X̱wáýx̱way
X̱wáýx̱way (
History
X̱wáýx̱way is estimated to have been inhabited for more than 3000 years. It was one of many villages on the shores of
By the late 1800s, X̱wáýx̱way was the largest settlement in what is now Stanley Park.[3] In the village, a big house or longhouse measured at 60 meters long and near 20 meters wide. The structure was built with large cedar posts and slabs. 11 families lived in the house, numbering around 100 people. A large potlatch, a ceremonial event conducted by wealthy families, was held at this house in 1875. This event is also mentioned in the city council meeting minutes, where the medical health officer recommended the destruction of the buildings because of a smallpox outbreak, says Eric McLay, president of the Archeology Society of BC.
With colonial British expansion from the east following the opening of the transcontinental railroad in 1886, Vancouver started to boom in population. What is now
Local anthropologist Charles Hill-Tout noted several skeletons were found during an excavation near X̱wáýx̱way. In the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh tradition, the deceased were placed in specially made bentwood boxes, and placed high in trees. Some individuals or families of high social standing would be placed in cedar dugout canoes.
Squamish Nation chief Ian Cambell proposed in 2010 that Stanley Park be renamed Xwayxway Park after the name of this village.[5]
See also
Footnotes
- ISBN 978-1-55017-420-5.
- ^ Suttles, Wayne (2004) "Musqueam Reference Grammar." Vancouver: UBC Press. p. 571
- ^ a b Kheraj, Sean. "Historical Overview of Stanley Park" (PDF). Stanley Park Ecology Society. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
- ^ "Before Stanley Park," Vancouver Sun, 17 Mar 2007
- ^ "Natives urge Stanley Park name change | CBC News".
References
- Barman, Jean (2007) [2005]. Stanley Park's Secret: The Forgotten Families of Whoi Whoi, Kanaka Ranch and Brockton Point. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55017-420-5.
- Shore, Randy. Before Stanley Park: First nations sites lie scattered throughout the area. The Vancouver Sun, March 17, 2007. Retrieved Thursday, January 24th, 2008.
- Suttles, Wayne. (2004). "Musqueam Reference Grammar." Vancouver: UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-1002-5.