From the North Shore mountains through the Fraser River delta, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people have been here as long as there has been land to stand upon - creating a rich and vibrant language and culture inherently tied to our territory.
We are traditional hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people. Our long-standing presence in this territory is documented in our sχʷəy̓em̓ (ancient histories) and evident in the archaeological record, at areas such as c̓əsnaʔəm (Marpole), which dates back in excess of 4,000 years, and at St. Mungo's and Glenrose Cannery, which date to 8,000 - 9,000 years. Our oral histories speak of a time, over 9,000 years ago, when the delta was only water, and times of transformation and change which shaped the region.
"Musqueam Through Time" tells the story of a strong and resilient culture. From the beginning through to present day, Musqueam have practiced and maintained proud traditions. Our sniw̓ (teachings) and practices guide us, and they have persevered because of the wisdom and resilience of our ancestors, and our intrinsic connection to our lands and waters. Our rights are inherently tied to responsibility and an onus to steward the land and resources for successive generations. Beyond electing the youngest Chief and Council in Canada (1951) and one of the first female Chiefs in Canada, Musqueam has maintained these responsibilities by continually setting precedents to protect our unceded lands, resources, rights and title. Guerin vs. Queen (1984) established the fiduciary obligation of the Crown and R. v Sparrow (1990) established criteria for justifiable rights infringement. These cases continue to be relied upon by First Nations across Canada today.