelsilem was recognized by Vancouver Magazine as one of the top 50 powerful people at #21 in 2018, and again in 2019 at #18.[4]

On February 25, 2020, Khelsilem was interviewed by Linda Steele on Global News Radio about the anger and confusion around recent protests and blockades in support of Wet'suwet'en Nation.[5]

Personal life and education

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Khelsilem is Sḵwx̱wú7mesh on his mom and father's side of the family, and Kwakwaka’wakw on his mother's side. He was raised in the Squamish Nation communities of Eslhá7an, also known as the Mission Indian Reserve No.6, and Xwmelch'stn, also known as Capilano Indian Reserve No.5, in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He lives in the City of Vancouver.[6]

He attended Carson Graham Secondary School and some graduate degree classes at Simon Fraser University in Applied Linguistics.[7]

Before entering politics Khelsilem was a graphic designer and artist, with public art featured in Vancouver Mural Fest.[8]

In 2014, Khelsilem presented about his work to reduce the decline of Squamish language at Interesting Vancouver.[9]

Khelsilem is a fluent Squamish language speaker which he learned as an adult. In 2015, he founded the non-profit Kwi Awt Stelmexw, an arts & education organization with the mission to restore Squamish language and culture.[9] and in 2016 developed a language immersion program with Simon Fraser University to teach the Squamish language to Squamish people. He continued to teach for two years in the program he built before leaving the program upon being elected to the Squamish Nation Council.[10]

In July 2019, Khelsilem publicly came out as a member of the LGBTQ2+ community and identifies as bisexual and queer[11] and uses he/they pronouns.[1]

Political career

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In the 2017 Squamish Nation Election, he coordinated a campaign called ’the New Nine’ to elect nine non-incumbent candidates to the Squamish Nation Council. Out of the nine candidates promoted, eight were eventually elected.[12]

As a Councillor, he has been involved in various projects and initiatives like the developing a not-for-profit housing society,[13] the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project,[14] and the purpose-built rental and condo development project with Westbank on the Squamish Nation's Senakw lands, also known as the Kitsilano Reserve next to Burrard Street Bridge.[15] In a 2022 interview, Khelsilem and former Vancouver city councillor Gordon Price discussed the complexities between Indigenous sovereignty, urban development, and community engagement in projects like Sen̓áḵw. Khelsilem emphasized the importance of regaining control over resources to support the Squamish Nation community's interests, highlighting their track record of developing rental housing.[16]

Notes

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  1. ^ Khelsilem uses he/they pronouns.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "khelsilem". Instagram. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  2. ^ Duran, Estefania (December 11, 2017). "Squamish Nation election brings 8 new faces to council". Global News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Kelly, Ash (December 11, 2017). "Newly elected Squamish Nation council may have implications for future of Woodfibre LNG". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "VanMag's 2019 Power 50 List". Vancouver Magazine. November 5, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Steele, Lynda (February 25, 2020). "Protests and blockades: how we got here, and the paths forward". Global News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. ^ Humphrey, Matt (February 26, 2018). "'A tangible example of reconciliation': guardian of Skwomesh language applauds provincial language spending". CBC. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Smith, Charlie (August 17, 2016). "Khelsilem embraces indigenous languages as a way to decolonize young minds". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  8. ^ McKenzie-Sutter, Holly (July 12, 2017). "Vancouver Mural Festival 2017 announces full lineup of artists". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Kronbauer, Bob (July 13, 2017). "Vancouver's original language is making a comeback". Vancouver is Awesome. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  10. ^ McCue, Duncan (January 14, 2016). "Skwomesh language activist to launch 'trailblazing' immersion course at B.C. university". CBC. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  11. ^ Vikander, Tessa (August 3, 2019). "How Vancouver's queer vogue scene is changing lives — and building a fierce following". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  12. ^ Barde, Joel (December 14, 2017). "'New Nine' want to bring change to Squamish Nation". Pique Newsmagazine. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  13. ^ Richter, Brent (October 31, 2019). "Squamish Nation aims to build 1,000 units of housing". North Shore News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  14. ^ Cameron, Grant (December 13, 2019). "Improvements to Upper Levels Highway explored". Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  15. ^ St. Denis, Jen (December 4, 2019). "Explained: The Sen̓áḵw Plan that Could Add 6,000 Units to Kitsilano". The Tyee. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  16. ^ Schmunk, Rhianna (December 5, 2022). "Out of the Ashes". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
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