The land where Peace Arch Elementary sits was once a giant rainforest with large trees and wild animals roaming free.
Semiahmoo First Nation (SFN) member Roxanne Charles reminded students, teachers and guests of this during a ceremony at the Surrey school, where she and many of her relatives, including her children, have attended over the decades.
The Jan. 24 event was held to rename five of the school's sections - or pods. Instead of being identified with numbers, the school areas will now be given a fitting animal designation.
The senior classes, for example, will be in the orca building, explained student Yannick Wright.
"The orca is the navigator and the leader for the younger students," he explained.
Similarly, the area for Grades 1-3 will be represented by a beaver - an animal known to be a good collaborator that works well with others and cares for the environment.
On top of the pod names, the school mascot, the raven, is, appropriately, a persistent problem solver that never gives up.
Besides orca and beaver, animals used for other school areas include the salmon, bear and wolf.
SFN Chief Harley Chappell, who also attended Peace Arch as a child, drummed and sang for the audience before teaching attendees how to pronounce each animal name in the Semiahmoo language.
"I want to thank you for bringing our language into your school," Chappell said, "for bringing our language into your culture."
