sən̓aʔqʷ

"The area now known as Burrard Inlet is host to numerous Musqueam villages, camps, and transformer sites. It was connected by water ways, trails, histories, and genealogies to other villages throughout our territory. For example, trails radiated from sən̓aʔqʷ across ʔəlqsən (Point Grey) to our villages of c̓əsnaʔəm and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm on the North Arm of the stal̕əw̓ (now called the Fraser River).

Burrard Inlet was also part of our core hunting and fishing area. Our families stayed at sən̓aʔqʷ while hunting elk and waterfowl. sən̓aʔqʷ was also important for harvesting and processing salmon, sturgeon, and smelt that frequented False Creek and its many streams, many of which have been lost to urbanization and development."

The history of this place is told by the Musqueam First Nation.

(Please note that a physical plaque at this location does not exist yet.)

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm traditional language is called hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. Please learn more about the Musqueam Language and Culture department and their work with language learners and educational resources here.

Visit the Museum of Vancouver‘s exhibit: c̓əsnaʔəm: city before the city

Check out the resources at the UBC Library Guide, including videos

Please spend time learning about xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Musqueam territory and places names  and use this comprehensive teaching tool, the Musqueam Teaching Kit, created for the public.

There are many places of importance to xʷməθkʷəy̓əm within what we call the City of Vancouver, and as part of Places That Matter via xʷməθkʷəy̓əm community nominations and voting, we are sharing five sites and their stories as told by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm. There are no physical plaques yet, but we hope these stories provide a deeper understanding of the significance of these places.

c̓əsnaʔəm

sən̓aʔqʷ  

spapəy̓əq

sɬχil̕əx  

χʷay̓χʷəy̓ 

Of interest in Kitsilano, Sept 30th, 2022: “Musqueam gifts new name to City of Vancouver to replace Trutch Street”