spapəy̓əq

"The area now known as Stanley Park is host to numerous important villages, transformer, and resource sites. spapəy̓əq (bent at the end) was home to Musqueam families into the early 1900s. Rose Yelton (nee Cole), Daughter of Matilda Cole (nee Pete) of Musqueam, was among the last to live in Stanley Park.

Along with Boundary Bay and Bowen Island, the area around χʷay̓χʷəy̓ and spapəy̓əq was a key location for harvesting resources such as clams, mussels, cockles, crabs, and chitons, a resource we had little of in the river delta. "

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

(Please note that this plaque has not yet been presented).

If you are at spapəy̓əq, take the time to familiarize yourself with Susan Point’s People Amongst the People. 

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